US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU620

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ROME FOR U.S. MISSION 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, PREF, PHUM, NP, WFP, Bhutanese Refugees 
SUBJECT: WFP AID FOR BHUTANESE REFUGEES: LEG UP ON NEXT 
PHASE 
 
 
1. An extra multilateral contribution secured this week 
from WFP Rome will fill a gap created by the delay in 
receiving a USG shipment of in-kind food aid, reports the 
WFP Deputy Country Director for Nepal.  The extra 
contribution will have a carry-on effect for the next 
phase of aid to the Bhutanese refugees, which runs from 
July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003.  As yet no contributions 
have been pledged for the coming plan year, but the carry- 
on means that WFP will have sufficient quantities of 
primary commodities to see the refugees through most of 
August, 2002. 
 
2. The story of the delay in the delivery of the in-kind 
contribution has been circulating among UN and NGO staff 
working in the refugee camps.  Several raised it with the 
Ambassador during his visit to the camps March 25.  This 
is the first time in-kind aid has been sent to the 
refugees, and Post initially heard concerns that in-kind 
aid would have a negative impact - both financially and 
psychologically - on the local producers and suppliers 
whose produce has fed the camp populations for ten years. 
This view was not heard during the March 25 visit, 
however.  To the contrary, one UN staffer speculated that 
news of the in-kind delivery may prompt local suppliers 
"to get their act together." 
 
MALINOWSKI