US embassy cable - 05LILONGWE514

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000514 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
PRETORIA FOR DISKIN, HALE, SINK AND REYNOLDS 
USAID FOR DCHA/FFP LANDIS, WELLER, MUTAMBA, SKORIC, 
PETERSEN AND BERGMAN 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA BORNS, MARX, PRATT, 
KHANDAGLE, HAGELMAN, AND BARTON 
USAID FOR AFR/DP WARREN, KNEPP 
USAID FOR AFR/SD WHELAN 
USAID FOR AFR/SA LOKEN, COOKE 
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/GGI, PM/ISP 
NCS FOR MELINE 
NAIROBI FOR PUTMAN, ESTES, AND DEPREZ 
HARARE FOR REED 
LUANDA FOR LYVERS 
GABORONE FOR KHUPE 
ROME FOR FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, EAGR, MI, Economic 
SUBJECT: MALAWI DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SLOW ONSET FOOD 
EMERGENCY 
 
REF: (A) STATE 207288; (B) LILONGWE 00423; (C) LILONGWE 
00382 
 
Summary: This is an action cable for USAIDs Office of 
Food for Peace.  Per the criteria set forth in reftel A, 
the Chief of Mission has determined that there is a slow 
onset food emergency in Malawi of sufficient magnitude to 
warrant a disaster declaration. Unmet food requirements 
are currently estimated at some 272,000 metric tons.  In 
response to the developing crisis, the Mission requests 
that USAID/FFP provide at least 50,000 MT of food aid, 
including 10,000 MT of pulses, to Malawi in the coming 
months.  The Mission is not, repeat not, requesting any 
response or resources from USAIDs Office of Foreign 
Disaster Assistance at this time.  However, the Mission 
is in regular contact with OFDAs Southern Africa 
Regional Office to closely monitor the situation. 
 
1. In a letter dated June 1, 2005, the Government of 
Malawi formally requested food aid assistance from the 
USG. This request follows the recent release of Malawi 
Vulnerability Assessment Committee results for the May 
2005 to April 2006 marketing year that indicate 
e 
significant unmet food aid needs.  Post has determined 
that the conditions for declaration of a disaster are 
met: the food aid gap is clearly beyond the capacity of 
the GOM alone to respond; the GOM has formally requested 
USG assistance; and lastly, it is in the USG interest to 
assist Malawi during this crisis. 
 
2. The emerging food gap in Malawi is a result of 
significant crop losses caused by an extensive mid-season 
dryspell in many parts of the country. Ministry of 
Agriculture second round crop estimates put the maize 
crop production at 1.3 million MT, the lowest production 
in 7 years against a national food requirement of close 
to 2 million MT, reftel B. This is against a background 
of poor production the last 3 years and low purchasing 
power and asset depletion in rural areas, reftel C. 
 
3. Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee results 
released last May indicate a worse humanitarian situation 
than earlier anticipated, reftel B. The most likely 
scenario suggests that 4.2 million people, or well over a 
third of the population, will need humanitarian 
assistance over the next nine months.  Unmet food aid 
needs for next 9 months are estimated at 272,000 MT, of 
which 139,000 MT will be covered by the GOM and recent 
pledges by other donors, particularly the European Union 
and United Kingdoms DFID.  Yet Malawi still has 
significant unmet food aid needs of some 133,000 MT. 
 
4. OFDA assistance is not needed at this time but there 
is a possibility that it may be needed on the ground from 
early FY 2006. Post currently anticipates potential 
emergency needs in the sectors of water, health, and 
livelihood recovery. In conjunction with OFDAs Southern 
Africa Regional Office, Post is closely monitoring the 
situation in the country and will report on any emerging 
humanitarian needs in the coming months. 
 
5. According to the 2005/2006 budget currently being 
considered in Parliament, the GOM plans to provide 12,000 
0 
MT from its own resources to meet humanitarian needs as 
well as some $6 million toward logistical and 
distribution costs.  Food aid distribution and food-for- 
work activities in six of the worst affected districts 
are scheduled to start this month, June 2005 using 
existing Strategic Grain Reserve stocks. 
 
6. In the coming months, one third of the population has 
insufficient purchasing power to meet their household 
food needs and thus will need food aid.  To respond to 
this slow-onset emergency, Post requests the USAIDs Food 
for Peace Office to plan to provide at least 50,000 MT of 
food aid to Malawi, including at least 10,000 MT of 
pulses. 
 
GILMOUR