US embassy cable - 02ROME5771

UNCLAS ROME 005771 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05771  291212Z 
 
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID 
ACTING DIRECTOR PARK 
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR FRED KESSEL AND USAID REDSO 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S IO HOLMES AND AF/E 
USAID FOR AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/FFP LLANDIS 
USDA/FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH 
NSC FOR JWDORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AORC, PREF, EAGR, EU, WFP, UN 
SUBJECT: PROJECT MERCY - A PROVEN NGO IMPLEMENTING PARTNER 
IN ETHIOPIA - REQUEST FOR IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT 
 
REF: (A) ADDIS ABABA 3632, (B) ROME 4735, (C) STATE 232929 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. USMISSION AMBASSADOR TONY HALL HAS KNOWN MATRA GABRE- 
TSADICK AND HER HUSBAND DEME WHO RUN A NON-GOVERNMENTAL 
 
SIPDIS 
ORGANIZATION CALLED PROJECT MERCY IN THE SOUTHERN REGION 
(SNNPR) FOR MANY YEARS AND CONSIDERS THEM OUTSTANDING 
HUMANITARIANS. HE HAS VISITED THEIR PROJECT NEAR BUTAJIRA, 
IN THE GURAGE ZONE. AS ETHIOPIA IS AGAIN IN THE MIDST OF A 
SERIOUS CRISIS, THEIR NGO NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN ORDER 
TO ENHANCE ITS OUTREACH. EMBASSY/USAID/UN AGENCIES ARE ASKED 
TO ONCE AGAIN CONSIDER PROJECT MERCY AS A VIABLE 
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER. END SUMMARY. 
---------- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05771  291212Z 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
2. AS NOTED REFS (A)(B), THE SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA IS AGAIN 
CRITICAL.  THE SERIOUS DROUGHT HAS LEAD TO WIDESPREAD CROP 
FAILURE AND DECLARATIONS OF DISASTER BY THE GOVERNMENT OF 
THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA (GFDRE) AND US 
EMBASSY ADDIS.  PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI HAS STATED 
PUBLICLY THAT THE SITUATION IS WORSE THAN THE GREAT FAMINE 
OF 1984-5. 
 
3. BOTH USAID AND THE UN AGENCIES INCLUDING THE WORLD FOOD 
PROGRAM (WFP) ARE RESPONDING TO THE SITUATION.  THE US HAS 
ANNOUNCED INITIAL PLEDGES AND HAS REQUESTED OTHER DONORS TO 
CONTRIBUTE SWIFTLY AND GENEROUSLY (REF C).  BOTH 
INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL NGO'S ARE REQUIRED AS IMPLEMENTING 
PARTNERS IN ORDER TO REACH AFFECTED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT 
THE COUNTRY. 
 
4. PROJECT MERCY IS A US-REGISTERED CHARITABLE GROUP THAT 
OPERATES IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF ETHIOPIA.  PERSONAL 
KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND A SITE VISIT BY THEN- 
CONGRESSMAN HALL IN AUGUST 2000 SHOWED PROJECT MERCY RUNNING 
AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE OPERATION WHICH INCLUDED A NUMBER OF 
COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. 
 
5. IN ADDITION TO BEING A REGISTERED PRIVATE VOLUNTARY 
ORGANIZATION (PVO) WITH USAID, THEY RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM 
BOTH USAID AND WFP IN AUGUST 2000 (A TOTAL OF 847 METRIC 
TONS OF FOOD AID). THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN THE REGION 
FOR ALMOST A DECADE AND ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05771  291212Z 
COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT. 
 
6. THEY ARE NOW PROPOSING TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS GIVEN 
THE GROWING EMERGENCY SITUATION, AS THEY DID DURING THE 
DROUGHT OF 1999-2000.  THEY WANT TO ESTABLISH BOTH A 
SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING PROGRAM AND FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS IN SEVEN 
DISTRICTS OF THE GURAGE ZONE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION (SNNPR). 
THEY ESTIMATE THE NEED TO BE ALMOST 53,000 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 
13,000 CHILDREN. 
 
7. THEIR OWN ASSESSMENTS SHOW THE NEED FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL 
FEEDING PROGRAM IN ORDER TO REACH THE SEVERELY MALNOURISHED 
AND A FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR THE REST OF THE POPULATION. 
THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A FORTIFIED PORRIDGE CALLED ATMIT, THAT 
IS BOTH NUTRITIONALLY SOUND AND LOCALLY ACCEPTED.  THEY 
REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 TONS OF ROLLED OATS, NON-FAT DRY 
MILK, SUGAR AND FORTIFICATION MIX.  FOR THE GENERAL FOOD 
DISTRIBUTION, WHEAT FLOUR (OR WHEAT FLOUR BLENDS) AND 
VEGETABLE OIL ARE NEEDED. 
 
8. US MISSION/ROME WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED IN 
THE REGION AND WILL WORK WITH OTHER DONORS TO INCREASE THEIR 
DONATIONS.  ANY POSSIBLE SUPPORT FOR PROJECT MERCY FROM 
EMBASSY/USAID/UN AGENCIES IN-COUNTRY IS APPRECIATED. 
HALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME05771 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED