US embassy cable - 05ISLAMABAD17557

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ISLAMABAD 017557 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE 
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA 
SOUTH ASIA RESPONSE MANAGEMENT TEAM 
SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE 
DCHA/FFP FOR JONATHAN DWORKEN 
ANE DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR MARK WARD 
BANGKOK FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR TOM DOLAN 
KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER 
ROME PASS FODAG 
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH 
NSC FOR JMELINE 
EUCOM FOR POLA/J3/J4/J5 
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER 
NEW YORK FOR TMALY 
SECDEF FOR SOLIC/PKHA, USDP/J3 
JOINT STAFF WASH DC FOR J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE FOR J3/J5 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AEMR, ASEC, MASS, ECON, KMDR, KPAO, OIIP, OPRC, PGOV, PREL, PK, Earthquake, Earthquake: USAID/DART Situation Report 
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE: USAID/DART SITUATION REPORT 
16: UPDATE ON FOOD SITUATION 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 16643 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. In October 2005, the USAID Disaster Assistance Response 
Team (DART) reported that preliminary assessments by the UN 
World Food Program (WFP) estimated more than 2.3 million 
Pakistanis in need of food assistance per reftel.  At that 
time, several NGOs suggested this figure was too high, but 
more recent assessments and field work by WFP, the UN Food 
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Food, 
Agriculture, and Livestock (MINFAL), support the original 
WFP estimate of at least 2.3 million people requiring food 
aid as a result of the October 8 earthquake. 
 
2. Since November 9, the USAID/DART Food For Peace Officer 
(FFPO) has been assessing the food aid needs of earthquake- 
affected populations in consultations with the US Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) Attache, Government of Pakistan (GOP), 
WFP, UK Department for International Development (DFID), and 
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 
Currently, the amount of wheat in country is adequate to 
meet food needs until April 2006.  WFP requires additional 
support, however, to cover the associated costs of food 
distributions through April.  The USAID/DART, in 
collaboration with the US Mission, continues to work closely 
with the GOP, donors, WFP and other UN agencies, ICRC, and 
NGOs to address food issues, and prevent any breaks in the 
pipeline in the coming months. End Summary. 
-------------------- 
FFPO Assessment Trip 
-------------------- 
 
3. Since November 9, the USAID/DART Food For Peace Officer 
(FFPO) has been in-country assessing the food aid needs of 
earthquake-affected populations in Pakistan.  To obtain 
information about the food, agriculture, and livestock 
situation on the ground, the FFPO reviewed the recently 
completed joint MINFAL/FAO report, quote Assessment of 
Damage to Crops and Livestock Sectors Due to Earthquake 
unquote.  In addition, the FFPO conducted field assessments 
and coordinated closely with the USDA Attache, the GOP 
Federal Relief Commission's (FRC) food cluster, WFP, DFID, 
and ICRC. 
 
4. On November 15, the UN undertook an extensive assessment 
of the major earthquake relief hubs to determine the food 
security situation and assistance needs over the coming 
months.  The FFPO accompanied the WFP Special Envoy for the 
earthquake disaster, DFID disaster assessment expert, UN 
Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) Head, and WFP Head of 
Logistics for the earthquake disaster response.  The team 
visited WFP operational centers in Abbottobad, Mansehra, 
Batagram, Muzaffarabad, Garhi Habibullah, and Balakot.  WFP 
cooperation with the GOP Military and local authorities was 
good and the WFP implementing partners responsible for food 
distribution, although still setting up their operations, 
were beginning to receive and distribute food aid.  The FFPO 
noted that after initial start-up difficulties, the WFP 
logistics operation was becoming more efficient.  The 
USAID/DART will remain engaged to ensure that WFP operations 
continue to improve as assets grow and relations with other 
responders to the earthquake relief effort are consolidated 
and harmonized. 
 
5. During the field visit, the FFPO observed that the GOP is 
providing compensation, as promised, to those who have lost 
their homes or family members during the earthquake.  As 
reported septel, death compensation is 100,000 Pakistan 
Rupees (approximately USD 1,666), while assistance for 
housing losses is 25,000 Rupees (USD 416).  In Balokot, 
residents have begun receiving 3,750 Rupees (USD 62) per 
month as a tent compensation for those who are in tented 
villages following the earthquake.  Officials expect that 
persons displaced will be able to use this subsidy to 
purchase food and necessities. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
The FAO/MINFAL Livestock and crop assessment 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
6. Completed in early November 2005, the FAO/MINFAL 
assessment results are consistent with the earlier 
WFP/UNICEF earthquake assessment, which found 3.5 million 
people affected by the earthquake.  Of this number, 
FAO/MINFAL indicated that 2.3 million people were homeless 
and in need of additional food and material assistance. This 
number has also been accepted by the GOP.  In the hardest 
hit areas, up to 50 percent of livestock was lost and 95 
percent of all animal shelters destroyed.  Up to 75 percent 
of the maize crop, 50 percent of the wheat crop, and more 
than 30 percent of the rice crop was lost, as well as 
substantial animal fodder.  According to FAO/MINFAL, direct 
and indirect losses to crops, livestock, and irrigation 
infrastructure were more than USD 440 million.  Prior to the 
earthquake, six of the nine affected districts were already 
among the most food insecure parts of Pakistan.  As the 
winter progresses, livestock losses will likely increase due 
to exposure and a shortage of fodder. Earthquake victims are 
widely reported to be asking for assistance with shelter for 
their livestock. 
 
7. The GOP, WFP, and ICRC are responsible for ensuring that 
the 2.3 million affected persons receive food.  WFP is 
responsible for the 1 million most inaccessible 
beneficiaries, ICRC has targeted another 150,000 in the 
Neelum Valley, and the GOP is tasked with assisting the 
remainder in accessible areas and major urban centers. 
 
8. According to all indicators, Pakistan has enough wheat 
this year to meet needs countrywide.  Assuring that the 
wheat reaches the vulnerable and homeless, however, may 
present a challenge.  Of the 2.3 million earthquake victims 
identified as requiring food aid by the various assessments 
to date, WFP's caseload of 1 million for the next 6 months 
will require nearly 102,000 MT of food aid, including 76,000 
MT of wheat.  Regardless of how the wheat is procured-even 
if donated-it will still require considerable financial 
inputs to mill, transport, store, handle, and distribute. 
Presently WFP has resources to process and deliver 16,000 
MT.  WFP requires additional support to cover associated 
costs of food distributions.  Transport cost of delivering 
food aid to earthquake victims is significant, due to the 
need for helicopter support to reach up to 200,000 people in 
mountainous and inaccessible areas. 
 
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USDA Wheat contribution 
----------------------- 
 
9. To date, USAID/OFDA has provided more than USD 8.9 
million to WFP for humanitarian air operations, logistics, 
and administrative support.  USAID/FFP has provided WFP with 
2,880 MT of PL Title II food assistance valued at more than 
USD 3.4 million.  On November 21, USDA offered Pakistan a 
USD 12 million wheat contribution, assuring adequate 
supplies to meet the needs of WFP's 1 million caseload until 
April 2006.  The USAID/DART will continue to assess 
conditions during the winter to determine food needs after 
April. 
 
10. USDA's contribution of USD 12 million will cover costs 
for an estimated 46,000 MT of bulk wheat, plus the cost of 
shipping to Karachi.  The donation will not include port 
charges, handling and transport from Karachi, milling, 
fortification, storage, or final distribution to 
beneficiaries.  Instead, these costs will have to come from 
donor contributions to WFP's Emergency Operations (EMOP) 
appeal for the Pakistan earthquake. 
 
11. According to WFP's latest resource update, the EMOP for 
1 million beneficiaries over 6 months calls for 101,501 MT 
of food aid at a cost of nearly USD 26.5 million for food, 
and a total cost of more than USD 55.8 million, including 
food and all associated costs.  As of November 18, the EMOP 
has received approximately USD 21.1 million against its 
appeal, leaving a shortfall of more than USD 34.7 million. 
As of November 20, WFP is reaching 845,000 beneficiaries, 
including the ongoing operation for 200,000 Pakistanis in 
the most difficult to reach areas of the earthquake zone 
before the onset of the winter snow. 
 
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Conclusion 
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12. Developing a clear picture of food aid needs for the 
population affected by the Pakistani earthquake and 
coordinating an appropriate response is an ongoing 
challenge.  Presently, sufficient wheat exists in country to 
allow WFP to draw down its needs.  The USDA offer of a USD 
12 million contribution, replacing wheat used by WFP for 
immediate distribution, provides reassurance that WFP 
operations will continue beyond the winter.  USAID/FFP is 
also working on sending 2,600 MT of vegetable oil for WFP 
distribution.  With these two contributions in place, the 
WFP pipeline will be healthy.  WFP has funding to cover 
operations until the end of 2005, but does not yet have the 
necessary funds to cover associated costs, including road 
transportation and distribution, to continue its obligation 
through April 2006.  The USAID/DART, in collaboration with 
the US Mission in Pakistan, continues to work with the GOP, 
donors, UN agencies, ICRC, and NGOs to address this urgent 
HQ UEUCO AIHIGN GEFO J3/J5 
EO. 1258: N/A 
TGS: EAID, AEMR, ASEC, MASS, ECON, KMDR, KPAO, OIIP, OPRC, 
PGOV, PREL, PK 
 
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE: USAID/DART SITUATION REPORT 
16: UPDATE ON FOOD SITUATION 
 
issue, and prevent critical food shortages in the coming 
months. 
CROCKER