Disclaimer: This site has been first put up 15 years ago. Since then I would probably do a couple things differently, but because I've noticed this site had been linked from news outlets, PhD theses and peer rewieved papers and because I really hate the concept of "digital dark age" I've decided to put it back up. There's no chance it can produce any harm now.
| Identifier: | 03ROME760 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 03ROME760 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Rome |
| Created: | 2003-02-24 15:58:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ROME 000760
SIPDIS
AIDAC
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FREEMAN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 00760 01 OF 06 241650Z
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS,
D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/EA, IO/EDA WINNICK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, EU, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ETHIOPIA - "IT'S EVEN
WORSE THAN I EXPECTED. ETHIOPIA IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH THE
THREAT OF FAMINE."
-------
SUMMARY
-------
1. A TEAM LED BY AMBASSADOR TONY HALL AND AA/DCHA ROGER
WINTER VISITED ETHIOPIA FEBRUARY 15-21 AND FOUND THE COUNTRY
WITH THE SECOND LARGEST POPULATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
STRUGGLING TO CONTAIN A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. IN
2003, SOME 11.3 MILLION DROUGHT VICTIMS WILL REQUIRE ABOUT
1.4 MILLION TONS OF FOOD ASSISTANCE AND AN ADDITIONAL 3
MILLION WILL NEED TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED. WITH 20 PERCENT
OF ETHIOPIA'S POPULATION AT RISK, UNLESS DEFTLY HANDLED,
2003 COULD WELL BECOME A CRISIS OF SIMILAR MAGNITUDE TO THE
CATASTROPHE OF 1984 WHEN ONE MILLION PEOPLE DIED. GIVEN THE
DEPTH AND WIDE GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD OF THE HUNGER, GREATER
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 00760 01 OF 06 241650Z
LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE
COUNTRY LEVEL IS REQUIRED. AND DONOR CAPITALS NEED TO BE
SEIZED WITH A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF URGENCY. END SUMMARY.
--------------------------------------------- --------------
BACKGROUND - "TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT US - WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE
AROUND IN THREE MONTHS." A WOMAN'S RESPONSE DURING A MULTI-
AGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENT TRIP TO HARARGE IN LATE 2002
--------------------------------------------- --------------
2. AMBASSADOR TONY HALL, US MISSION TO ROME; AA/DCHA ROGER
WINTER; ROME HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE, TIM LAVELLE; AND SPECIAL
ASSISTANT TO THE AA/DCHA, JENNY MARION - VISITED ETHIOPIA
FEBRUARY 15-21. IN ADDITION TO MEETINGS IN ADDIS ABABA WITH
U.S. EMBASSY/USAID, UNITED NATIONS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) AND GFDRE FUNCTIONARIES, THE TEAM SPENT
SEVERAL DAYS IN RURAL AREAS REVIEWING WORLD FOOD PROGRAM AND
NGO IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND LONGER-TERM OPERATIONS.
3. ETHIOPIA HAS THE SECOND LARGEST POPULATION IN SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA AND AN ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME OF ONLY U.S. 100
DOLLARS. THE COUNTRY IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH THE THREAT OF
FAMINE. IN 2003, SOME 11.3 MILLION DROUGHT VICTIMS WILL
REQUIRE ABOUT 1.3 MILLION TONS OF FOOD GRAINS AND 125,000
METRIC TONS OF ENRICHED FOODS. AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILLION
POTENTIALLY AT-RISK WILL NEED TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED. NOTE:
AMBASSADOR HALL, WHO TRAVELED IN THE RURAL ETHIOPIAN
HIGHLANDS IN 1984 AND A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE THEN, FOUND
THE PRESENT SITUATION "EVEN WORSE THAN I EXPECTED. THERE IS
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MALNUTRITION, AND I AM NUMBED BY THE
SHEER NUMBERS OF ACUTELY MALNOURISHED CHILDREN." END NOTE.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 00760 01 OF 06 241650Z
4. SECURING A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OF FOOD FOR ITS PEOPLE HAS
BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT AND DONORS FOR
20 YEARS. IN SPITE OF GOOD EFFORTS, FOOD INSECURITY REMAINS
THE COUNTRY'S MOST DEEP-ROOTED PROBLEM. THE CATASTROPHIC
FAMINE OF 1984-85 WAS FOLLOWED BY SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGES IN
1992, 1994, 2000 AND 2002. (THERE HAVE BEEN 15 DROUGHTS
SINCE 1965.) NOTE: OF THE COUNTRY'S 67.2 MILLION, ALMOST
HALF - 28 MILLION - LIVE IN DEEP AND LONG-TERM POVERTY, AND
ARE VULNERABLE TO DROUGHT, ACUTE MALNUTRITION AND EVEN, AT
EXTREME MOMENTS, TO STARVATION. END NOTE.
5. A NOVEMBER 2002 MULTI-AGENCY PRE-HARVEST ASSESSMENT
CONFIRMED WIDESPREAD CROP FAILURES IN LOWLAND AREAS IN THE
NORTH, EAST, SOUTH AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. SOME
MIDLAND AREAS ARE ALSO BADLY AFFECTED. A NUMBER OF
TRADITIONAL SURPLUS-PRODUCING AREAS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE ALSO
BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED, REDUCING NATIONAL FOOD
AVAILABILITY.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1709
PAGE 01 ROME 00760 02 OF 06 241650Z
ACTION SSO-00
INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00
IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00
PMB-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W
------------------3A9201 241650Z /38
P 241558Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8426
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2563
INFO AMEMBASSY ASMARA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
IGAD COLLECTIVE
SECDEF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3137
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 06 ROME 000760
SIPDIS
AIDAC
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FREEMAN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 00760 02 OF 06 241650Z
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS,
D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/EA, IO/EDA WINNICK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EAGR, EU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ETHIOPIA - "IT'S EVEN
WORSE THAN I EXPECTED. ETHIOPIA IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH THE
THREAT OF FAMINE."
6. OVERALL, THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION BOTH IN THE CROPPING
AND PASTORAL AREAS IS POOR. RECOURSE TO MARKETS IS LIMITED
BECAUSE OF LOW OR LACK OF PURCHASING POWER AND CEREAL PRICE
HIKES (UP 20-30 PERCENT IN MANY AREAS COMPARED WITH A YEAR
AGO) - AND FALLING LIVESTOCK PRICES. AND IT IS EVIDENT THAT
THE 2000 AND 2002 DROUGHTS HAD FOR MANY A WITHERING IMPACT
ON HOUSEHOLD ASSETS.
-----------------
WHAT THE TEAM SAW
-----------------
7. AMBASSADOR HALL AND TIM LAVELLE TRAVELED TO THE EAST
SHEWA (NAZARETH) ZONE AND ARSI, OROMIYA REGION
(TRADITIONALLY A FOOD SURPLUS AREA) AND REVIEWED WFP-
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 00760 02 OF 06 241650Z
SUPPORTED FOOD-FOR-ASSETS CREATION AND PROTECTION. WFP,
WORKING THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, IS SUCCESSFULLY
PROMOTING ACTIVITIES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL FOCUSED ON
BUILDING SKILLS AND INFRASTRUCTURE (PONDS, GULLY CONTROL,
REFORESTATION, ETC) THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS SUPPORTED BY FOOD
ASSISTANCE. DROUGHT-RELATED GENERAL DISTRIBUTIONS WERE ALSO
OBSERVED. NOTE: TOO LITTLE INVESTMENT HAS BEEN MADE IN
IRRIGATION OR OTHER SYSTEMS TO MANAGE WATER SUPPLY - ONLY
ABOUT 5 PERCENT OF ETHIOPIA'S POTENTIALLY IRRIGABLE LAND IS
PRESENTLY IRRIGATED. END NOTE.
8. THE ENTIRE TEAM VISITED THE SOUTHERN, NATIONS AND
NATIONALITIES, PEOPLES REGION (SNNPR) WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF
ETHIOPIA'S (GFDRE) COMMISSIONER FOR DISASTER PREVENTION AND
PREPAREDNESS (DPPC) AND REVIEWED ACTIVITIES OF WORLD VISION,
THE IRISH-NGO PROJECT CONCERN AND AN ETHIOPIAN NON-
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, PROJECT MERCY. THESE NGOS ARE
PERFORMING IN A TRULY EXEMPLARY MANNER IN IDENTIFYING GAPS
AND PROVIDING SUPPORT WHERE GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE WEAK OR
UNADAPTED TO LOCAL NEEDS. THEY ARE POWERFUL INSTRUMENTS IN
PROMOTING PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT AND GIVING A
VOICE TO THE POOR. AND WHILE THEY ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING
WITH AND STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IT
WAS GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT THE GFDRE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS IS
INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZING NGOS AS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT
FORCE AND PARTNER. NOTE: WORLD VISION'S OWN 2003 PLANNED
CONTRIBUTION (RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT) TO ETHIOPIA IS A TRULY
IMPRESSIVE U.S. 17 MILLION DOLLARS. END NOTE.
9. THE "INVESTMENTS" OF WORLD VISION AND LIKE-MINDED NGOS
AND DONORS IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 00760 02 OF 06 241650Z
THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE CAN, IF PLANNED
WELL, GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE DELIVERY OF LIFE-SAVING FOOD
AID. THE PROJECTS THAT WE SAW AMPLY DEMONSTRATED THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE TO BUILD A PLATFORM FROM WHICH PEOPLE CAN, WITH
COMPLEMENTARY DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTIONS, GRADUATE OUT OF
EMERGENCY RELIEF.
-------------------------------------------
PROJECT MERCY - "EACH FACE BEAMS WITH HOPE"
-------------------------------------------
10. PROJECT MERCY, STARTED IN 1977 BY AN ETHIOPIAN REFUGEE
COUPLE (MARTA GABRE-TSADICK AND DEMME TEKLE-WOLD) IS A FORT
WAYNE, INDIANA REGISTERED NGO WHICH MINISTERS TO THE
PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF AFRICAN REFUGEES. IN YETEBON
(GURAGUE ZONE, SNNPR), PROJECT MERCY IS FOCUSED ON HEALTH,
AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF THE LOCAL
POPULATION. TO DATE, PROJECT MERCY'S ACTIVITIES IN YETEBON
(1993-PRESENT) HAVE BEEN FUNDED (U.S. DOLLARS 4.43 MILLION)
EXCLUSIVELY BY PRIVATE U.S. DONATIONS. IMPELLED BY THE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1712
PAGE 01 ROME 00760 03 OF 06 241651Z
ACTION SSO-00
INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00
IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00
PMB-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W
------------------3A9213 241651Z /38
P 241558Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8427
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2564
INFO AMEMBASSY ASMARA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
IGAD COLLECTIVE
SECDEF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3138
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 06 ROME 000760
SIPDIS
AIDAC
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FREEMAN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 00760 03 OF 06 241651Z
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS,
D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/EA, IO/EDA WINNICK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EAGR, EU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ETHIOPIA - "IT'S EVEN
WORSE THAN I EXPECTED. ETHIOPIA IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH THE
THREAT OF FAMINE."
FAILED RAINS IN THIS ABOVE-AVERAGE FOOD-PRODUCING ZONE,
PROJECT MERCY HAS NOW EMBARKED ON AN EXTENSIVE HEALTH AND
NUTRITION OUTREACH PROGRAM TO MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE IN
EIGHT WOREDAS (DISTRICTS) OF THE SOUTHERN REGION. MARTA TOLD
OUR TEAM: "WE DESPERATELY NEED TO FOCUS ON THE MALNUTRITION
OF CHILDREN." IN OUR FIELD VISITS WITH PROJECT MERCY (IN
GURAGE AND SILTI ZONES) WE PERSONALLY SAW HUNDREDS OF
EXCEEDINGLY UNDERNOURISHED INFANTS/SMALL CHILDREN. THE
PROJECT MERCY DOCTOR WOULD POINT TO A CHILD AND SAY: "THIS
ONE WILL BE DEAD BY DAY'S END." "THAT ONE WILL MOST LIKELY
DIE TODAY OR TOMORROW."
----------------------------------
HIV/AIDS - "INHERIT THE WHIRLWIND"
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 00760 03 OF 06 241651Z
----------------------------------
11. TODAY, ETHIOPIA HAS THE THIRD LARGEST NUMBER OF HIV/AIDS
POSITIVE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD - OVER 3 MILLION AFFECTED,
250,000 ARE CHILDREN UNDER-FIVE AND THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED
ONE MILLION HIV/AIDS ORPHANS. THE TEAM WAS INFORMED THAT THE
PRESENT DEVASTATING DROUGHT WILL ONLY SPIRAL THESE NUMBERS
UPWARDS AS DROUGHT VICTIMS INCREASINGLY MIGRATE TO URBAN
AREAS, EVEN IF ONLY TEMPORARILY. IN A COUNTRY WHERE
POTENTIAL HEALTH SERVICE COVERAGE HOVERS AROUND 50 PERCENT,
COMBATING THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS HAS TO BE TAKEN ON BOARD AT
ALL LEVELS (GOVERNMENT, UN, NGOS, CIVIL SOCIETY) AS A
FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE THAT IS POISED TO WIPE OUT THE LAST
TWO DECADES OF DEVELOPMENT. A PROJECT MERCY DOCTOR WHO
TRAVELED TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH-RUN HOSPITAL IN THE VALLEY
BEYOND THE YETEBON HILL INFORMED THAT THE MAJORITY OF BEDS
THERE WERE FILLED WITH AIDS PATIENTS. NOTE: PROJECT MERCY'S
HOSPITAL WILL OPEN ITS DOORS THIS MAY. END NOTE. AMBASSADOR
HALL INTERVIEWED A YOUNG MARRIED WOMAN AT A SNNPR FOOD
DISTRIBUTION SITE. "HAVE YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND DISCUSSED
HIV/AIDS?" "YES, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT." "DO YOU KNOW WHAT
CAUSES IT AND HOW IT CAN BE PREVENTED?" "NO, WE DO NOT."
--------------------------------------------- ----
U.S. MISSION/ROME CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
--------------------------------------------- ----
12. WHILE THE UNITED STATES (WITH A COMMITMENT TO DATE OF
289,000 MTS) HAS RESPONDED GENEROUSLY TO THE 2003 JOINT
GFDRE/UN FOOD AID APPEAL FOR 1.44 METRIC TONS, GIVEN THE
GRAVITY OF THE PRESENT SITUATION, A FURTHER COMMITMENT OF
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 00760 03 OF 06 241651Z
300,000 MTS IN GRAINS AND BLENDED FOODS IS STRONGLY
RECOMMENDED. NOTE: SURVEYS IN THE AMHARA, OROMIA AND SOMALI
REGIONS PRESENTLY RECORD GLOBAL ACUTE MALNUTRITION OF AROUND
15 PERCENT, WHICH IS IN THE CRISIS RANGE BY INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS. END NOTE. A WOMAN AT A FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE
TOLD AMBASSADOR HALL: "I LEAVE THE HOUSE EARLY EVERY MORNING
BECAUSE I CAN'T FACE MY CHILDREN WITH THE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE
BARELY ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT ONCE A DAY." NOTE: THE HEIGHT OF
THE "HUNGER SEASON" WILL OCCUR IN THE APRIL THROUGH JUNE
PERIOD. END NOTE. (GIVEN THE SCARCITY OF GRAINS, THE RATION
PER PERSON HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM THE NUTRITIONALLY
RECOMMENDED 15 KILOGRAMS PER PERSON PER MONTH TO 12.5
KILOGRAMS.)
13. GREATER LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL IS REQUIRED. IN PARTICULAR THE UN
SHOULD:
-NAME A SPECIAL ENVOY TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY
AND OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF UN OPERATIONS IN RESPONDING TO
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1716
PAGE 01 ROME 00760 04 OF 06 241651Z
ACTION SSO-00
INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00
IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00
PMB-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W
------------------3A921E 241651Z /38
P 241558Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8428
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2565
INFO AMEMBASSY ASMARA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
IGAD COLLECTIVE
SECDEF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3139
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 06 ROME 000760
SIPDIS
AIDAC
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FREEMAN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 00760 04 OF 06 241651Z
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS,
D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/EA, IO/EDA WINNICK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EAGR, EU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ETHIOPIA - "IT'S EVEN
WORSE THAN I EXPECTED. ETHIOPIA IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH THE
THREAT OF FAMINE."
THE PRESENT DROUGHT IN BOTH ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA;
-PRIORITIZE ASSISTANCE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONWIDE
NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AND ASSIST THE GFDRE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE NUTRITION POLICY;
-PURSUE MORE VIGOROUSLY PROGRAMS THAT DELIVERS A COMBINATION
OF SERVICES (FOOD SUPPLEMENTS, MICRO-NUTRIENTS, HEALTH
INPUTS, IMMUNIZATIONS, ETC.) TARGETED TO THE MOST
NUTRITIONALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS IN THE POPULATION (E.G.,
INFANTS AND PREGNANT WOMEN);
-QUICKLY INTENSIFY AND EXPAND ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN
HIV/AIDS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, CARE FOR ORPHANS, AND
TRAINING FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BETTER MANAGE
STI/HIV/AIDS. SPECIFICALLY, THE UN (AND THEIR PARTNER NGOS)
SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FOOD DELIVERIES (WHERE LARGE
NUMBERS OF BENEFICIARIES OFTEN WAIT FOR HOURS TO RECEIVE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 00760 04 OF 06 241651Z
THEIR RATION) TO IMPART MOTHER-CHILD CARE HEALTH TRAINING
AND NUTRITION EDUCATION MESSAGES. IN PARTICULAR, FEEDING
SITES COULD SERVE AS FOCAL POINTS FOR IMMUNIZATIONS AGAINST
MEASLES AND OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS TYPHUS,
RELAPSING FEVER, MENINGITIS.
NOTE: THE TEAM REPEATEDLY HEARD THAT IN THIS EMERGENCY,
EXCEPTING WFP, THE REST OF THE UN ORGANIZATIONS IN ETHIOPIA
ARE "NOT EVEN ON THE RADAR SCREEN." AA/DCHA WINTER COMMENTED
THAT TO DATE "HE HAD NOT RECEIVED A SINGLE CALL FROM ANYONE
IN THE UN-SYSTEM ON THE PRESENT ETHIOPIA CRISIS." AMBASSADOR
HALL, WHEN WE MET WITH THE UN COUNTRY TEAM ON THE FINAL DAY
OF OUR TRIP, REMINDED THEM THAT: "THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL
BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW." END NOTE.
14. THE GFDRE, DONORS AND THE UN NEED TO REASSESS THE SIZE
OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY (EFSR) RESERVE
(PRESENTLY 407,000 MTS). GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF RECENT
DISASTERS, A RESERVE OF 650,000-750,000 MTS WOULD SEEM MORE
APPROPRIATE. A LARGER RESERVE COULD ALSO SERVE AS A PRICE-
STABILIZATION MECHANISM IN GOOD YEARS. NOTE: EVEN IN NON-
DROUGHT YEARS, ABOUT 5 MILLION PEOPLE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE
MONEY TO BUY FOOD. END NOTE. SPECIFICALLY, WFP IS ENCOURAGED
TO UTILIZE THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
(IFPRI), A PART OF THE CGIAR-NETWORK, TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF
THE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE OF LOCAL GRAIN PURCHASES BY DONORS
WITHIN ETHIOPIA.
15. ETHIOPIA CONTRIBUTED 100,000 MTS IN EMERGENCY FOOD
ASSISTANCE TO THE EFSR FROM THEIR BUDGET IN 2000 AND 45,000
MTS IN 2002. GFDRE SHOULD BE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO MATCH
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 00760 04 OF 06 241651Z
ITS 2000 CONTRIBUTION IN 2003.
16. P.L.480 TITLE I AND/OR FOOD FOR PROGRESS BILATERAL
OPTIONS SHOULD BE URGENTLY REVIEWED WITH USDA/FAS' REGIONAL
AGRICULTURAL ATTACHE. NOTE: A TITLE I CONTRIBUTION COULD BE
"EARMARKED" BY THE GFDRE FOR THE EFSR AS WAS DONE WITH
USAID/TITLE III FOOD ASSISTANCE IN 1999. END NOTE. IN THE
LONGER-TERM, GFDRE AND DONORS NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
ETHIOPIA'S STRUCTURAL FOOD DEFICIT (APPROXIMATELY 700,000
MTS/ANNUM) AND FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE NATIONAL CAPACITY TO
IMPORT FOOD ON TIME TO WHERE IT IS NEEDED AND DIRECTLY
ADDRESS THIS DEFICIT IN ITS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.
MOREOVER, THE DPPC COMMISSIONER PROMISED A LETTER REQUESTING
USDA TO SUPPLY 10,000 MTS OF SECTION 416(B) MILK POWDER FOR
THE PRESENT EMERGENCY.
17. GIVEN THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF SUPPLEMENTARY FOODS
PRESENTLY IN COUNTRY, USAID SHOULD FUND THE IMMEDIATE
PURCHASE OF BLENDED FOOD FROM THE HOUSE OF MANGO IN NAIROBI
AND BEGIN OVERLAND SHIPMENTS FROM MOMBASSA TO DJIBOUTI AS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1720
PAGE 01 ROME 00760 05 OF 06 241651Z
ACTION SSO-00
INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00
IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00
PMB-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W
------------------3A922D 241652Z /38
P 241558Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8429
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2566
INFO AMEMBASSY ASMARA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
IGAD COLLECTIVE
SECDEF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3140
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 06 ROME 000760
SIPDIS
AIDAC
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FREEMAN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 00760 05 OF 06 241651Z
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS,
D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/EA, IO/EDA WINNICK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EAGR, EU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ETHIOPIA - "IT'S EVEN
WORSE THAN I EXPECTED. ETHIOPIA IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH THE
THREAT OF FAMINE."
SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SHORT-TERM AIRLIFT
OPERATION USING MILITARY ASSETS SHOULD ALSO BE EXPLORED.
MOREOVER, USAID/OTHER DONORS SHOULD CONSIDER PROVISION (VIA
AIRLIFT) OF BOTH F-75 AND F-100 FOR THERAPEUTIC FEEDING.
UNICEF IS ENCOURAGED TO IMMEDIATELY INCREASE ITS CURRENT
AVAILABILITY OF THESE SUPPLEMENTS AND TO BUILD UP A
CONTINGENCY STOCK.
18. CONTINGENCY PLANNING EFFORTS SHOULD BE EXPLORED IN CASE
THE THROUGHPUT OF THE PORT OF DJIBOUTI IS REDUCED BECAUSE OF
SECURITY ISSUES OR CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS (THE LATTER IS NOT
ENVISAGED WITH THE CURRENT DELIVERY SCHEDULE). A TRIAL
SHIPMENT OF SOME 5,000 TO 10,000 MT OF CEREALS SHOULD BE
DISPATCHED THROUGH PORT SUDAN.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 00760 05 OF 06 241651Z
19. USAID/WASHINGTON SHOULD EXTEND THE DURATION OF THE OFDA
ASSESSMENT TEAM IN COUNTRY AND CONSIDER THE EXPANSION OF
OFDA NON-FOOD SUPPORT COVERAGE, PRESENTLY ASSISTING 500,000
VULNERABLE PEOPLE. FURTHER, USAID SHOULD PROVIDE (IF
FEASIBLE) OFDA GRANT AUTHORITY IN COUNTRY TO BETTER ENSURE
RAPID RESPONSE TO NON-FOOD REQUIREMENTS AND COUNTER-FAMINE
MEASURES/INITIATIVES.
20. USAID ETHIOPIA IS TO BE LAUDED FOR REPROGRAMMING U.S. 17
MILLION DOLLARS IN UNUSED NON-PROJECT (NPA) ASSISTANCE FROM
PRIOR YEARS FOR USE IN HEALTH AND NUTRITION INVENTIONS
RELATED TO THE PRESENT CRISIS. USAID IS ENCOURAGED TO
"SCRUB" FURTHER ITS IN-COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO TO
ENSURE THAT ALL POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM "RESIDUES" HAVE
BEEN IDENTIFIED.
21. US MISSION/ROME WILL DEEPEN DIALOGUE WITH FAO RELATED TO
INTENSIFICATION OF FAO EFFORTS IN ETHIOPIA ON ITS
ACKNOWLEDGED AREAS OF "COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE" (SOIL AND
WATER CONSERVATION, SPS CAPACITY BUILDING, REFORESTATION,
TRANSBOUNDRY PESTS, GLOBAL EARLY WARNING, RIFT VALLEY FEVER
CONTROL, ETC.).
22. GFDRE AND DONORS SHOULD FOCUS PRIORITY ATTENTION IN THE
MEDIUM AND LONGER-TERM TO THE 156 ALREADY IDENTIFIED MOST
DROUGHT-PRONE WOREDAS IN THE FOUR LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS
AND ASK GFDRE TO SIMILARLY PRIORITIZE THE MOST VULNERABLE
WOREDAS IN SOMALI AND AFAR REGIONS.
23. THERE APPEARS TO BE A LOSS OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AMONG
SOME DONORS AND IN CERTAIN DONOR CAPITALS OF JUST HOW
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 00760 05 OF 06 241651Z
MASSIVE AND DEVASTATING WAS THE 1984-85 FAMINE. HIGH-PROFILE
CRISES ELSEWHERE HAVE KEPT ETHIOPIA OFF THE TELEVISION
SCREENS. AMBASSADOR HALL MET BY CHANCE WITH ONE DONOR WHO
(WHILE ADMITTING BEING UNABLE TO TRAVEL BEYOND ADDIS ABABA)
ASSURED THAT "THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION IS
UNDOUBTEDLY EXAGGERATED" AND "THE MATTER IS WELL IN HAND."
HEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM. WE ALL NEED TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS
TO BROADCAST THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVERT IMMINENT
TRAGEDY. THE MEDIA NEEDS TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVELY ENGAGED. AS
PER THE U.S. CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) (PRESENTLY
ASSESSING THE NUTRITIONAL AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASE STATUS IN
FOUR ETHIOPIAN GEOGRAPHIC ZONES), THEY ESTIMATE (FEBRUARY-
JUNE 2003) 32,000 EXCESS DEATHS DUE TO DROUGHT WILL OCCUR IN
THE REVIEWED AREAS. IF THIS TREND IS PROJECTED NATIONALLY,
(AND FACTORING IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO E.G., SUB-STANDARD
BELG RAINS), EXCESS DEATHS COULD REACH AS HIGH AS 300,000 TO
500,000 PEOPLE BY THE END OF 2003. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1722
PAGE 01 ROME 00760 06 OF 06 241652Z
ACTION SSO-00
INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00
IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00
PMB-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W
------------------3A9231 241652Z /38
P 241558Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8430
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2567
INFO AMEMBASSY ASMARA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
IGAD COLLECTIVE
SECDEF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3141
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 06 OF 06 ROME 000760
SIPDIS
AIDAC
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FREEMAN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 00760 06 OF 06 241652Z
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS,
D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/EA, IO/EDA WINNICK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EAGR, EU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ETHIOPIA - "IT'S EVEN
WORSE THAN I EXPECTED. ETHIOPIA IS ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH THE
THREAT OF FAMINE."
------------------------------------
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM AMBASSADOR HALL
------------------------------------
24. MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL
AND STAFF FOR BRINGING TO FRUITION (ON FEBRUARY 20) A
MONUMENT ON EMBASSY GROUNDS HONORING U.S. CONGRESSMAN MICKEY
LELAND AND USAID/STATE DEPARTMENT STAFF, BOTH AMERICAN AND
ETHIOPIAN - WHO TRAGICALLY DIED ON A HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO
A REMOTE AREA OF WESTERN ETHIOPIA ON AUGUST 7, 1989. BOTH
MICKEY AND I SERVED TOGETHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ON THE
HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON HUNGER WHERE HE WORKED TIRELESSLY
TO MAKE OTHER LIVES BETTER. AND WHILE MICKEY TRAVELED ALL
OVER THE WORLD TO ASSIST THE HUNGRY POOR, HE HAD A SPECIAL
LOVE FOR ETHIOPIA. HE REMAINS FOR ME (AND FOR ALL WHO KNEW
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 00760 06 OF 06 241652Z
HIM) A LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE DEEP COMPASSION AND GENEROSITY
OF AMERICA.
25. AS AA/DCHA WINTER WENT ON DIRECTLY TO SUDAN, HE DID NOT
HAVE A CHANCE TO CLEAR THIS CABLE. HALL
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2003ROME00760 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Latest source of this page is cablebrowser-2, released 2011-10-04