WFP RESUMES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO INSIZA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002862 SIPDIS USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR HAJJAR, KHANDAGLE AND MARX, DCHA/FFP FOR LANDIS, BRAUSE, SKORIC AND PETERSEN, AFR/SA FOR FORT, POE AND COPSON, AFR/SD FOR ISALROW AND WHELAN STATE FOR AF/S DELISI AND RAYNOR NAIROBI FOR DCHA/OFDA/ARO FOR RILEY, MYER AND SMITH, REDSO/ESA/FFP FOR SENYKOFF GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO UNOCHA, IFRC PRETORIA FOR USAID/DCHA/FFP FOR DISKIN, DCHA/OFDA FOR BRY AND FAS FOR HELM ROME PLEASE PASS TO FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL US ZI SUBJECT: WFP RESUMES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO INSIZA REF: HARARE 02845 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The World Food Programme (WFP) resumed general food distributions to Insiza District on Monday, December 16, ¶2002. The USAID Emergency Food for Peace Officer (FFPO) visited two villages in Insiza district on December 18, ¶2002. The FFPO monitored the distribution and verified that the food assistance was being distributed to its intended beneficiaries. Villagers in Insiza report that they have not yet planted due to insufficient rainfall a that they expect to remain dependent on WFP food assistance. END SUMMARY. -------------- WFP RESUMES DISTRIBUTION IN INSIZA -------------- ¶2. The WFP implementing partner (IP),the Organization o Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP),resumed distribution of food assistance to the district of Insiza on December 16, 2002. WFP had suspended general distribution of food assistance following the seizure and improper distribution of 3.6 metric tons (MT) of food (consisting of maize) by pro-ZANU-PF supporters in the ru up to the October parliamentary bi-election in Insiza. After receiving assurances from the Government of Zimbabw (GOZ) that there would be no further manipulation of food assistance, WFP made the determination to resume distribution (see reftel). This round of renewed general food distributions to Insiza are expected to be completed by December 21, 2002, with a total of 9,088 households receiving assistance. A total of 640 MT food assistance including 530 MT of maize meal, is to be distributed. ¶3. The FFPO visited Insiza district on December 18, 2002 to monitor the resumption of food distribution and to ensure that no manipulation of food assistance was taking place. In the village of Lubuze, the FFPO observed the distribution of some 135 MT of maize meal, beans, and cor soy blend (CSB) to 1,115 beneficiary households. Due to pipeline shortages, no vegetable oil was provided for distribution. Because the October food distribution to Insiza was suspended before all wards received assistanc three final delivery points (FDPs),including Lubuze, hav not received WFP food assistance distribution since September. WFP made the determination to give these thr FDPs a double distribution during December. Therefore, Lubuze, the beneficiaries were each receiving 20 kilogra (KG) maize meal, 2 kg beans, and 1 kg CSB. According to WFP ration standards, each beneficiary household can receive food assistance for a maximum of five individual Thus, a household with eight members receives the same allocation as a household with five members. ¶4. The actual distribution to the 1,115 households in t Lubuze catchment area was conducted by ORAP efficiently quickly. Unfortunately, because 75 percent of the maize meal was delivered to the FDP several hours late, most o . the beneficiaries were forced to wait much of the day or the distribution to begin. ORP conducted group distributions, whereby households with five or more beneficiaries were separated into groups of ten. Each group was then allocated twenty 50 KG sacks of maize mea two 50 KG sacks of beans, and two 25 KG bags of CSB. The actual allocation to each individual household was conducted by each group. Use of the group distribution method greatly reduced the time needed for individual distributions. Beneficiaries with fewer than five family members received individual distributions. -------------- GMB FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ARE INSUFFICIENT -------------- ¶5. The FFPO conducted two informal focus group interview with the waiting beneficiaries in Lubuze and a household survey in the neighboring ward of Sidzibe. These groups reported that there had been no government maize distributions through the Zimbabwe Grain Marketing Board (GMB) since the October bi-election. In order to receiv GMB maize distributions, both groups and the individual household reported that they registered for the GMB distributions with their village heads, and then distribution was made on a first-come, first-served basi to those who had the money to buy. They also reported t the maize distributed by GMB only covered about 20 perce of the households. Upon being asked directly whether th had been any political manipulation of the GMB maize, al responded that there had not been. They reported that t GMB controlled price during the October distribution was 500 Zimbabwean dollars per 50 KG sack of maize. The current local (black) market price of maize meal was reported as 1,600 Zimbabwean dollars for 20 kg, which is much lower than in other districts, where 20 kg can run high as 4,000 Zimbabwean dollars. -------------- CONTINUED DROUGHT UNDERMINES FOOD SECURITY -------------- ¶6. The villagers reported that there had not been any rains in almost two months. While driving through Insiz district, the FFPO noted that there was very little grou vegetation and that most fields had not yet been planted The few cattle seen walking through the villages were noticeably thin, with their ribs very pronounced. No on in either focus group reported that they had planted yet this year due to the lack of rain. Everyone reported th they had received seed maize from the GMB during October and had just received sorghum and cow pea distributions from World Vision. The villagers reported that if rains begin, they would still be able to plant through the end January. All villagers expected that they would remain dependent on food assistance from WFP. ¶7. The villagers reported that cattle were dying at an alarming rate due to lack of food. All villagers that t FFPO spoke with reported that they had each lost cattle, and that as many as 20 per day were dying throughout the neighboring wards. They also reported that the sales pri of the cattle had dropped dramatically, to about 10,000 Zimbabwean dollars, down from about 80,000, because the cattle were so thin and wasted. WHITEHEAD