SIERRA LEONE: A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN FOOD

UNCLAS ROME 001182

SIPDIS

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HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 ROME 001182

SIPDIS

FROM AMEMBASSY ROME

GENEVA FOR RMA FOR NANCE KYLOH
USEU BRUSSELS FOR KFULLER AND KDEBLAUW
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP, AFR
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER LEBLANC
USUN FOR LSHESTACK
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
BAMAKO FOR NESTES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF WFP UN
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE: A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN FOOD
SECURITY

REF: A) ROME 1446, 03/15/01

B) ROME 1011, 02/26/02
C) CONAKRY 370, 02/27/02

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. USAID STAFF FROM THE U.S. MISSION IN ROME AND FOOD
UNCLASSIFIED

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FOR PEACE/WASHINGTON TRAVELED TO GUINEA, SIERRA
LEONE, AND LIBERIA JANUARY 27 THROUGH FEBRUARY 7 TO
REVIEW THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION FOR REFUGEES,
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS),AND RETURNEES.
THIS REPORT FOCUSES SOLELY ON SIERRA LEONE. GUINEA
AND LIBERIA HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN REFTELS B AND C.


2. THE OVERALL FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN SIERRA
LEONE IMPROVED DURING 2001, DUE TO A BETTER SECURITY
SITUATION AND ENHANCED AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY.
RESETTLEMENT OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS)
AND RETURNEES REMAINS A PRIORITY. WHILE THE
GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE (GOSL) HAS DECLARED MOST
CHIEFDOMS SAFE FOR RETURN AND OVER 76,000
IDPS/RETURNEES WERE RESETTLED IN 2001, SOME CHIEFDOMS
OF KONO AND KAILAHUN DISTRICTS REMAIN UNSAFE FOR
RETURN. THE FORMIDABLE TASKS OF REINTEGRATION AND
REHABILITATION NEED TO CONTINUE VIA FOOD FOR WORK AND
FOOD FOR AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES WITH PARTICULAR
EMPHASIS ON VOLATILE AREAS, SO AS TO MAXIMIZE THE
CHANCES OF A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT BEFORE AND AFTER
THE ELECTIONS, CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN MAY

2001. AS OF FEBRUARY, THERE WERE 125,000 IDPS
REGISTERED IN CAMPS AND WITH HOST FAMILIES AND
APPROXIMATELY 107,000 REGISTERED SIERRA LEONEAN
REFUGEES IN THE REGION. CONTINGENCY PLANNING THE
U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) FACES A COMPLETE BREAK
IN ITS PIPELINE IN JULY. DONATIONS ARE URGENTLY
NEEDED. SEE PARA 51 FOR RECOMMENDATIONS. END
SUMMARY.

UNCLASSIFIED

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BACKGROUND
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3. JANUARY 27 THROUGH FEBRUARY 7, SENIOR EMERGENCY
COORDINATOR (SEC) IN THE U.S. MISSION/ROME REGINA
DAVIS AND DALE SKORIC, USAID/DCHA/FOOD FOR PEACE
OFFICER (FFPO),TRAVELED TO GUINEA, SIERRA LEONE, AND
LIBERIA TO REVIEW THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION FOR
REFUGEES, INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS),AND
RETURNEES. WFP'S DEPUTY FOR THE WEST AFRICA REGION,
ARNOLD VERCKEN, ACCOMPANIED THE USAID TEAM TO ALL
THREE COUNTRIES. THE TEAM ALSO GOT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO DISCUSS REFUGEE OPERATIONS WITH BRUCE KNOTTS,
STATE DEPARTMENT REGIONAL REFUGEE COORDINATOR (REF
COORD),DURING ITS TIME IN SIERRA LEONE.


4. THE TEAM MET WITH WFP/SIERRA LEONE (SL),THE THREE
FOOD PIPELINE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE
U.N. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION (FAO),AND
TRAVELED TO THE DISTRICTS OF KAMBIA IN THE NORTHWEST
(BORDERING FORECARIAH REGION OF GUINEA) AND KAILAHUN
IN THE EAST BORDERING THE LANGUETTE REGION OF GUINEA
AND ALSO CLOSE TO LIBERIA. IN KAILAHUN DISTRICT, THE
USAID TEAM VISITED AN IMPROMPTU, UNOFFICIAL LIBERIAN
REFUGEE CAMP LOCATED IN BUEDU, SEVERAL KILOMETERS
FROM THE LIBERIAN BORDER, AND WENT TO DARU TOWN.


5. OVER THE PAST DECADE, SIERRA LEONE HAS SUFFERED
FROM A BRUTAL CIVIL WAR. THE CONFLICT HAS BOTH ADDED
TO AND BEEN FUELED BY UNREST WITHIN THE SUB-REGION.
UNCLASSIFIED

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THE CURRENT CEASE-FIRE AND DISARMAMENT PROCESS,
OVERSEEN BY 17,500 U.N. MISSION IN SIERRA LEONE
(UNAMSIL) TROOPS DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, HAS
ALLOWED ACCESS TO MANY PREVIOUSLY INSECURE AREAS.
INCREASED ACCESS HAS ENCOURAGED RETURN OF REFUGEES
AND IDPS AND HAS PROMPTED THE GOSL TO LAUNCH ITS
RESETTLEMENT STRATEGY.


6. THE SEC VISITED GUINEA AND SIERRA LEONE AT THE
SAME TIME LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE
UNREST ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN SIERRA LEONE AND
GUINEA (REF TEL A). MANY SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEES
WERE RETURNING TO SIERRA LEONE FROM GUINEA, BUT THEIR
ACTUAL HOME AREA(S) WERE UNSAFE FOR RETURN. RETURNEE
CAMPS WERE BUILT AS AN INTERIM MEASURE. AS MANY OF
THE RETURNEES CAME FROM THE DISTRICTS OF KONO AND
KAILAHUN, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER REMAIN IN THE INTERIM
CAMPS TODAY. THOSE COMING FROM OTHER DISTRICTS
WITHIN SIERRA LEONE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED TO
THEIR HOME DISTRICTS.

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DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAM
-------------- --------------


7. THE GOVERNMENT'S NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR
DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILISATION AND REINTEGRATION (NCDDR)
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE DDR PROGRAM.
WHILE EARLIER CONSTRAINED, PROGRESS UNDER THE DDR
PROGRAM SINCE MAY 2001 HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RAPID.
SINCE JANUARY 2001, OVER 46,000 COMBATANTS HAVE
UNCLASSIFIED

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TURNED IN SOME 14,500 WEAPONS AND 1.3 MILLION ROUNDS
OF AMMUNITION.


8. WFP HAS TARGETED 2,574 FEMALE AND 23,161 MALE EX-
COMBATANTS WITH 414 METRIC TONS (MT) OF FOOD
ASSISTANCE, BUT ANTICIPATES THAT ALL ITS COMMITMENTS
FOR THE DDR PROGRAM WILL BE SATISFIED BY THE END OF
MARCH 2002, AT WHICH TIME THIS PROJECT WILL BE
OFFICIALLY CLOSED. THEREAFTER, THE TRUE CHALLENGE
WILL BE TO FIND ACTIVITIES FOR A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF
THE DEMOBILIZED COMBATANTS, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF
THE COUNTRY WHERE LITTLE INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
OR CAPACITY EXISTS. IN THIS REGARD, THE FOUR
USAID/FFP-SUPPORTED FOOD PIPELINE AGENCIES (FPAS),
NAMELY WFP, CARE, CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS) AND
WORLD VISION, HAVE DESIGNED FOOD-FOR-WORK (FFW)
PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO AREAS UNDERGOING
HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF PHYSICAL
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.


9. IN EARLY JANUARY, THE FFW PROJECTS WERE NOTED BY
BOTH THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE GOSL AS A MAJOR
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE REINTEGRATION PROCESS. THE FPAS
PLAN TO EXPAND THEIR EFFORTS IN 2002 TO MAXIMIZE THE
GAINS IN THE CURRENT PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT. THESE
SUPPORTED ACTIVITIES SHOULD NOT BE ERODED.


10. AT THE SAME TIME DURING 2001, 2,758 DISARMED
CHILD COMBATANTS ENTERED UNICEF INTERIM CARE CENTERS
(ICCS). WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY (AORS),ALL FPAS PROVIDED A FULL FOOD
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RATION OF 2,100 KILOCALORIES (KC) PER DAY PER CHILD
IN THE ICCS PENDING REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILIES OR
ASSIGNMENT TO FOSTER HOMES. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
216 STILL IN THE ICCS AND 284 IN ALTERNATIVE CARE
(I.E. FOSTER HOMES OR INDEPENDENT LIVING
ARRANGEMENTS),ALL THE CHILDREN WERE REUNIFIED WITH
FAMILIES BY THE END OF 2001. A MAJORITY OF THE
CHILDREN ALSO ENTERED A COMMUNITY EDUCATION
INVESTMENT PROGRAM WITH SOME RECEIVING SKILLS
TRAINING SUPPORTED BY NCDDR.

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RESETTLEMENT
--------------


11. DURING LATE 2001 AND INTO 2002, THE SECURITY
SITUATION IMPROVED IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PROVINCES. SUCH STABLE PHYSICAL
CONDITIONS HAVE PROMPTED A STEADY RETURN TO NEWLY-
DECLARED SAFE AREAS. PARTS OF THE EASTERN AND
NORTHERN PROVINCES REMAIN INSECURE WHERE POPULATION
MOVEMENTS SEEM TO BE LESS FLUID, NOT ONLY DUE TO
INSECURITY BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF BAD ROADS, POOR TRADE
LINKS, MARKET INACCESSIBILITY, AND LOW PURCHASING
POWER.


12. ALTHOUGH THE GOSL IS ANXIOUS FOR ALL REFUGEES
AND IDPS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME AREAS, THE U.N. HIGH
COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) AND WFP MAINTAIN A
POLICY THAT VOLUNTARY RETURN BE CARRIED OUT UNDER
CONDITIONS OF SAFETY AND DIGNITY. UNHCR HAS ISSUED A
UNCLASSIFIED

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STATEMENT CLARIFYING THAT IT WILL FACILITATE
VOLUNTARY REFUGEE REPATRIATION ONLY TO AREAS ASSESSED
TO BE SAFE FOR RETURN BY UNHCR. RETURNEES
ORIGINATING FROM INSECURE AREAS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE INTERIM SITES. THOSE
WHO WISH TO RETURN HOME FROM A THIRD COUNTRY ARE
TRANSPORTED TO THE NEAREST SAFE AREA. AS OF FEBRUARY
1, THERE WERE 36,892 SIERRA LEONEAN RETURNEES IN THE
FOUR INTERIM SETTLEMENTS OF JEMBE, GERRIHUN, TAIAMA
AND BANDAJUMA. THERE ARE ALSO 125,000 IDPS
REGISTERED IN CAMPS AND WITH HOST FAMILIES AND
APPROXIMATELY 107,000 REGISTERED SIERRA LEONEAN
REFUGEES IN THE REGION, WITH OVER 93,000 LOCATED IN
GUINEA AND LIBERIA.

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COMMITTEE ON FOOD AID/COORDINATION AMONG THE FPAS
-------------- --------------


13. IN THE FOOD AID SECTOR, THE FPAS HAVE DEVELOPED
POLICIES AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE UNIFORM AND
CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOD AID PROGRAMS. THE
MECHANISM FOR COLLABORATION IS THE COMMITTEE ON FOOD
AID (CFA). THE CFA MEMBERSHIP IS COMPOSED OF SENIOR
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FPAS, MAJOR FOOD AID DONORS,
OCHA, FAO, THE GOSL, AND CHAIRED BY WFP. UNHCR HAS
OBSERVER STATUS. THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDED
GEOGRAPHICALLY INTO FOUR AORS WHERE EACH FPA HAS THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING NEEDED FOOD RESOURCES
WITHIN ITS AOR. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS REGARDING
SHARING OF GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS ARE DEVELOPED
UNCLASSIFIED

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BILATERALLY BY THE AGENCIES INVOLVED.


14. ALTHOUGH THE FPAS SEEM TO HAVE ESTABLISHED A
WORKABLE SYSTEM AMONG THEMSELVES REGARDING THE
SHARING OF GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS, MAKING ALTERATIONS TO
AN AOR IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMPLEX AS TIME GOES
ON. FOR EXAMPLE, CRS IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A FFW
RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM IN KAMBIA DISTRICT, WHICH IS
THE AOR OF WFP. BECAUSE CRS IS THE SPONSOR OF THE
PROJECT, CRS WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE ITS OWN FOOD FOR
THE FFW, BUT SINCE THE PROJECT IS IN WFP'S AOR, CRS
MUST ASK WFP'S PERMISSION TO DO SO. ON THE SURFACE,
CRS PROVIDING ITS FOOD FOR ITS PROJECT WOULD SEEM TO
BE FAR SIMPLER THAN HAVING WFP DELIVER THE FOOD TO
THE PROJECT, BUT WHEN SUCH A REQUEST IS MULTIPLIED BY
OTHER LIKE REQUESTS, IT CAN BECOME QUITE COMPLICATED.


15. THE IRONY IS THAT WFP IS SUFFERING PIPELINE
PROBLEMS AND HAS ASKED CRS FOR A LOAN, SO IN ESSENCE
WFP WOULD BE PROVIDING CRS ITS OWN FOOD IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE AORS. FLEXIBILITY ON
THESE MATTERS IS OBVIOUSLY NEEDED. (NOTE: THE USAID
TEAM WAS ASKED MORE THAN ONCE FOR ITS VIEW ABOUT
LOANS TO WFP. FPAS ARE BECOMING RELUCTANT TO LEND
WFP FOOD COMMODITIES DUE TO WFP'S UNCERTAIN/WEAK
PIPELINE. PLEASE SEE PARAS 45-48 BELOW REGARDING
PIPELINE INFORMATION. END NOTE).


16. UPDATED EACH YEAR, THE CFA STRATEGY FOR 2002 IS
TO BE FINALIZED IN MARCH 2002. PARTICULARLY FOR
2003, THE CFA MUST DETERMINE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF
UNCLASSIFIED

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FOOD AID. THE CFA WILL ALSO NEED TO CONTINUE TO
CLOSELY MONITOR THE SHORT AND MIDTERM IMPACT OF FOOD
AID NOW BEING PROVIDED IN ORDER TO GUARD AGAINST
CREATING DISINCENTIVES TO LOCAL AGRICULTURE. THE CFA
IS THE ONLY NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY AN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION (I.E. WFP) AND THUS THE
CFA NEEDS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH FAO AND THE
AGRICULTURAL NGOS, AS WELL AS ENSURE THAT IT
ENCOURAGES AND BUILDS THE GOSL CAPACITY SO IT CAN
TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FORMULATION OF
APPROPRIATE FOOD AID STRATEGIES AND POLICIES.

--------------
ASSESSING NEEDS
--------------


17. IN THE FALL OF 2001, MARK LAWRENCE FROM SAVE THE
CHILDREN/UK TRAINED WFP INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL STAFF
IN THE FOOD ECONOMY ASSESSMENT (FEA) METHODOLOGY.
FOLLOWING THE TRAINING, WFP STAFF IN CONJUNCTION WITH
STAFF FROM THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, MINISTRY OF
DEVELOPMENT, AND AFRICARE CONDUCTED A COMMUNITY FOOD
SECURITY PROFILING (CFSP) ASSESSMENT IN SIX FOOD
ECONOMY AREAS IN WFP'S AOR FROM NOVEMBER 11 TO
DECEMBER 3. THE AIM WAS TO EXPLORE AND DEFINE THE
CAUSES, SEASONALITY, AND LEVELS OF FOOD VULNERABILITY
AMONG SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
THE RESULTS FROM WFP'S WORK HIGHLIGHTED THE MAIN
RISKS AND CONSTRAINTS THAT PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM
BREAKING OUT OF THE VULNERABILITY CYCLE. THE
FINDINGS WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES ON WFP'S 2002
UNCLASSIFIED

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OPERATIONS, BENEFICIARY TARGETING, AND MONITORING AND
EVALUATION OF PROJECTS.


18. ALTHOUGH SUCH INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL IN
UNDERSTANDING THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN SIERRA
LEONE AND THE FEA MODEL IS A GOOD ONE, THE USAID TEAM
WAS DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT WFP HAD NEITHER
INVOLVED THE FPAS IN THE PROCESS, NOR HAD KEPT THEM
INFORMED OF ITS PLANS. UNICEF AND FAO WERE ALSO NOT
INCLUDED IN THE WORK. CONSEQUENTLY ONLY WFP'S AOR
HAS BEEN ANALYZED BY THE CFSP, AND THEREFORE A
COUNTRY-WIDE PERSPECTIVE ON FOOD SECURITY IS MISSING
AT THIS TIME. PROGRESS NEEDS TO BE MADE ON OBTAINING
FOOD SECURITY DATA ON THE ENTIRE COUNTRY USING THE
SAME METHODOLOGY.


19. BEING LOCKED OUT OF THE CFSP PROCESS FROM THE
BEGINNING, THE OTHER FPAS TOLD THE FFPO AND SEC THEY
ARE WILLING TO BE BROUGHT ON BOARD TO THE CFSP. THE
TEAM DISCUSSED WFP'S LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH ITS
MANAGEMENT AND RECOMMENDED THAT EFFORTS BE MADE TO BE
MORE TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATIVE. WFP AGREED THAT
FURTHER CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE CFSP WOULD BE
PROVIDED TO THE FPAS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL
BE EVER MORE IMPORTANT IF THE CFSP FINDINGS ARE TO BE
INCORPORATED INTO THE 2002 CFA STRATEGY.


20. COMMENT: WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES SENSE TO TRAIN
THREE NGOS IN THE FEA METHODOLOGY SO THAT THEY CAN
CONDUCT A CFSP IN THEIR AORS IS DEBATABLE. AT THIS
POINT, IT MIGHT BE MORE COST-EFFICIENT AND
UNCLASSIFIED

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EXPEDITIOUS TO BRING FAO AND UNICEF INTO THE PROCESS,
WHO WAS ALSO EARLIER LOCKED OUT, TO JOIN FORCES WITH
WFP TO CONDUCT A NATIONWIDE FOOD SECURITY SURVEY.
THIS MUST BE DISCUSSED IN THE FIELD WITH ALL RELEVANT
PARTNERS AND A CONCLUSION QUICKLY REACHED. END
COMMENT.

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FOOD SECURITY / AGRICULTURE
--------------

21 . THE 2002 CEREAL NEEDS FOR SIERRA LEONE TOTAL
550,000 MT. CURRENT PRODUCTION AND IMPORTS FOR 2002
ARE ESTIMATED AT 290,000 MT. TOTAL FOOD PROGRAMMED
BY THE FPAS FOR SIERRA LEONE FOR 2002 AMOUNT TO
82,000 MT, LEAVING A CEREAL DEFICIT OF OVER 178,000
MT.


22. THE OVERALL FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IMPROVED
DURING 2001 AS A RESULT OF THE GOSL AND DONORS,
THROUGH THEIR IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS, PROVIDING
AGRICULTURAL INPUTS (RICE, GROUNDNUT AND VEGETABLES
SEEDS, ROOTS AND TUBERS PLANTING MATERIALS, WATERING
CANS) TO THE RELATIVELY SAFE AND STABLE COMMUNITIES.
HARVESTS OF RICE, CASSAVA, SWEET POTATO AND
VEGETABLES WERE RATED GOOD' IN THE DISTRICTS OF BO,
KENEMA, PORT LOKO, BOMBALI AND KAMBIA. IT SHOULD BE
NOTED THAT VERY FEW AGENCIES VENTURED INTO THE LESS
SAFE AREAS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY
INPUTS.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01182 06 OF 13 070644Z

23. WFP HAS NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF MARKET SELLERS
IN ITS AORS INCREASED AND THAT MOST OF THE LOCALLY-
PRODUCED FOOD ITEMS LIKE ROUGH AND PARBOILED RICE,
PALM OIL, CASSAVA, POTATO LEAVES AND TUBERS WERE
COMING FROM THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES AND CHIEFDOMS.
THE PRIMARY PERSISTING CONCERN RELATED TO FOOD
SECURITY, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE BORDER AREAS, IS THE
POTENTIAL FOR LARGE AND RAPID INFLUXES OF REFUGEES
AND RETURNEES FROM LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE.


24. WFP ALSO RECENTLY LEARNED FROM ITS CFSP THAT
ALTHOUGH RETURNEES ARE ABLE TO PURSUE VARIOUS
STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING FOOD AND INCOME, A LARGE
CONCENTRATION OF RETURNEES WILL INEVITABLY STRAIN,
AND IN CERTAIN CASES, OVERWHELM LOCAL ABSORPTION
CAPACITY, HENCE CREATING COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES.
THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE STATE OF FOOD SECURITY
BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND RETURNEES IS NOT AS GREAT AS
EXPECTED. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SAFE AND PREVIOUSLY INSECURE AREAS IS ALSO NOT AS
GREAT AS EXPECTED. THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO A LACK OF
CONFIDENCE EVEN IN SAFE AREAS, COMBINED WITH THE
DIVERSION OF THE LABOR FORCE TO DEFENSIVE ACTIVITIES,
AS WELL AS TO ADVERSE MARKET CONDITIONS IN SAFE
AREAS.


25. THE TEAM SUPPORTS AN INCREASE OF FOOD-FOR-
AGRICULTURE (FFAG) AND FOOD-FOR-TRAINING (FFT)
PROGRAM ACTIVITY, WITH THE LATTER CONCENTRATING ON
PROJECTS GEARED TO LOW-INCOME GROUPS ACQUIRING
VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL SKILLS AND LITERACY THAT WILL
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 06 OF 13 070644Z
CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR ABILITY TO BECOME FINANCIALLY
SELF-SUFFICIENT. FAO AND WFP WERE ADVISED TO CLOSELY
COORDINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH ONE ANOTHER,
SOMETHING THE TEAM BELIEVES HAS BEEN LACKING. BOTH
AGENCIES' WORK WOULD BENEFIT FROM A STRONGER
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO.


26. THE FPAS ALSO SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THEIR
EMERGENCY SCHOOL FEEDING (ESF) AS THIS ACTIVITY IS
FOCUSED ON GETTING SCHOOLS REOPENED IN THE ACCESSIBLE
AREAS, ENCOURAGING THE DAILY ATTENDANCE AND RETENTION
OF ALL CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY GIRLS, AND ENSURING THAT,
ONCE IN SCHOOL, SHORT-TERM HUNGER DOES NOT INHIBIT
THEIR CAPACITY TO LEARN. TO BENEFIT FROM THE ESF,
PRIMARY SCHOOLS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM RATIO OF FEMALE
TO MALE STUDENTS, BE GOVERNMENT-RECOGNIZED, HAVE A
FUNCTIONING COMMUNITY-TEACHER ASSOCIATION (CTA) AND A
HEAD-TEACHER AND AN ON-SITE TEACHING STAFF OF AT
LEAST TWO GOVERNMENT-RECOGNIZED AND/OR CERTIFIED
TEACHERS TO OVERSEE THE ESF.

--------------


CARE, CRS AND WORLD VISION
--------------


27. CARE IS CURRENTLY SUPPORTING THE RESETTLEMENT,
REINTEGRATION AND RETURN TO LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF
249,155 WAR-AFFECTED THROUGH EMERGENCY FEEDING,
REHABILITATION, RESETTLEMENT AND SURVEILLANCE
ACTIVITIES IN 14 CHIEFDOMS IN MOYAMBA DISTRICT AND 10
CHIEFDOMS IN TONKOLILI DISTRICT.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01182 07 OF 13 070644Z


28. CRS CONTINUES TO ENCOURAGE THE REHABILITATION OF
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVE
CAPACITIES THROUGH FFAG AND FFW. AN AGRICULTURAL
RECOVERY COMPONENT IS CONTINUING INTO ITS THIRD YEAR
WITH LOCAL COMMITTEES USING RECOVERED SEED LOANS FROM
2001 AS LOCAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SELF-HELP
REHABILITATION PROJECTS. FOOD RATIONS ARE SERVING AS
PROTECTION FOR RICE SEEDS FURNISHED THROUGH
USAID/DCHA/OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE
(OFDA) FUNDING FOR NEWLY RESETTLED COMMUNITIES IN THE
NORTH AND EAST. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE SEEDS
PROTECTED BY THE FOOD RATIONS WILL ALLOW A 50 PERCENT
INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE RICE ACREAGE PLANTED AND
PRODUCTION PER HOUSEHOLD.


29. WORLD VISION CONTINUES TO ENCOURAGE THE
IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINED
PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY FOR 204,000 PERSONS IN 16
CHIEFDOMS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF BO, BONTHE AND
PUJEHUN DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS IN ALL 14 CHIEFDOMS IN
THE KONO DISTRICT OF EASTERN PROVINCE. HOWEVER,
WORLD VISION DID INDICATE TO THE TEAM THAT IT IS
CONSIDERING PHASING OUT ITS EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE
TO THE SOUTH BY REINFORCING LOCAL CAPACITY AND MOVING
FROM RELIEF TO DEVELOPMENT.


30. ALL THREE FPAS EXPRESSED THEIR INTEREST TO MOVE
FROM A FOOD EMERGENCY PROFILE TO A FULL DEVELOPMENT
CONTEXT IN 2003. WHILE IT IS NOTED THAT 2001 WAS A
RELATIVELY PEACEFUL YEAR FOR SIERRA LEONE AND THE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 07 OF 13 070644Z
SECURITY SITUATION HAS GRADUALLY IMPROVED ALONG WITH
THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE DDR PROCESS, THE TEAM IS
CONCERNED THERE ARE MANY LINGERING FACTORS THAT COULD
EASILY UPSET THIS STABILITY. GIVEN THE UNPREDICTABLE
CONTEXT OF THE REGION AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE ELECTION
PROCESS, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR
2003 MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY FOR THE ALLOCATION OF
RESOURCES ENABLING THE SWIFT SHIFTING OF SUPPLIES
GEOGRAPHICALLY, AS WELL AS BY PROGRAM, PENDING A NEW
CRISIS.

--------------
VISIT TO KAMBIA DISTRICT
--------------


31. KAMBIA DISTRICT IS AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN
DECLARED SAFE FOR RETURN BY THE GOSL AND IS WFP'S
AOR. KAMBIA SERVED AS A TEST CASE FOR THE DDR
PROGRAM AND WAS THE FIRST DISTRICT IN WHICH THE
REBELS WERE DISARMED. THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES IN
KAMBIA ARE FARMING, FISHING, AND TRADING, WITH THE
LATTER BEING MAXIMIZED DUE TO KAMBIA'S CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO THE GUINEAN BORDER.


32. SINCE DECEMBER 2001, WFP HAS ASSISTED IN THE
RESETTLEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 10,500 PERSONS IN
KAMBIA BY PROVIDING THEM WITH TWO-MONTHS RESETTLEMENT
RATIONS. WITHIN KAMBIA, WFP IS ENGAGED IN SEVERAL
FFW ACTIVITIES--MOSTLY ROAD REHABILITATION TO IMPROVE
MARKET ACCESS IN THE AREA. THE WORK FOCUSES ON HEAVY
BRUSH REMOVAL, DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION, OVERHEAD
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01182 08 OF 13 070645Z
CUTTING, AND FILLING POTHOLES. ONCE A TASK IS
IDENTIFIED, WFP PROJECTS THE WORK TO TAKE A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF DAYS. THE FOOD IS THEN PROVIDED IN
ALLOTMENTS AFTER A BENCHMARK OF WORK HAS BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED. IF THE WORKERS ARE GOING TOO SLOWLY,
NO ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE TO THE RATION SIZE; THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF FOOD DETERMINED FOR THE WORK REMAINS
CONSTANT.


33. WHILE IN KAMBIA ON FEBRUARY 5, THE MISSION ALSO
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT AN FAO INCOME GENERATION
ACTIVITY FOR WOMEN. UNDER THIS INITIATIVE, WOMEN
ORGANIZE THEMSELVES INTO GROUPS OR COOPERATIVES AND
ARE PROVIDED WITH A SMALL GENERATOR AND GRINDER THAT
IS USED TO MILL CASSAVA. A WAREHOUSE, FOR STORAGE
PURPOSES, IS ALSO CONSTRUCTED. ALREADY, SURROUNDING
VILLAGES WERE COMING TO THIS VILLAGE TO UTILIZE THE
SMALL MILLING OPERATION. THIS PROJECT IS GENERATING
QUICK INCOME FOR WOMEN, AS WELL AS PROVIDING INCOME
TO EMBARK ON TRADITIONAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN RURAL
AREAS. DURING THE TEAM'S VISIT, THE COMMUNITY'S
APPRECIATION OF THE PROJECT WAS QUITE APPARENT.

--------------
VISIT TO KAILAHUN DISTRICT
--------------


34. KAILAHUN AND KONO (JUST NORTH OF KAILAHUN)
DISTRICTS ARE CURRENTLY THE MOST FOOD INSECURE REGION
IN SIERRA LEONE. THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR THE FOOD
SHORTAGE IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE SECURITY
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 08 OF 13 070645Z
SITUATION. A NUMBER OF CHIEFDOMS IN KAILAHUN AND
KONO DISTRICTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN DECLARED SAFE FOR
RETURN BY UNHCR. KAILAHUN IS AN AOR OF WFP, AND AS A
RESULT OF INSECURITY IN THE DISTRICT THROUGHOUT 2001,
WFP DID NOT HAVE ACCESS UNTIL AUGUST 2001, SOON AFTER
UNAMSIL TROOPS ARRIVED. SIERRA LEONEAN MILITARY
TROOPS HAD JUST ARRIVED THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 4 AND
WERE SETTING UP BASE CAMPS. THE TEAM ALSO SAW LINES
OF DECOMBATANTS WAITING TO RECEIVE THEIR ONE-OFF
STIPEND OF 150 USD FOR DISARMING AND REGISTERING.


35. WHILE IN KAILAHUN DISTRICT ON FEBRUARY 6, THE
TEAM WAS ABLE TO VISIT AN IMPROMPTU, UNOFFICIAL
LIBERIAN REFUGEE CAMP LOCATED IN BUEDU, SEVERAL
KILOMETERS FROM THE LIBERIAN BORDER, AND WENT TO DARU
TOWN. DUE TO SECURITY CONSTRAINTS AND THE PROXIMITY
TO THE BORDER, WFP DOES NOT PROVIDE GENERAL FOOD
DISTRIBUTIONS TO LIBERIAN REFUGEES ACCOMMODATED IN
UNOFFICIAL CAMPS IN KAILAHUN, BUEDU AND KOINDU TOWNS.
WFP WORKS CLOSELY WITH UNHCR TO MOVE REFUGEES, WHO
CHOOSE TO DO SO, TO SAFER CAMPS IN KENEMA DISTRICT
WHERE THEY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. BEFORE A STATE OF
EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED IN LIBERIA ON FEBRUARY 8AS OF
FEBRUARY 6, 2002, UNHCR ESTIMATED THERE WERE SOME
2,000 LIBERIAN REFUGEES WHO DESIRED TO BE MOVED FROM
THE BORDER TO SAFER LOCATIONS.


36. IN BUEDU, THE TEAM HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
WITH SEVERAL RECENT ARRIVALS, SOME COMING AS RECENTLY
AS ONE WEEK PRIOR. THEY TOLD THE TEAM THEY HAD BEEN
HELD FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AT THE BORDER BEFORE BEING
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PAGE 03 ROME 01182 09 OF 13 070645Z
ALLOWED TO CROSS. OTHERS HAD LEFT THEIR VILLAGES
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THE TEAM TALKED WITH ONE YOUNG
BOY FROM FOYA WHO WAS IN THE SIXTH GRADE. HE HAD
RECENTLY LOST HIS MOTHER AND SISTER IN THE FIGHTING,
HIS FATHER HAD DIED SOME YEARS BEFORE, AND HE WAS NOW
THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY. HE WAS WILLING TO RE-LOCATE
TO KENEMA.


37. IT WAS THE GENERAL FEELING OF THE GROUP THAT THE
SITUATION IN LIBERIA WAS DETERIORATING AND THAT MORE
PEOPLE WOULD BE CROSSING INTO SIERRA LEONE. FEELING
EQUAL UNREST ABOUT THE SITUATION IN LIBERIA, SOME
3,000 SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEES FROM CAMPS IN WESTERN
LIBERIA CROSSED THE BORDER BY FOOT INTO PUJEHUN
DISTRICT THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF FEBRUARY.


38. THE REFUGEES IN BUEDU WHO HAVE DECIDED AGAINST
RELOCATION SEEM TO HAVE SOME ACCESS TO LAND, AS WELL
AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON NEARBY FARMS. FOR
CASUAL WORK UNDERTAKEN, THE REFUGEES ARE BEING PAID
BY THE FARMERS IN-KIND WITH FOOD (I.E. RICE) OR IN
CASH (ABOUT 500 LEONES PER DAY, EQUAL TO
APPROXIMATELY 25 CENTS). WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT HOW
MANY REFUGEES WERE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, ONE OF THE
RESPECTED ELDERS IN THE CAMP NOTED THERE WERE
APPROXIMATELY 6,000 TO 10,000 REFUGEES IN BUEDU, OF
WHOM 750 HAD EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN RESETTLING TO
SAFER AREAS. THESE NUMBERS COULD NOT BE VERIFIED BY
THE TEAM, BUT IT WAS CLEAR THE LARGER PERCENTAGE OF
THE REFUGEES WERE OPTING AT THIS POINT TO REMAIN IN
BUEDU, RATHER THAN SEEK RE-LOCATION TO THE UNHCR CAMP
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 09 OF 13 070645Z
IN KENEMA, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE RECEIVING NO FORMAL
ASSISTANCE.


39. ALTHOUGH NOT PROVIDING FOOD THROUGH A GENERAL
FOOD DISTRIBUTION, WFP IS PROVIDING FOOD TO SEVERAL
SUPPLEMENTARY AND THERAPEUTIC FEEDING CENTERS:
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS (IMC) IN KAILAHUN AND
BUEDA (OPENED NOVEMBER 16; ABOUT 30 NEW PATIENTS PER
DAY),ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM (ACF) IN KANGAMA AND
KOINDU, AND MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF) ALSO IN
KAILAHUN, IN ORDER TO TARGET MALNOURISHED CHILDREN.
A MIXTURE OF REFUGEES AND IDPS ARE TREATED.


40. THE TEAM VISITED A RAPID RESPONSE EDUCATION
PROJECT (RREP) OVERSEEN BY THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE
COUNCIL IN DARU TOWN. IN THE RREP, CHILDREN BETWEEN
THE AGES OF 10-15 WHO HAVE LOST YEARS OF EDUCATION
DUE TO THE WAR UNDERGO A SIX MONTHS INTRODUCTION
COURSE THAT ENABLES THEM TO BE TRAINED AND
TRANSFERRED TO FORMAL SCHOOLS. WFP SUPPORTS THIS
INITIATIVE IN KAILAHUN DISTRICT, AS WELL AS IN OTHER
DISTRICTS OF SIERRA LEONE, BY PROVIDING FOOD TO THE
SCHOOL FOR HOT MEALS DURING CLASS TIME. THE RREP IN
DARU HAS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFERRED 5,975 CHILDREN
(2,872 GIRLS) TO FORMAL SCHOOLS SINCE IT BEGAN IN MAY

2000. WFP'S SUPPORT OF THE RREP IS AN IMPORTANT
ACTIVITY.

--------------
LOGISTICS
--------------
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01182 10 OF 13 070645Z


41. ALL THE FPA FOOD COMMODITIES THAT ENTER SIERRA
LEONE ARRIVE AT THE PORT OF FREETOWN. WFP RECENTLY
SPENT 600,000 USD TO REHABILITATE ONE OF THE MAIN
PORT STORAGE SHEDS AND IN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PORT
AUTHORITY WFP WILL NOW HAVE USE OF THIS SHED FOR A
PERIOD OF TEN YEARS AT AN ANNUAL RENT OF ONE US
DOLLAR. IN GENERAL, HOWEVER, THE PORT FACILITIES
REMAIN POOR, AS DOES SECURITY. THE PORT AUTHORITY
DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROCURE THE EQUIPMENT
NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICES TO PORT USERS.
CONSEQUENTLY, FREETOWN PORT REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST
EXPENSIVE PORTS IN WEST AFRICA LARGELY DUE TO ITS
INEFFICIENCIES. IMPROVEMENTS OF THE PORT FACILITIES
ARE MUCH NEEDED. UNDER A SPECIAL OPERATION (SO),WFP
IS TO PROVIDE THE PORT WITH MUCH NEEDED EQUIPMENT,
SUCH AS DIESEL FORKLIFTS, TERMINAL TRACTORS AND A 40-
FOOT SPREADER UNIT TO FACILITATE THE
OFFLOADING/LOADING OF CONTAINERIZED CARGO. THE SO
REMAINS UNDER FUNDED.


42. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DURING MOST OF 2001, THE
FPAS CONTINUOUSLY FACED SECURITY PROBLEMS IN THE PORT
DUE TO PILFERAGE OF AND WILLFUL DAMAGES TO
COMMODITIES BY PORT STAFF. ALTHOUGH MUCH EFFORT BY
THE FPAS WAS EXTENDED TO ENSURE THAT PORT MANAGEMENT
BETTER CONTROL THE WORKING AREAS SO THAT ONLY
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL WERE PRESENT WHEN A VESSEL IS
UNLOADING, THE EFFORTS HAVE PRODUCED LITTLE FRUIT, AS
PILFERAGE CONTINUES TO SOME EXTENT. THE INSTIGATORS
ARE OFTEN PORT WORKERS OR THEIR ACCOMPLICES. UP TO
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 10 OF 13 070645Z
TWO TO THREE PERCENT OF LOSSES HAVE BEEN NOTED FOR
SOME SHIPMENTS.


43. THE LONG HAUL COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT MARKET IN
SIERRA LEONE IS APPARENTLY STRONG AND COMPETITIVE.
ALL THE FPAS UTILIZE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTERS FOR THE
DELIVERY OF FOOD COMMODITIES FROM FREETOWN TO
EXTENDED DELIVERY POINTS. IN THE RAINY SEASON,
HOWEVER, SMALL FEEDER ROADS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO
PLY WITH TRUCKS WEIGHING TEN MT OR MORE. SOME OF THE
FPAS WFP RELYIES UPON THEIR ITS OWN FLEETS NAMELY
WFP) TO MOVE FOOD COMMODITIES TO MORE REMOTE
LOCATIONS. HOWEVER, IN RECOGNITION OF THE INCREASE
OF COMMERCIAL HAULERS, THE FPAS SHOULD ENSURE THAT
DEDICATED TRUCKS ONLY BE USED ONLY WHEN CRITICALLY
NECESSARY, SO AS NOT TO COMPETE AGAINST THE LOCAL
TRANSPORT SECTOR.


4431. WFP MAINTAINS A HELICOPTER OPERATION THAT
PERFORMS A MULTITUDE OF VITAL FUNCTIONS IN SUPPORT OF
THE EFFECTIVE PLANNING AND RUNNING OF VARIOUS ASPECTS
OF THE HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS. HOWEVER, WFP
RECOGNIZING THAT THE SITUATION INS SIERRA LEONE IS
EVOLVING, AND IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT ACCESS AND
SECURITY CONCERNS ARE STILL REMAIN VALID TO FOR THE
SUPPORT A HELICOPTER OPERATION, WFP WILL UNDERTAKE A
REVIEW WITH DONOR AND HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS WILL BE
UNDERTAKEN AT MID YEAR. IN THE MEANTIME, THE
HELICOPTER OPERATION ALSO REMAINS UNDER- FUNDED.

--------------
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01182 11 OF 13 070646Z
PIPELINE
--------------


45. FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY--DECEMBER 2002, WFP/SL IS
TARGETING 507,000 BENEFICIARIES WITH 53,081 MT OF
ASSORTED FOOD COMMODITIES. AS OF 6 FEBRUARY, WFP/SL
HAD CONFIRMED CONTRIBUTIONS OF 8,710 MT LEAVING A
BALANCE OF 44,371 MT STILL TO BE RESOURCED. IN
FISCAL YEAR 2002 (FY02),USAID/DCHA/FFP HAS
CONTRIBUTED 7,200 MT (VALUED AT 4.8 MILLION USD) OF
TITLE II EMERGENCY COMMODITIES, OR SLIGHTLY MORE THAN
13 PERCENT OF WFP'S PROTRACTED RELIEF AND RECOVERY
OPERATION (PRRO) REQUIREMENTS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED
THAT THE MAJORITY OF RETURNEES' HOMES ARE LOCATED IN
WFP AORS.


46. IN ADDITION, USAID/DCHA/FFP HAS APPROVED 28,490
METRIC TONS OF TITLE II EMERGENCY COMMODITIES IN FY02
TO CARE, CRS, AND WORLD VISION - AT A TOTAL VALUE OF
20.5 MILLION USD. (SEE TABLE BELOW) USAID IS THE
SOLE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE THREE NGOS' PIPELINES.

FPA TOTAL MT BENEFICIARIES TOTAL VALUE
CARE 6,530 249,155 6,560,334
CRS 12,900 239,500 7,900,700
WVI 9,060 263,995 6,009,000
WFP 7,200 507,000 4,754,800
TOTAL 35,690 1,259,650 25,224,834


47. WFP/SL WAS EXPERIENCING A SERIOUS SHIPPING DELAY
OF U.S. COMMODITIES DURING THE TEAM'S VISIT, WHICH
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 11 OF 13 070646Z
WAS DUE TO CAUSE A TEMPORARY BREAK IN WFP'S CEREAL
PIPELINE IN FEBRUARY. EVEN THOUGH THE FOUR FPAS
BORROW FROM EACH OTHER WHEN NECESSARY, THE FACT THAT
THE THREE NGO FPAS RECEIVE ALL THEIR COMMODITIES FROM
THE U. S. ALLOWS THEM TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY PIPELINES,
WHEREAS THE U.S. COVERS ONLY A PORTION OF WFP'S
PIPELINE NEEDS. THE CURRENT DELAY OF WFP COMMODITIES
COUPLED WITH WFP'S ONGOING PIPELINE PROBLEMS CAST A
SHADOW OF DOUBT AS TO WHETHER THE WFP ANTICIPATED
ARRIVALS IN MARCH WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD RESETTLEMENT PACKAGES, WHICH
CONTAIN A TWO-MONTH RATION. THE CURRENT ESTIMATED
MONTHLY DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ALL FPAS COULD INCREASE IF
THE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS SUDDENLY ACCELERATES.


48. UNLESS FURTHER RESOURCES ARE COMMITTED, WFP WILL
EXPERIENCE ACROSS-THE-BOARD BREAKS IN ITS PIPELINE IN
JULY. WFP IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO COVER SHORTFALLS
WITH BORROWINGS, EITHER FROM WFP'S REGIONAL PRRO OR
LOCALLY FROM THE OTHER FPAS. BECAUSE OF THESE
PIPELINE PROBLEMS, WFP HAS BEEN FORCED TO EITHER
MODIFY RATION SCALES OR PROVIDE UNBALANCED FOOD
BASKETS OR BOTH. SHOULD WFP CONTINUE TO FACE GAPS IN
ITS PIPELINE AND AT THE SAME TIME RECEIVE NO
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, THE OTHER FPAS MAY NO
LONGER BE IN A POSITION TO LOAN WFP THE NECESSARY
COMMODITIES TO COVER SHORTFALLS. RATHER, THESE FPAS
MAY BE REQUIRED TO TAKE OVER OPERATIONAL


49. IT IS EXPECTED THAT TITLE II EMERGENCY
COMMODITIES PROVIDED IN 2003 WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01182 12 OF 13 070646Z
LESS THAN THAT PROVIDED IN 2002. SERIOUS
DELIBERATION AND ANALYSIS MUST BE INVESTED TO
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE CONTINUATION OF
MAINTAINING FOUR PIPELINES MAKES SENSE
PROGRAMMATICALLY AS WELL AS FINANCIALLY. THEREFORE,
TO PROVIDE AN INTEGRATED, EFFICIENT AND COST
EFFECTIVE APPROACH THE NUMBER OF FPAS WILL LIKELY BE
REDUCED IN 2003 THROUGH A CAREFUL ANALYZATION
APPROACH. AT THE VERY LEAST, A COST-SAVING MEASURE
WOULD BE TO STREAMLINE THE LOGISTICS OPERATION UNDER
ONE FPA BECAUSE TONNAGES WOULD PRESUMABLY BE
DECREASING IN 2003. IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT ONE FPA
COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL LOGISTICS STORAGE
OPERATIONS IN FREETOWN. THIS OPTION IS NOW BEING
EXPLORED.

--------------
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
--------------


5033. DUE TO THE VOLATILE SITUATION IN LIBERIA, AND
THE POTENTIAL MASS MOVEMENT INFLUX OF LIBERIAN
REFUGEES, AND POSSIBLE ACCELERATED RETURN OF SIERRA
LEONEAN REFUGEES, THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR FURTHER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING. AND PREPAREDNESS AS THE
CURRENT CRISIS IN LIBERIA DEEPENS AND POPULATION
DISPLACEMENT INCREASES. MOREOVER, IN LIGHT OF THE
UPCOMING ELECTION PROCESS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR
DETERIORATION IN THE CURRENT SITUATION, IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT CONTINGENCY PLANNING MEASURES BE
UNDERTAKEN IMMEDIATELY BY THE UN COUNTRY TEAM TO
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 12 OF 13 070646Z
ENSURE READINESS FOR POTENTIAL EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
AND AN ABILITY TO COPE WITH A DECLINING SITUATION
WITHIN SIERRA LEONE. AN ANALYSIS OF THE REGIONAL
DYNAMICS AND AN EXAMINATION OF RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

--------------
RECOMMENDATIONS
--------------


51. THE TEAM MAKES THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS:

- REGARDING WFP SPECIFIC OPERATIONS:

WFP SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FFW AND FFAG
PROJECTS, FOCUSED ESPECIALLY ON THE REINTEGRATION
PROCESS.

WFP SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY
SCHOOL FEEDING PROJECT, IF WFP'S PIPELINE ALLOWS,
ONCE LIFE-SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES ARE FULFILLED.

WFP SHOULD ENSURE THAT POST-DISTRIBUTION
MONITORING TAKES PLACE IN THE INTERIM CAMPS, AS WELL
AS IN ALL REFUGEE AND IDP CAMPS.

- THE CFA NEEDS TO DEVELOP A CLEAR POLICY ABOUT ONE
FPA WORKING IN ANOTHER'S AREA. THE CURRENT POLICY,
REQUIRES APPROVAL FROM THE FPA IN CHARGE OF THE AOR,
BUT WITH A GROWING NUMBER OF REQUESTS, THIS SYSTEM IS
NOW BECOMING TOO COMPLICATED.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01182 13 OF 13 070646Z

- WFP AND FAO/TCOR NEED TO WORK MORE CLOSELY
TOGETHER IN THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY.

- THE FPAS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH FAO AND UNICEF,
NEED TO AGREE ON A PLAN OF ACTION ABOUT HOW TO SURVEY
THE COUNTRY TO DETERMINE FOOD SECURITY NEEDS. THE
CFSP IS ONE ALTERNATIVE, IF IT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN
A SYSTEMATIC WAY THROUGHOUT ALL AORS. SUPPOSITIONS
ABOUT FOOD SECURITY NEED TO BE CROSS-CHECKED WITH
REALITY.

- IF WFP'S REVIEW OF THE HELICOPTER OPERATION
DETERMINES THERE IS A CONTINUED NEED FOR THE SERVICE,
IT IS SUGGESTED THAT USAID/OFDA CONSIDER ADDITIONAL
FUNDING.

- WFP/SL'S PIPELINE IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE. WITH
CURRENT COMMITMENTS, WFP WILL EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE
BREAK IN THE PIPELINE IN JULY. A DEMARCHE TO KEY
DONORS HIGHLIGHTING THE ANTICIPATED BREAK MIGHT BE
HELPFUL AT THIS JUNCTURE.

- SERIOUS DELIBERATION AND ANALYSIS MUST BE INVESTED
TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE CONTINUATION OF
MAINTAINING FOUR PIPELINES IN 2003 MAKES SENSE
PROGRAMMATICALLY, AS WELL AS FINANCIALLY. AT THE
VERY LEAST, A COST-SAVING MEASURE WOULD BE TO
STREAMLINE THE LOGISTICS OPERATION UNDER ONE FPA
BECAUSE TONNAGES WOULD PRESUMABLY BE DECREASING IN

2003. ALL OPTIONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY USAID/FFP.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01182 13 OF 13 070646Z

- WITHIN THE PORT, THERE IS LIMITED CONTAINER
HANDLING EQUIPMENT AND A LACK OF STEVEDORE GEAR TO
HANDLE PALLETIZED CARGO. WHILST WFP IS ALREADY
PROVIDING SOME MUCH NEEDED COMMODITY HANDLING
EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL CARGO HANDLING
SITUATION, THE LACK OF DONOR FUNDING TO WFP'S SO FOR
THE PORT REHABILITATION HAS RESULTED IN AN OVERALL
REDUCTION IN THE PORT'S ALREADY COMPROMISED LEVEL OF
EFFICIENCY, WITH FURTHER CONSEQUENCES FOR THE COSTS
OF FOOD AID, OTHER AID AND COMMERCIAL IMPORTERS.
ALONG WITH THE PORT REHABILITATION AUTHORITY, WFP HAS
IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF PRIORITY REQUIRED MEASURES AND
THESE SHOULD BE SUPPORTED TO INCREASE THE OVERALL
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF FREETOWN PORT. HEILEMAN