AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 005058 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05058 01 OF 04 180028Z DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM NSC FOR JDWORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID 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 SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." REF: (A) HARARE 2211, (B) HARARE 2214 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. A TEAM LED BY AMBASSADOR TONY HALL VISITED ZIMBABWE OCTOBER 08-11 AND FOUND ZIMBABWE SLOUCHING TOWARD A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. NEARLY HALF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION IS NOW CLASSIFIED BY THE UN AS SERIOUSLY FOOD INSECURE (6.7 MILLION). WHILE EXACERBATED BY SUB-NORMAL RAINFALL THIS YEAR, THE ALARMING FOOD SHORTFALL IS MAN-MADE - EMANATING FROM THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ). BIOTECH MAIZE, GOZ "IMPEDIMENTS" IMPOSED ON FOOD IMPORTS AND NGO REGISTRATION - WERE HIGHLIGHTED. AMBASSADOR HALL HIGHLIGHTED THE FACT THAT AMERICA IS A GENEROUS AND COMPASSIONATE NATION THAT PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE TO ZIMBABWE DURING THE 1991/1992 "WORST DROUGHT OF THE CENTURY" - AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE LEAD DONOR TO THE PRESENT CRISIS. "WHILE WE DISAGREE WITH THE POLICIES OF UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05058 01 OF 04 180028Z THIS GOVERNMENT, WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AND ARE GUIDED BY FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN'S PHILOSOPHY THAT `A HUNGRY CHILD KNOWS NO POLITICS.'" END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- BACKGROUND - "IF YOU BURN A HOUSE, CAN YOU HIDE THE SMOKE?" - AFRICAN PROVERB -------------- -------------- ¶2. AMBASSADOR TONY HALL, US MISSION TO ROME; HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE TIM LAVELLE; SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE AMBASSADOR MAX FINBERG; AND USDA/FAS PRETORIA AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR RICK HELM, VISITED ZIMBABWE OCTOBER 08-11. IN ADDITION TO MEETINGS IN HARARE WITH U.S. EMBASSY, UN AND GOZ FUNCTIONARIES, THE TEAM SPENT TWO DAYS IN RURAL AND PERI- URBAN AREAS REVIEWING UN AND NGO RELIEF OPERATIONS. ¶3. SINCE 1997, ZIMBABWE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CRISIS INDUCED BY DECLINING PRICES FOR ITS KEY EXPORTS AND POOR ECONOMIC POLICIES, AND HEIGHTENED BY A DECREASE IN TOBACCO EXPORTS FOLLOWING FARM INVASIONS, INCREASED FISCAL DEFICIT, AND LOSS OF INVESTOR CONFIDENCE ARISING FROM UNCERTAINTY ABOUT DOMESTIC POLICIES. FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT HAS DROPPED FROM USD $444 MILLION IN 1998 TO $3 MILLION (EST.) IN 2002. OVER THIS PERIOD, REAL GDP HAS GONE DOWN BY 35 PERCENT. SOURCES ESTIMATE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AS HIGH AS 70 PERCENT. IN SHORT, THE ECONOMY IS IMPLODING FROM SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS. ¶4. THE FOOD SUPPLY SITUATION GIVES SERIOUS CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE 2002 MAIZE CROP (THE BASIC STAPLE) HARVEST IS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05058 01 OF 04 180028Z ESTIMATED AT ONLY ONE-FOURTH THE NORMAL LEVEL OF 2000. THE GOZ MAINTAINS A RIGID MONOPOLY ON GRAIN IMPORTS AND UNREALISTIC PRICE CONTROLS ON STAPLE FOODS (WHICH EFFECTIVELY MARGINALIZE THE PRIVATE SECTOR). ACCORDING TO THE UNDP, 8.6 MILLION HECTARES WERE USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN 2000. NOW IT IS LESS THAN 1 MILLION HECTARES. A RECENT VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT BY THE SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC),IN COLLABORATION WITH UN AGENCIES, HAS REVISED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM SIX MILLION ESTIMATED BY THE FAO/WFP IN MAY 2002, TO 6.7 MILLION. THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT HALF THE POPULATION. -------------- SOBERING DATA RELATED TO HEALTH -------------- ¶5. ZIMBABWE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF HIV/AIDS INFECTION IN THE WORLD, WITH 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8830 PAGE 01 ROME 05058 02 OF 04 171002Z ACTION SSO-00 INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W -------------- F8FA09 171027Z /38 P 170920Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6365 USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2331 INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY MAPUTO AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY NAIROBI EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USEU BRUSSELS 2847 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 005058 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05058 02 OF 04 171002Z DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM NSC FOR JDWORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID 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 SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." AIDS AND AT LEAST ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR PEOPLE HAVING HIV. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE A WEEK ARE DYING FROM COMPLICATIONS DUE TO AIDS. TODAY THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 900,000 ORPHANS - TRAGICALLY, THIS NUMBER WILL ONLY GROW. THE NUMBER OF ORPHANS ALONE WAS OVERWHELMING. ONE OF THE LINKS BETWEEN THE FOOD CRISIS AND THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IS THAT WOMEN ARE SELLING SEX FOR FOOD. A LOCAL NGO INTRODUCED US TO ROSEMARY, A 12-YEAR OLD AIDS ORPHAN WHO HAD LOST BOTH PARENTS AND WAS HIV-POSITIVE HERSELF. SHE APPEARED SIX BECAUSE OF STUNTING AND WAS LOSING BOTH HER SIGHT AND HEARING. ¶6. MALARIA AFFECTS ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE IN ZIMBABWE A YEAR, WITH AN ESTIMATED 116,000 DEATHS ANNUALLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DISEASE. A RECENT CHOLERA OUTBREAK IS NOW REPORTED UNDER CONTROL, ALTHOUGH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) REPORTED THE CASE FATALITY RATE AS THE WORST EVER RECORDED IN THIS COUNTRY. ALSO ACCORDING TO WHO, ZIMBABWE IS AMONG THE TWO DOZEN NATIONS WORST HIT BY THE WORLDWIDE TUBERCULOSIS (TB) EPIDEMIC. WE SAW A TB WARD AT ST. ALBERT'S UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05058 02 OF 04 171002Z HOSPITAL AND ALMOST ALL OF THE MEN BEING TREATED FOR TB WERE HIV POSITIVE. -------------- -------------- THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED FROM THE BESIEGED COMMERCIAL FARMING SECTOR -------------- -------------- ¶7. IN JANUARY 2000, THE COMMERCIAL FARMING SECTOR EMPLOYED MORE THAN 350,000 WORKERS, ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD OF ALL WAGE EMPLOYMENT. BY MID-2002, UP TO 1.5 MILLION EX-COMMERCIAL FARM WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE OR SOON WILL BE IN LIFE THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO FARM EXPROPRIATIONS AND ENSUING INTIMIDATION. MANY HAVE STARTED TO MOVE SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE TO SURVIVE - LIVING ON LAND WITHOUT WATER OR SANITATION, ALONG ROADS AND ON THE MARGINS OF CITIES. THE FARM WORKERS ARE AT ODDS WITH THE GOVERNMENT FOR TWO PRINCIPAL REASONS: (A) MOST VOTED FOR THE OPPOSITION; AND (B) THEY WERE THE SKILLED WORK FORCE THAT KEPT THE WHITE FARMERS IN BUSINESS. ADDITIONALLY, MANY ARE FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. WHILE MANY HAVE RECEIVED "FORCED RETRENCHMENT" SEVERANCE PACKAGES, THESE MONIES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO LAST LONG, PARTICULARLY WITH RAMPANT INFLATION (CURRENTLY AT 135 PERCENT BY OFFICIAL ESTIMATES). AT PRESENT, VIRTUALLY NO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IS REACHING "EXPELLED" FARM WORKERS. -------------- -------------- GOZ VRS. NGOS - "A CLIMATE OF DISTRUST AND SUSPICION" -------------- -------------- ¶8. THE GOZ CONTINUES TO PURSUE A POLICY OF INHIBITING THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05058 02 OF 04 171002Z EFFORTS OF A NUMBER OF NGOS (INTER ALIA SAVE/UK, CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES, CAFOD, OXFAM),TO PARTICIPATE IN RELIEF DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS, ON THE GROUNDS OF ALLEGED POLITICAL ACTIVITY. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WITH A TARGET OF DELIVERING UP TO 55,000 MTS/MONTH TO OVER A MILLION BENEFICIARIES IN THE COUNTRY'S 28 DISTRICTS) HAS MANAGED TO DATE TO SIGN UP (WITH GOVERNMENT APPROVAL) ONLY NINE INTERNATIONAL NGOS - WHICH SERIOUSLY LIMITS ITS ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR ITS PLANNED OPERATIONS. MANY LOCAL NGOS ALSO LABOR UNDER A CLOUD OF GOVERNMENTAL DISTRUST. -------------- -------------- PLAIN SPEAK - "IT IS FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT AND IT WILL BE A VERY LONG AND DARK NIGHT, UNLESS SOMETHING MORE IS DONE" -------------- -------------- ¶9. IN TWO MEETINGS WITH ZIMBABWE'S MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL WELFARE JULY MOYO AND IN AN OCTOBER 11 PRESS CONFERENCE, AMBASSADOR HALL UNDERLINED THAT ZIMBABWE WOULD UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8831 PAGE 01 ROME 05058 03 OF 04 171003Z ACTION SSO-00 INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W -------------- F8FA1E 171027Z /38 P 170920Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6366 USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2332 INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY MAPUTO AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY NAIROBI EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USEU BRUSSELS 2848 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 005058 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05058 03 OF 04 171003Z DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM NSC FOR JDWORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID 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 SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." FACE A MAJOR FAMINE "IF THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT CLEAR AWAY BUREAUCRATIC ROADBLOCKS AND ALLOW MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FOOD (BOTH COMMERCIALLY PROCURED AND FOOD AID) TO BE IMPORTED BY THE END OF THE YEAR." "THE CRITICAL TIME IS THE NEXT TWO MONTHS...IF BY THE END OF DECEMBER ENOUGH FOOD HASN'T ARRIVED...THERE WILL BE STARVATION." HALL REITERATED THAT HE HAD HEARD SPECIFIC TESTIMONY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO SELL GRAIN TO OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS AND AREAS CONSIDERED HOTBEDS OF OPPOSITION SUPPORT. MINISTER MOYO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOME PRIVATE GRAIN SHIPMENTS "HAD BEEN HELD UP FOR POLITICAL REASONS." OTHER KEY POINTS ENUNCIATED BY AMBASSADOR HALL: - "THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE BEARS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS ONCE-PRODUCTIVE COUNTRY, WHICH IS NOW MIRED IN CRISIS. THE DROUGHT HAS NOT CAUSED THIS; IT HAS ONLY COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM; - THE GOZ NEEDS TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE NGOS AND THE CHURCHES UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05058 03 OF 04 171003Z TO OPERATE FREELY. THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN `ELBOW ROOM' INSTEAD OF BEING BOUND BY RESTRICTIONS;" - THE UNITED STATES IS A GENEROUS COUNTRY. WE WERE HERE DURING THE DROUGHT OF 1992 AND WE ARE HERE 10 YEARS LATER. WHILE WE DISAGREE WITH THE POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. WE DO NOT USE FOOD AS A WEAPON. AS OUR FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID: `A HUNGRY CHILD KNOWS NO POLITICS;' - GOZ HAS MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO ALLOW THE IMPORTATION OF U.S.-DONATED BIOTECH FOODS. THIS FOOD IS DESPERATELY NEEDED." -------------- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS -------------- ¶10. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST KEEP UP THE "DRUM BEAT" THAT ZIMBABWE'S GRAIN MARKETING SYSTEM NEEDS DRASTIC REVAMPING TO ALLOW MORE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE HANDLING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MAIZE AND OTHER STAPLE FOODS TO INCREASE SUPPLIES, LOWER PRICES, AND ENSURE GREATER AVAILABILITY TO THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE. ¶11. WFP NEEDS TO ACCELERATE ITS CEREALS FOOD AID IMPORTS TO THE PROMISED 55,000 MTS/MONTH LEVEL. MONITORING IS PRESENTLY INADEQUATE; WFP SHOULD LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION OR SECONDING OF NGO STAFF TO WFP, IN ORDER TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS OF NGO REGISTRATION AND LIMITED IMPLEMENTING PARTNER CAPACITY. ALSO NEEDED IS A UN CONTINGENCY PLAN TO ENSURE THAT FUEL IS AVAILABLE TO MOVE HUMANITARIAN CARGOES (LACK OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE WILL RESULT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05058 03 OF 04 171003Z IN A FUEL CRISIS IF LIBYA, KUWAIT AND SOUTH AFRICA REFUSE TO EXTEND MORE CREDIT TO GOZ). ¶12. A NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO TRACK TRENDS IN NUTRITIONAL STATUS, FOOD SECURITY AND RELATED ISSUES. SPECIFIC ATTENTION MAY BE PAID TO MONITORING THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE AND CRUDE MORTALITY RATE (CMR). IN GENERAL, THERE IS A NEED TO STRENGTHEN UN INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. UN IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO COMMENCE POST-DISTRIBUTION MONITORING, RAPIDLY MAKING USE OF DONOR SUPPORT. SUCH MONITORING SHOULD DRAW FROM ZIMBABWEAN AND OTHER SOURCES AND ITS RESULTS SHOULD BE DISSEMINATED TO DONORS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS TO THE UN. ¶13. WFP AND ITS NGO PARTNERS ARE ADVISED TO USE GENERAL RELIEF FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS TO IMPART KEY MESSAGES IN HIV/AIDS AWARENESS, HEALTH AND NUTRITION. THE CAPTIVE AUDIENCES PRESENT AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE IMPORTANT LESSONS. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8852 PAGE 01 ROME 05058 04 OF 04 171003Z ACTION SSO-00 INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 P-00 SS-00 TEST-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /002W -------------- F8FB7C 171035Z /38 P 170920Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6367 USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2333 INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY MAPUTO AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY NAIROBI EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USEU BRUSSELS 2849 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 005058 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05058 04 OF 04 171003Z DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM NSC FOR JDWORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID 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 SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." ¶14. USAID SHOULD CONSIDER SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR THE ZIMBABWE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH-RELATED HOSPITALS (WHICH WORK THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY). THESE HOSPITALS, WITH TIMELY SUPPORT, COULD RAPIDLY EXPAND THEIR OUTREACH. NOTE: THE TEAM VISITED ST. ALBERT'S HOSPITAL IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE AND WAS IMPRESSED BY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR DEDICATED STAFF WORKING UNDER LESS THAN OPTIMUM CONDITIONS. END NOTE. ¶15. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) TO ASSUME IMPLIMENTATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COUNTY'S INTERNALLY DISPLACED POPULATIONS. ¶16. WITH DOMESTIC WHEAT PRODUCTION ESTIMATED TO BE FALLING FROM 240,000 MTS TO AN EXPECTED 100,000 MTS OR LESS THIS YEAR, WFP MIGHT DIALOGUE WITH GOVERNMENT ON THE FEASIBILITY OF WHEAT IMPORTS FOR SELECTED TARGETED GROUPS OR "SWAPPING" ARRANGEMENTS. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05058 04 OF 04 171003Z ¶17. WITH A GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM IN TOTAL DISARRAY, FAO IS ADVISED TO ACCELERATE ITS LINKAGES WITH NGOS THROUGH SPECIFIC MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING. PLANS FOR THE SOURCING AND MOVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INPUTS TO LOCAL DISTRIBUTION POINTS ARE IMMEDIATELY NEEDED. WITHOUT SEEDS AND INPUTS IN THE NEXT MONTH, THE 2003 HARVEST WILL BE ABYSMAL. ¶18. SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING IS NEEDED FOR ALL UNDER-FIVES AND PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. NOTE: THE SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE IS ON A PRECIPITOUS INCREASE. AT ONE SCHOOL THAT THE TEAM VISITED IN MUZARABANI DISTRICT (CHIWESHE),WE WERE INFORMED THAT ABSENTEEISM HAD INCREASED TO FIFTY PERCENT OF ENROLLMENT. "SOME KIDS HAD NOT EATEN AT ALL THAT DAY. OTHERS HAD A CUP OF TEA FOR BREAKFAST AND NOTHING FOR LUNCH. SOME WERE SHOWING CLEAR SIGNS OF MALNUTRITION - WITH THEIR HAIR TURNING ORANGE AND THEIR LIMBS LIKE TWIGS." END NOTE. ¶19. WHEREVER FEASIBLE, FORTIFICATION OF STAPLE FOOD PROVIDED IS RECOMMENDED. PROPER NUTRITION (PROTEIN AND MICRONUTRIENTS) IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR HIV-POSITIVE PERSONS IN ORDER TO SLOW THE ONSET OF AIDS. ¶20. FURTHER TRAINING EFFORTS BY THE UN AGENCIES AND NGOS ARE NEEDED ON THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS SITUATIONS. ¶21. THE UN IS USING A GENERAL POPULATION FIGURE OF 13 MILLION PLUS FOR THIS PRESENT CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE. WHILE ESTIMATES VARY AS TO HOW MANY ZIMBABWEANS ARE OUTSIDE THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05058 04 OF 04 171003Z COUNTRY (IN ZAMBIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, MOZAMBIQUE, BOTSWANA, UK AND NORTH AMERICA),THESE NUMBERS SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO OVERALL ASSESSMENT CALCULATIONS. HALL UNCLASSIFIED > 2002ROME05058 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED