PROJECT MERCY - A PROVEN NGO IMPLEMENTING PARTNER

UNCLAS ROME 005771

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
UNCLASSIFIED

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AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA FOR AMBASSADOR BRAZEAL AND USAID
ACTING DIRECTOR PARK
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR FRED KESSEL AND USAID REDSO
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S IO HOLMES AND AF/E
USAID FOR AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/FFP LLANDIS
USDA/FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH
NSC FOR JWDORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN
SUBJECT: PROJECT MERCY - A PROVEN NGO IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
IN ETHIOPIA - REQUEST FOR IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT

REF: (A) ADDIS ABABA 3632, (B) ROME 4735, (C) STATE 232929

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SUMMARY
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1. USMISSION AMBASSADOR TONY HALL HAS KNOWN MATRA GABRE-
TSADICK AND HER HUSBAND DEME WHO RUN A NON-GOVERNMENTAL

SIPDIS
ORGANIZATION CALLED PROJECT MERCY IN THE SOUTHERN REGION
(SNNPR) FOR MANY YEARS AND CONSIDERS THEM OUTSTANDING
HUMANITARIANS. HE HAS VISITED THEIR PROJECT NEAR BUTAJIRA,
IN THE GURAGE ZONE. AS ETHIOPIA IS AGAIN IN THE MIDST OF A
SERIOUS CRISIS, THEIR NGO NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN ORDER
TO ENHANCE ITS OUTREACH. EMBASSY/USAID/UN AGENCIES ARE ASKED
TO ONCE AGAIN CONSIDER PROJECT MERCY AS A VIABLE
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER. END SUMMARY.
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BACKGROUND
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2. AS NOTED REFS (A)(B),THE SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA IS AGAIN
CRITICAL. THE SERIOUS DROUGHT HAS LEAD TO WIDESPREAD CROP
FAILURE AND DECLARATIONS OF DISASTER BY THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA (GFDRE) AND US
EMBASSY ADDIS. PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI HAS STATED
PUBLICLY THAT THE SITUATION IS WORSE THAN THE GREAT FAMINE
OF 1984-5.


3. BOTH USAID AND THE UN AGENCIES INCLUDING THE WORLD FOOD
PROGRAM (WFP) ARE RESPONDING TO THE SITUATION. THE US HAS
ANNOUNCED INITIAL PLEDGES AND HAS REQUESTED OTHER DONORS TO
CONTRIBUTE SWIFTLY AND GENEROUSLY (REF C). BOTH
INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL NGO'S ARE REQUIRED AS IMPLEMENTING
PARTNERS IN ORDER TO REACH AFFECTED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY.


4. PROJECT MERCY IS A US-REGISTERED CHARITABLE GROUP THAT
OPERATES IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF ETHIOPIA. PERSONAL
KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND A SITE VISIT BY THEN-
CONGRESSMAN HALL IN AUGUST 2000 SHOWED PROJECT MERCY RUNNING
AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE OPERATION WHICH INCLUDED A NUMBER OF
COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.


5. IN ADDITION TO BEING A REGISTERED PRIVATE VOLUNTARY
ORGANIZATION (PVO) WITH USAID, THEY RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM
BOTH USAID AND WFP IN AUGUST 2000 (A TOTAL OF 847 METRIC
TONS OF FOOD AID). THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN THE REGION
FOR ALMOST A DECADE AND ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL
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COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT.


6. THEY ARE NOW PROPOSING TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS GIVEN
THE GROWING EMERGENCY SITUATION, AS THEY DID DURING THE
DROUGHT OF 1999-2000. THEY WANT TO ESTABLISH BOTH A
SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING PROGRAM AND FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS IN SEVEN
DISTRICTS OF THE GURAGE ZONE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION (SNNPR).
THEY ESTIMATE THE NEED TO BE ALMOST 53,000 PEOPLE, INCLUDING
13,000 CHILDREN.


7. THEIR OWN ASSESSMENTS SHOW THE NEED FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL
FEEDING PROGRAM IN ORDER TO REACH THE SEVERELY MALNOURISHED
AND A FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR THE REST OF THE POPULATION.
THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A FORTIFIED PORRIDGE CALLED ATMIT, THAT
IS BOTH NUTRITIONALLY SOUND AND LOCALLY ACCEPTED. THEY
REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 TONS OF ROLLED OATS, NON-FAT DRY
MILK, SUGAR AND FORTIFICATION MIX. FOR THE GENERAL FOOD
DISTRIBUTION, WHEAT FLOUR (OR WHEAT FLOUR BLENDS) AND
VEGETABLE OIL ARE NEEDED.


8. US MISSION/ROME WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED IN
THE REGION AND WILL WORK WITH OTHER DONORS TO INCREASE THEIR
DONATIONS. ANY POSSIBLE SUPPORT FOR PROJECT MERCY FROM
EMBASSY/USAID/UN AGENCIES IN-COUNTRY IS APPRECIATED.
HALL

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002ROME05771 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED