Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME3212
2003-07-14 15:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

WFP/LIBERIA'S CURRENT OPERATIONS AND PLANS

Tags:  EAID EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN 
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UNCLAS ROME 003212 

SIPDIS


AIDAC

FROM AMEMBASSY ROME

USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, DCHA/AA WINTER,
DCHA/D/OFDA MCCONNELL, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS
STATE FOR AS/AF KANSTEINER, DAS/PRM, IO/EDA
USDA FOR FAS CHAMBLISS, TILSWORTH AND FAS/ICD KRAMER,
LEBLANC
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NANCE KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN
SUBJECT: WFP/LIBERIA'S CURRENT OPERATIONS AND PLANS
TO RESPOND TO THE LARGER CRISIS

REF: A) State 196158

-------
Summary
-------

UNCLAS ROME 003212

SIPDIS


AIDAC

FROM AMEMBASSY ROME

USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, DCHA/AA WINTER,
DCHA/D/OFDA MCCONNELL, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS
STATE FOR AS/AF KANSTEINER, DAS/PRM, IO/EDA
USDA FOR FAS CHAMBLISS, TILSWORTH AND FAS/ICD KRAMER,
LEBLANC
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NANCE KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN
SUBJECT: WFP/LIBERIA'S CURRENT OPERATIONS AND PLANS
TO RESPOND TO THE LARGER CRISIS

REF: A) State 196158

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. Per ref A, US Mission queried WFP's Deputy
Director for West Africa Arnold Verken who described
both present and planned World Food Program
operational steps which are described below. WFP is
in the process of chartering a supply ship to be used
as a mobile floating office off the coast of
Monrovia. A rack up of WFP's equipment funding needs
is provided in light of the growing magnitude of the
present crisis. End Summary

--------------
Current Plans
--------------


2. WFP is currently providing food to refugees and
IDPs in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia from the
current WFP West Africa Coastal Regional PRRO
(January - December 2003). Liberian refugees in Cote
d'Ivoire are serviced under the WFP EMOP for Cote
d'Ivoire (May 1 - December 31, 2003). Current
Liberian refugee caseloads receiving WFP assistance
are as follows: 70,000 in Guinea, 53,000 in Sierra
Leone, and 35,000 in Cote d'Ivoire. There are an
estimated 175,000 plus IDPs in Liberia.


3. The 2003 WFP PRRO is currently funded at 60
percent (USD 34.4 million from a total of USD 57
million),leaving USD 22.6 million yet to be funded.
It should be noted that USAID/DCHA/Office of Food for
Peace (FFP) is considering a new contribution of USD
7 million to the PRRO, which is not included in the
above figure. Note: The level of WFP food
distributions in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea
has been lower than expected over the last year.
Thus, WFP has accumulated food stocks that could have
covered (with the 60 percent) the food requirements
to almost the end of the year, if current levels had
remained consistent throughout the rest of the year.
WFP expects that the levels of distributions will now

increase substantially, thus requiring the 40 percent-
unfunded balance. End Note.


4. The Cote d'Ivoire pipeline is quite critical right
now. A pipeline break of oil, beans, and corn-soy
blend (CSB) in July has forced WFP to cut rations of
these commodities to IDPs, as well as refugees. WFP
has drawn against the Immediate Response Account
(IRA),which must be repaid, to affect local
purchases. Bids were opened on 9 July for rice,
maize meal, and oil. Although the EMOP is funded at
about 60 percent, recently announced major
contributions from USAID and the European Union will
not arrive until the last quarter of the year.ASSY ROME

USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, DCHA/AA WINTER,
DCHA/D/OFDA MCCONNELL, DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS
STATE FOR AS/AF KANSTEINER, DAS/PRM, IO/EDA
USDA FOR FAS CHAMBLISS, TILSWORTH AND FAS/ICD KRAMER,
LEBLANC
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGRO



5. The launch of a United Nations (UN) special appeal
for Liberia in the near future is a distinct
possibility, reports WFP, once access inside Liberia
improves. WFP, as well as other UN agencies, will
then be able to make a better determination of the
magnitude of the actual needs. Some populations have
been inaccessible for months, therefore it is likely
that many will be in need of food assistance. WFP
anticipates malnutrition rates also being high.

--------------
Current Operations inside Liberia
--------------


6. After the first attacks in Monrovia in early June,
WFP/Liberia distributed a 15-day ration to Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs),refugees, and other
vulnerables in and near Monrovia between 13 - 23
June, 2003, before a second attack occurred on June

23. The ration consisted of 1,800 kilocalories (kc)
for IDPs and refugees (400 grams cereals, 50 grams
pulses, 25 grams vegetable oil, 5 grams of salt) and
1,880 kc for those in institutions and was provided
to the following:

-56,979 IDPs living in (schools, churches, etc)
received 326 MT of food. The estimated total of IDPs
in these shelters is 76,273;

-1,500 IDPs in existing camps received 11 MT;

-6,189 Sierra Leonean Refugees received 45 MT;

-2,610 beneficiaries in institutions, such as
orphanages, hospitals, etc. received 39 MT.


7. Following attacks in late June, WFP recommenced
its distributions on 5 July, and as of 12 July 2003,
the following had been provided:

-39,311 IDPs in living in (schools, churches, etc);

-849 beneficiaries in institutions received 18 MT.


8. In addition ICRC was allocated 363 MT from WFP to
also assist 50,000 IDPs in irregular shelters
(schools, churches, etc.) and institutions.


9. On July 11, WFP also began distributing food to
Sierra Leonean refugees in camps. Refugees in VOA,
Banjor and Zuanah have been asked to receive their
food at Banjor, while those in Samukai Town are being
served in their camp.


10. WFP emphasizes that as long as security remains
problematic food assistance will remain limited and
may not target the most in need. FOR AS/AF KANSTEINER, DAS/PRM, IO/EDA
USDA FOR FAS CHAMBLISS, TILSWORTH AND FAS/ICD KRAMER,
LEBLANC
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NANCE KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER

--------------
Addressing Needs of New Liberian Refugees
--------------


11. Having just completed their Joint Assessment
Mission (JAM),WFP and UNHCR expect there will be an
additional influx of 20,000 Liberian refugees into
Guinea and an additional influx of 30,000 Liberian
refugees into Sierra Leone by the end of 2003.
Additional Liberian refugees are also expected in
western Cote d'Ivoire.


12. Any additional needs that surface in Guinea,
Sierra Leone, or Liberia during 2004 would be
addressed through activation of the contingency
provision in the new PRRO, just as WFP activated the
contingency measure in its 2003 PRRO in February of
this year for Liberia. The contingency provision in
the new PRRO is 150,000 USD for nine months and can
be utilized in any of the three countries as needs
arise.


13. Under the Cote d'Ivoire EMOP, WFP has recently
addressed the needs of a large influx of Liberian
refugees that crossed the border into Cote d'Ivoire
during June. WFP opened up an office in Tabou town
in order to assist the influx and immediately began
providing 15-day rations. Last week (July 3-9),WFP
reported that Nicla refugee camp remains full of arms
and like the June general food distribution, the July
distribution witnessed shooting and harassment by
uncontrolled Liberians present in the camp. The
pipeline problems mentioned in paragraph 4 are
exacerbated by a growing number of beneficiaries.
Although not yet a major problem among the refugee
populations in Cote d'Ivoire, malnutrition rates are
increasingly worrisome. Severely malnourished
children under selected feeding programs by Medecins
Sans Frontiere and Action Contre La Faim presently
exceed 1,000.

--------------
Next Steps
--------------


14. WFP views the situation in Liberia as a major
humanitarian crisis and is building its strategy on
the premise that basic security conditions will allow
it to work. Once access is permitted, WFP foresees
the need for a sizeable intervention for which
additional resources would be required. Under the
best case scenario giving access to new areas, WFP
intends to open six operational sub-offices: Harper,
Zwedru, Ganta, Phebe, Tubmanburg and Voinjama. If
basic security does not exist, its action will be
limited, given the significant difficulties in
reaching all intended beneficiaries.


15. A sub-regional contingency planning exercise


under the OCHA umbrella is underway. Various case
scenarios are being discussed, reports WFP, but was
unable to provide further details at this time.
Cross border operations are also being considered
within the overall access strategy and were broadly
discussed during the recent UN Humanitarian Inter-
Agency Mission. This mission, led by Carolyn
McAskie, will debrief in Dakar the week of July 14.


16. WFP is in the process of chartering a supply ship
to be used as a mobile floating office off the coast
of Monrovia. A similar ship was used for the same
purpose during the previous crisis in Monrovia in

1996. WFP hopes to have the ship in Abidjan in two
weeks, where she would load supplies and staff
(unless the staff are allowed by UNSECOORD to proceed
to Liberia before the ship arrives),and sail to
Monrovia. It would be on hire for an initial period
of two months. WFP intends to share the vessel with
OCHA and UNICEF, however, the accommodation capacity
is limited to 32 passengers.


17. The following needs are anticipated by WFP:

a) Additional food quantities would be required,
triggering a budget revision of the current PRRO, and
perhaps a flash appeal;

b) Chartering the ship to serve as a floating UN
office for two months, about USD 350,000;

c) Replace logistics equipment that has been looted:
Trucks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . about USD 900,000
(commercial trucks are not available)
4x4 Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .USD 160,000
Mobile storage units . . . . . . . . . . USD 112,000
Port equipment (1 toplifter & 2 tractors) USD 400,000
Generator sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . USD 120,000
Spare parts for trucks . . . . . . . . . .USD 60,000
Mobile workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . .USD 50,000
Communications equipment . . . . . . . . USD 550,000
(incl for 6 sub-offices)

--------------
Addressing Needs of IDPs
--------------


18. OCHA is currently the lead agency on IDPs. WFP
reports there is a common feeling that OCHA capacity
needs to be bolstered to address the magnitude of the
current crisis.


19. Minimize considered. TAMLYN
NNNN
2003ROME03212 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED