USAID/DCHA TEAM DISCUSSES WFP GEARING UP FOR

S E C R E T SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 000371 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED CAPTION AND PARA MARKING) AIDAC JOINT STAFF PASS TO J3/J4/J5 STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, STATE PASS TO USDA FAS WASHDC SA/INS, IO/EDA WINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND RTILSWORTH USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, DAA/DCHA GARVELINK, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS GENEVA FOR RMA BRUSSELS FOR USEU NSC FOR JDWORKEN USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2012 TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP SUBJECT: USAID/DCHA TEAM DISCUSSES WFP GEARING UP FOR POSSIBLE IRAQ HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY OPERATION - JANUARY 23-24, 2003 MEETING IN ROME THIS INCLUDES AGREEMENT ON WFP'S WILLINGNESS TO RETAIN A PRESENCE IN IRAQ, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT PHASE V MAY BE DECLARED OR IN EFFECT. SECRET PAGE 03 ROME 00371 03 OF 03 062229Z ¶12. (S) RELATIONS WITH MILITARY FORCES - ALL UN AGENCIES WORKING ON THE GROUND WILL NEED TO INTERACT WITH THE COALITION MILITARY AUTHORITIES. IN WFP'S VIEW, THESE LINKAGES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE CONFLICT AND SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED SOLELY TO ISSUES RELATED WITH THE COORDINATES OF THE HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONAL SITES. SUPPORT IN WORKING IN A MINE-INFESTED OR CHEMICALLY CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENT, DEALING WITH UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE (UXO),INTERFACING AT MAJOR BORDER CROSSINGS, NEGOTIATION OF AIR SPACE FOR RELIEF OPERATIONS, PRIORITIZATION OF BRIDGE AND ROAD REPAIRS, PROCEDURES FOR TRUCKING MOVEMENTS - ARE AREAS OF COMMON CONCERN. POLICY-WISE, WFP NEEDS TO DECIDE ON THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THE MILITARY AS A DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER ON RELIEF DELIVERIES. ¶13. (S) WFP STAFFING - IN ADDITION TO DESIGNATION OF WFP INTERNATIONAL STAFF TO THIS HUMANITARIAN EXERCISE, THE POSSIBILITY OF SECONDMENT OF STAFF FROM WFP PARTNERS INCLUDING NGOS WAS RAISED. WFP REPORTED THAT UNDER A STANDBY ARRANGEMENT WITH DENMARK, PORT CAPTAINS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO STAFF ALL MAJOR PORTS. USAID ENCOURAGED WFP TO INTENSIFY ITS DISCUSSIONS WITH ICRC GENEVA ON A RANGE OF LOGISTICAL AND BENEFICIARY-RELATED ISSUES. USAID ALSO ENCOURAGED WFP TO LIAISE WITH USAID DIRECTOR-DESIGNATE FOR IRAQ LOU LUCK, PRESENTLY BASED IN KUWAIT CITY, PARTICULARLY ON LONGER-TERM FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS. ¶14. (S) OTHER MATTERS TOUCHED UPON INCLUDED KEEPING THE SAFE WATER SUPPLY FLOWING, ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROPANE GAS FOR COOKING, THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL AFFAIRS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNORATE STRUCTURES, AND SO ON. SECRET PAGE 04 ROME 00371 03 OF 03 062229Z -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶15. (S) WFP IS COMMITTED TO REFINING AN INDICATIVE BUDGET (UP TO FOUR MONTHS) TO KEEP THE IRAQI PDS FUNCTIONAL IN THE EVENT OF OUTBREAK OF CONFLICT. THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE AND ARE CONTINUING CONSIDERABLE LOGISTICAL LEGWORK IN THE REGION. THEIR CLEAR MESSAGE TO USAID (AND BY EXTENSION TO OTHER DONORS) IS THAT WHAT THEY NOW NEED IS AN IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIVE CASH COMMITMENT TO OPERATIONALIZE THE CONTINGENCY PLANNING. HALL SECRET > @@@OASYS@@@ SECRET PTQ2993 PAGE 01 ROME 00371 02 OF 03 062223Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 COR-01 NP-00 AGRE-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 IRM-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 SA-00 EPAE-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /006W -------------- 32401E 062227Z /38 P 301703Z JAN 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7901 INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY BERLIN AMEMBASSY BERN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY CANBERRA AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS AMEMBASSY KUWAIT AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY OSLO AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PARIS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE USEU BRUSSELS 3077 USMISSION USUN NEW YORK SECRET PAGE 02 ROME 00371 02 OF 03 062223Z USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO JOINT STAFF WASHDC S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 000371 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED CAPTION AND PARA MARKINGS) AIDAC JOINT STAFF PASS TO J3/J4/J5 STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, STATE PASS TO USDA FAS WASHDC SA/INS, IO/EDA WINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND RTILSWORTH USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, DAA/DCHA GARVELINK, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS GENEVA FOR RMA BRUSSELS FOR USEU NSC FOR JDWORKEN USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2012 TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP SUBJECT: USAID/DCHA TEAM DISCUSSES WFP GEARING UP FOR POSSIBLE IRAQ HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY OPERATION - JANUARY 23-24, 2003 MEETING IN ROME GRAINS (ESTIMATED AT 1.66 MILLION TONS - ALL SECTORS). IT WAS NOTED THAT HISTORICALLY IRAQ HAS IMPORTED TWO-THIRDS OF ITS BASIC FOOD NEEDS. SECRET PAGE 03 ROME 00371 02 OF 03 062223Z ¶5. (S) THE PRESENT DISTRIBUTION PROCESS - WFP STARTED WITH THE BASIC ASSUMPTION THAT HOUSEHOLD FOOD STOCKS (FROM THE OUTSET OF CONFLICT) WOULD BE ADEQUATE TO LAST FOR ONE MONTH. USAID AGREED WITH THIS ASSESSMENT. WFP IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR DUE CONFIRMED THAT THE GOI WAS PRESENTLY FINALIZING FOOD DISTRIBUTION PLANS FOR APRIL/MAY AT SOMEWHAT REDUCED LEVELS (DUE TO LACK OF SOME ITEMS SUCH AS PULSES) AND HE ESTIMATED THAT THESE RATIONS WOULD LAST THROUGH MID-TO-END APRIL. WFP BELIEVES THAT MANY POOR FAMILIES, THE MOST FOOD INSECURE, ARE SELLING A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (PDS) FOOD RECEIVED IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR OTHER ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS. ¶6. (S) STANDBY BORROWING ARRANGMENTS - ON REGIONAL BORROWING, WFP REPORTED A 100,000 MT CEREALS "LINE OF CREDIT" SIGNED AGREEMENT WITH SYRIA. WITH IRAN, THERE IS A QUASI-AGREEMENT TO BORROW UP TO 40,000 MT OF WHEAT; IN KUWAIT, CONVERSATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS RELATED TO COMMODITY LOANS OF UP TO 200,000 MT, BUT THERE ARE QUALITY ISSUES RELATED TO ANY IN-KIND PAYBACK. ¶7. (S) WFP REVIEWED REGIONAL PURCHASE OPTIONS AND TIME FRAMES FOR PROCUREMENT IN KAZAKHSTAN, INDIA, DUBAI, KUWAIT, AND ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION. MILLING CAPACITY OUTSIDE IRAQ (WHEAT INTO WHEAT FLOUR) WAS DISCUSSED. WFP ESTIMATED THAT COSTS FOR FOOD PROCUREMENT, MILLING AND TRANSPORT, WOULD AMOUNT TO APPROXIMATELY 270 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST MONTH'S SUPPLY, AND CONTRACTS NEEDED TO BE TENDERED URGENTLY. ¶8. (S) ON START UP COSTS, WFP ESTIMATED AN IMMEDIATE ORGANIZATIONAL NEED FOR U.S. DOLLARS 82 MILLION FOR FUEL, SECRET PAGE 04 ROME 00371 02 OF 03 062223Z CONTRACTED SERVICES, UNHAS, STAFF DEPLOYMENT, COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES AND SUPPLIES. OF THIS SUM, 42 MILLION DOLLARS IS FOR FUEL. THIS INVESTMENT IS REQUIRED FOR RUNNING A LOGISTICAL OPERATION TO DELIVER OVER ONE MILLION TONS OF BASIC FOODS (IN MONTHS TWO AND THREE) THAT WOULD KEEP THE PDS FUNCTIONING IN 18 GOVERNORATES AND SUPPLYING MORE THAN 43,000 FOOD AGENT DISTRIBUTION POINTS. WFP REMARKED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BUDGETING FOR THE SALARIES OF PDS PERSONNEL IN THIS TRANSITION PERIOD. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE PDS SYSTEM REMAIN OPERATIONAL. NOTE: BY SOME POINT IN MONTH FOUR, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE OIL-FOR-FOOD SHIPMENTS WOULD BE RESUMED AND THAT THE PDS WOULD RETURN TO FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. END NOTE. ¶9. (S) ON THE OIL-FOR-FOOD ISSUE (THE CURRENT PIPELINE IS AN ESTIMATED U.S. DOLLARS 2.6 BILLION) GRAISSE RELATED A CONVERSATION WITH UN U/S FRECHETTE SUGGESTING A CLOSER WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OCHA, UNICEF AND WFP WITH THE OIL-FOR-FOOD GROUP. WFP SUGGESTED THE URGENCY OF OBTAINING GUIDANCE FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND AUTHORIZATION ON THE UTILIZATION BY THE UNITED NATIONS (AS APPROPRIATE) OF PROGRAM ASSETS IN THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PIPELINE. ¶11. (S) UNSECOORD - CLEARLY FOR WFP MORE DISCUSSION WITH UNSECOORD/NEW YORK IS NEEDED N STAFF EVACUATION SHOULD HOSTILITIES BREAK OUT, AND ENSURING PROMPT STAFF RETURNS. SECRET > @@@OASYS@@@ SECRET PTQ2980 PAGE 01 ROME 00371 01 OF 03 062208Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 COR-01 NP-00 AGRE-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 IRM-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 SA-00 EPAE-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /006W -------------- 323F75 062222Z /38 P 301703Z JAN 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7900 INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY BERLIN AMEMBASSY BERN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY CANBERRA AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS AMEMBASSY KUWAIT AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY OSLO AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PARIS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE USEU BRUSSELS 3076 USMISSION USUN NEW YORK SECRET PAGE 02 ROME 00371 01 OF 03 062208Z USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO JOINT STAFF WASHDC S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000371 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED CAPTION AND PARA MARKINGS) AIDAC JOINT STAFF PASS TO J3/J4/J5 STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, STATE PASS TO USDA FAS WASHDC SA/INS, IO/EDA WINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND RTILSWORTH USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, DAA/DCHA GARVELINK, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS GENEVA FOR RMA BRUSSELS FOR USEU NSC FOR JDWORKEN USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2012 TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID ECON KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP SUBJECT: USAID/DCHA TEAM DISCUSSES WFP GEARING UP FOR POSSIBLE IRAQ HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY OPERATION - JANUARY 23-24, 2003 MEETING IN ROME REF: (A) ROME 00030 (B) 02 ROME 6133 (C) 02 ROME 6072 CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TONY P.HALL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). SECRET PAGE 03 ROME 00371 01 OF 03 062208Z -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S) USAID/DAA/DCHA BILL GARVELINK AND D/FFP LAUREN LANDIS VISITED WFP HEADQUARTERS ON JANUARY 23-24 TO REVIEW WFP PROGRESS ON GEARING UP ITS HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE MECHANISM TO ASSIST IRAQ IN THE EVENT OF OUTBREAK OF CONFLICT. DISCUSSIONS INVOLVED THE POSSIBLE PROCUREMENT AND DELIVERY OF 2.5 MONTHS OF FOOD SUPPLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT IRAQI PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM LEVELS, WITH DISTRIBUTIONS TAKING PLACE IN MONTHS TWO, THREE AND THE FIRST HALF OF MONTH FOUR, WITH AN ESTIMATED OUTLAY OF AROUND U.S.DOLLARS 800 MILLION. FOOD AVAILABILITY FOR QUICK REGIONAL PROCUREMENT TO SATISFY TWO MONTHS OF NEEDS, THE TIMELINE FOR FOOD AID POSITIONING, AND "BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS" IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES TO IRAQ WERE REVIEWED. WFP INDICATED AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR U.S. DOLLARS 82 MILLION FOR FUEL, CONTRACTED SERVICES, UNHAS, STAFF DEPLOYMENT, COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES AND SUPPLIES. MOREOVER, FUNDS FOR FOOD PROCUREMENT, MILLING AND TRANSPORT - APPROXIMATELY 270 MILLION DOLLARS - ARE NEEDED NOW FOR THE FIRST MONTH'S REGIONALLY-PROCURED SUPPLY, AS CONTRACTS MUST BE TENDERED URGENTLY. WFP SUGGESTED THE URGENCY OF OBTAINING GUIDANCE FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND AUTHORIZATION ON THE UTILIZATION BY THE UNITED NATIONS (AS APPROPRIATE) OF PROGRAM ASSETS IN THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PIPELINE.FINALLY, THE TEAM'S VISIT TO FAO WILL BE REPORTED SEPTEL. END SUMMARY. -------------- SECRET PAGE 04 ROME 00371 01 OF 03 062208Z BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (S) USAID/DAA/DCHA BILL GARVELINK AND D/FFP LAUREN LANDIS VISITED WFP HEADQUARTERS ON JANUARY 23-24 TO REVIEW WFP PROGRESS ON GEARING UP ITS HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE MECHANISM FOR IRAQ IN THE EVENT OF OUTBREAK OF CONFLICT. PRINCIPAL INTERLOCUTORS FROM WFP INCLUDED JEAN- JACQUES GRAISSE, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; MICHAEL STAYTON, CHIEF OF STAFF; KHALED ADLY, WFP REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THE NEAR EAST; DAVID MORTON, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORT; AND TORBEN DUE, WFP IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR. DCHA/FFP DALE SKORIC, COMING FROM KUWAIT CITY, JOINED THE TEAM FOR THE FIRST DAY'S DISCUSSIONS. ¶3. (S) USAID CONFIRMED A DONATION OF U.S. DOLLARS 5 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF WFP'S U.S. DOLLARS 7.7 MILLION IRAQ EMERGENCY OPERATION (EMOP) AND SPECIAL OPERATION (DESCRIBED REF A). DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEAN-JACQUES GRAISSE REPORTED THAT TO DATE WFP HAD RECEIVED NO OTHER DONATIONS AND THAT GERMANY HAD INFORMED THAT THEY DID NOT INTEND TO CONTRIBUTE AT THIS STAGE. ¶4. (S) WFP REVIEWED THE TENTATIVE PIPELINE CORRIDOR ALLOCATIONS THROUGH SYRIA, JORDAN, TURKEY AND IRAN; IRAQI INTERNAL MILLING CAPACITY (ESTIMATED AT 403,040 METRIC TONS/MONTH - ALL SECTORS); AND IRAQI INTERNAL STORAGE CAPACITY, FOOD SECRET > 2003ROME00371 - Classification: SECRET