DARFUR: ITALY COMMITMENT EURO 4.4 MILLION

UNCLAS ROME 002272 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PASS USAID FOR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR; DCHA FOR AA, OFDA, FFP; PPC/DCO; AFR/AA KHARTOUM FOR KFARNSWORTH QUN FOR LUTZ AND MAHONEY USEU FOR LERNER, MANSO AND REFCOORD STATE FOR AF, ITO, AND PRM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREF PREL SU IT AF WFP UN SUBJECT: DARFUR: ITALY COMMITMENT EURO 4.4 MILLION REF: ROME 01714 Sensitive but Unclassified--Not for Internet publication. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Italy is contributing a total of Euro 4.4 million (approx $5.4 million) to relief efforts related to the crisis in Darfur. Officials at the MFA's Directorate of Development Cooperation told USAID Deputy Administrator Frederick Schieck that Italy does not rule out further contributions. For the GOI, non-food aid, such as medical care, is the higher priority in Darfur now. Italy plans to send a coordinator from the Italian Ministry of Health to Khartoum to manage its bilateral assistance. On Afghanistan, Schieck expressed hope that Italy would be able to command one provincial reconstruction team (PRT). End summary. Darfur, Libya Route For Aid -------------- ¶2. (U) Sudan was the primary topic at a May 27 meeting between USAID Deputy Administrator Frederick Schieck and Eugenio Campo, Multilateral Coordinator at the Directorate of Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Embassy Econoffs and FODAG Alternate Permrep also attended. Schieck described the terrible situation in the Darfur region of Sudan and the problems relief agencies are experiencing delivering aid during the rainy season. The World Food Program (WFP),Schieck noted, is considering using a route through Libya that is less affected by weather. Campo did not offer an opinion on the Libya route but noted the potential importance of the WFP's Humanitarian Resource Depot in Brindisi, Italy, for responding to the Darfur crisis. Breakdown of Italy's Darfur Pledge -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Gabriele Di Muzio, Africa Desk Director for Development Cooperation, outlined Italy's response to the Darfur crisis and provided a copy of an internal summary itemizing Italy's donations. Di Muzio said Italy has pledged Euro 16 million in assistance to the Sudan (Note: We assume this means in the current fiscal year. End note.) of which Euro 4.4 million is specifically in response to Darfur. Di Muzio added that Italy does not rule out further contributions beyond the Euro 4.4 million already committed and an additional Euro 1.5 million donation is under discussion. Additional donations, according to the paper, would be through multilateral, rather than bilateral, channels. The paper does not specify how much of the Euro 4.4 million has already been distributed. The summary lists the following breakdown of Italy's Darfur pledge: (Euro=$1.23) channel m of Euro m of US$ -------------- -------------- -------------- bilateral-ordinary 0.62 0.76 bilateral-emergency 1.4 1.72 TOTAL BILATERAL 2.02 2.48 WHO 0.85 1.05 Unicef 0.6 0.74 UNHCR (Chad) 0.8 0.98 UNDRO 0.083 0.1 OCHA 0.046 0.06 TOTAL MULTILATERAL 2,379 2.93 GRAND TOTAL 4,399 5.41 ¶4. (U) Italy's priorities, Di Muzio said, are in the health sector: immunization, therapeutic feeding, safe drinking water, shelter and other non-food items. Schieck commented that the delivery of non-food aid to Darfur and eastern Chad should be the priority. Italy also plans to send an aid coordinator from the Ministry of Health to Khartoum to help manage Italy's response, according to Di Muzio. Schieck noted the difficulty aid workers and foreign officials are having obtaining Sudanese visas. Campo replied that the International Red Cross might be helpful in resolving the visa issue. Afghanistan -------------- ¶5. (U) Campo pointed out Italy's efforts promoting judicial reform in Afghanistan. Italy, Campo said, is concerned with the repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran and decided in May to contribute Euro 3 million to the UNHCR. Italy also gave Euro 6 million in food aid to Afghanistan in 2003 through the WFP. Italy, Campo added, shares the United States' concern about continued opium cultivation in Afghanistan. Schieck explained the concept behind provincial reconstruction teams (PRT's) that combine a military presence to maintain security along with a contingent of development workers to improve economic conditions. Schieck expressed the USG's hope that Italy could take responsibility for one PRT. Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Darfur is apparently rising as an aid priority for the GOI. The Euro 4.4 million contribution is substantially higher than what the MFA reported to Econoff last month (reftel). At the same time, given Italy's commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the MFA's aid budget is under greater strain than ever. As with other aid programs, actual distribution of Italy's Darfur pledge may see some delay. ¶7. (U) Deputy Administrator Schieck did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. Visit Rome's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME02272 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED