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.

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2004ROME02272 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED