TFXO01: EARLY WFP RELIEF EFFORTS - CREATION OF

UNCLAS ROME 004908 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME STATE FOR TASK FORCE 1, IO/EDA USAID FOR DCHA, OFDA GOTTLIEB USDA FOR FAS HUGHES BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF MOPS EAGR XO WFP SUBJECT: TFXO01: EARLY WFP RELIEF EFFORTS - CREATION OF TSUNAMI TASK FORCE SIPDIS ¶1. USUN Rome Humanitarian Affairs Counselor Earl Gast and Program Specialist Philip Lamade were briefed by senior World Food Program (WFP) management on December 28, 2004. WFP apprised USUN Rome of its active engagement in mobilizing a task force in response to the disastrous tsunami following the Ache earthquake. Initially, more SIPDIS than 40 WFP international staff are being deployed to affected areas, emergency operations (EMOPS) have been approved in advance of the UN's forthcoming consolidated appeal, and donor countries are being contacted given the expectation that the relief effort recommended by assessment teams will be massive. ¶2. WFP has created a high-level task force consisting of senior headquarters staff, Southeast Asia Regional Director Anthony Banbury (who has returned to Bangkok and has taken charge of the task force),and country directors of the affected countries. More than forty additional staff, both from within and also beyond the region are already in place or en route to coordinate the emergency response. In addition, WFP provided assurances that the additional staff needed for the tsunami relief effort will not detract from or jeopardize other important projects, e.g., Sudan. ¶3. UN's OCHA is expected to release an inter-agency flash appeal on January 6, 2004, for approximately $10 million. Meanwhile, in order to be proactive, WFP has approved EMOPs for Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia in the amount of $500,000 each, thus permitting WFP to borrow against existing stocks. In addition, WFP is preparing EMOPS for Myanmar, India, and the Maldives, as well as a regional EMOP. ¶4. Among other staff being deployed and in conjunction with other UN agencies, WFP is fielding assessment teams in order to expedite the development of plans and tactics for forthcoming relief efforts. WFP is also conferring with donors in view of the expected magnitude of the relief efforts. HALL NNNN 2004ROME04908 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED