TURKEY: WB SEEKS USAID AVIAN INFLUENZA ROLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007561 SIPDIS SIPDIS USAID FOR BLANCHET, TROSTLE AND CARROLL HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS VIENNA PASS APHIS BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ GENEVA PASS HEALTH ATTACHE E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: EAID TBIO SENV ECON EAGR CASC AMED TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: WB SEEKS USAID AVIAN INFLUENZA ROLE Refs: A) ANKARA 6838, B) ANKARA 6884, C) ANKARA 7318 AND PREVIOUS ANKARA 00007561 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary: To supplement a proposed $15 million Bank loan, the World Bank seeks a partnership role with USAID in a package to assist Turkey's Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza readiness. Bank staff sees potential for USAID contribution on early surveillance training, communication, protective gear, and mobile incineration equipment, and would hope that a relationship could be structured on a sustained, multi-year basis. End Summary. -------------- -------------- World Bank to USAID: Time to Step Up - How Much and When? -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In a December 20 meeting, World Bank lead Agricultural Economist Mark Lundell and Ankara-based colleagues said Bank staff would be approaching USAID to discuss joint work to further Turkey's AI preparedness. The Bank is aiming to fashion a $15 million AI loan to Turkey, but the GOT is insisting that this be supplemented by a comparable amount of grants. While this amount of grants may not be achievable, the World Bank would welcome significant contributions toward this goal from USAID, EU, FAO, and other partners. ¶3. (SBU) The planned facility is aimed at both animal influenza and human pandemic readiness, focusing on prevention, preparedness and planning, as well as response and containment. It aims particularly at training for early surveillance, augmenting veterinary epidemiological expertise, and building capacity for potential multiple outbreaks. Attempting to coordinate sustained contributions with other partners, the World Bank is focusing much of its assistance on strengthening culling compensation funds, establishing an AI secretariat at the Prime Ministry, and restructuring SIPDIS affected poultry broiler and layer industries. Recognizing that EU pre-accession assistance is not quick acting, the World Bank envisions an potential role for USAID to fill short-term gaps in: -Fashioning and augmenting training for surveillance -Facilitating public communication strategies (the first hurdle is implementing measures to communicate; then establishing best approaches for communication) -Contributing personal protective gear and clothing -Contributing mobile incineration equipment ¶4. (SBU) Lundell observed that any of the above action items might fit nicely with USAID activities and goals in other "front line" countries like Romania and Ukraine. As noted already by USAID, improvements to veterinary and health systems will address other diseases as well. The World Bank reps said the GOT has been very receptive to advice on quickly stepping up AI readiness and preparedness (apart from harping on the goal of grants comprising 50% of the total package, stemming from global goals expressed at WHO AI conferences). ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Turkey experienced one confirmed outbreak of H5N1 in early October (reftels). Although the GOT received high marks for quickly containing the outbreak (benefiting from EU training and a simulation), the economic impact to the poultry and egg industry was severe. The main conclusions of a November USAID visit (ref A) were: there is a need and a possible USAID role to augment/assist GOT's ability to respond to multiple outbreaks, to educate both farmers and consumers on the virus, and to establish and empower a supra-governmental authority for AI readiness. Given Turkey's location on major Asia-Africa migratory flyways, there is an urgency ANKARA 00007561 002.2 OF 002 to mitigate these risk areas before any new outbreaks occur. WILSON