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