Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO7889
2005-10-13 13:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

SAHRAWI: FOOD CRUNCH IN TINDOUF

Tags:  PREF PHUM AL EG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS CAIRO 007889 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FROM REGIONAL REFUGEE COORDINATOR
DEPT FOR PRM/AFR MARY LANGE, PRM/MCE, PRM/A WHITNEY REITZ,
NEA/MAG
GENEVA FOR RMA
ROME FOR FODAG
USEU FOR MEZNAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM AL EG
SUBJECT: SAHRAWI: FOOD CRUNCH IN TINDOUF

Reference: Cairo 7582

-------
Summary
-------

UNCLAS CAIRO 007889

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FROM REGIONAL REFUGEE COORDINATOR
DEPT FOR PRM/AFR MARY LANGE, PRM/MCE, PRM/A WHITNEY REITZ,
NEA/MAG
GENEVA FOR RMA
ROME FOR FODAG
USEU FOR MEZNAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM AL EG
SUBJECT: SAHRAWI: FOOD CRUNCH IN TINDOUF

Reference: Cairo 7582

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) The Algerian Red Crescent has apparently refused to
accept the joint World Food Program/UNHCR decision to cut
back from 158,000 to 90,000 WFP's assessment of refugees
requiring food aid in the Tindouf camps. Despite WFP's
announcement that the cutback would take effect from October
1, the Algerians have removed supplies sufficient for
158,000 from the WFP/UNHCR storage area in Tindouf. WFP
will meet with the GOA on October 24 to try to resolve the
issue. WFP is determined to restrict its November
allocations from Rabouni to food sufficient for only 22,000.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) RefCoord met October 13 with Amir Abdulla, Regional
Director of the World Food Program (WFP) in Cairo to review
the situation in Tindouf following the joint decision by WFP
and UNHCR to cut back from 158,000 to 90,000 the official
assessment of vulnerable Sahrawi requiring food aid in the
Tindouf camps and to reduce food distribution to the
refugees accordingly. Abdulla and the Director of UNHCR's
CASWANAME Bureau, Menemcioglu, were joint signatories to the
letter to the Algerians announcing the cutback, which was to
have taken effect on September 1. As reported in reftel
this was postponed until October 1 in response to Sahrawi
protests and requests for additional time to adjust to the
new regimen.


3. (SBU) According to Abdulla WFP advised the Algerians
that the cutback would take effect on October 1. However as
noted in reftel, WFP has no control of food distribution to
the Sahrawi camps after it arrives at the warehouse area in
Rabouni. UNHCR, which technically controls secondary food
distribution, has surrendered control to the Sahrawi Red
Crescent (CRS),which is part of the Algerian Red Crescent
(CRA).

4.(SBU) WFP was alarmed to hear earlier this week that the
Algerians have refused to accept the new figure of 90,000
and have instead, unilaterally, taken sufficient supplies
from Rabouni to feed 158,000. According to Abdulla, when
WFP protested to the Algerians, it was told that WFP had no
standing in the matter since WFP effectively relinquished
control to UNHCR after the food reached Rabouni. WFP is
determined not to buckle and is apparently under pressure
from the Europeans - the principal donors to the Tindouf
program - not to do so. Abdulla is scheduled to meet with
the Algerians in Algiers on October 24. At that time WFP
will advise the GOA that the November food allocation will
be sufficient for only 22,000 a reduction of 68,000 to take
account of the extra supplies appropriated by the Algerians
for October.

Ricciardone