Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LILONGWE514
2005-06-17 08:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:  

MALAWI DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SLOW ONSET FOOD

Tags:  EAID ECON EAGR MI 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000514 

SIPDIS

AIDAC

PRETORIA FOR DISKIN, HALE, SINK AND REYNOLDS
USAID FOR DCHA/FFP LANDIS, WELLER, MUTAMBA, SKORIC,
PETERSEN AND BERGMAN
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA BORNS, MARX, PRATT,
KHANDAGLE, HAGELMAN, AND BARTON
USAID FOR AFR/DP WARREN, KNEPP
USAID FOR AFR/SD WHELAN
USAID FOR AFR/SA LOKEN, COOKE
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/GGI, PM/ISP
NCS FOR MELINE
NAIROBI FOR PUTMAN, ESTES, AND DEPREZ
HARARE FOR REED
LUANDA FOR LYVERS
GABORONE FOR KHUPE
ROME FOR FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EAGR MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SLOW ONSET FOOD
EMERGENCY

REF: (A) STATE 207288; (B) LILONGWE 00423; (C) LILONGWE
00382

Summary: This is an action cable for USAIDs Office of
Food for Peace. Per the criteria set forth in reftel A,
the Chief of Mission has determined that there is a slow
onset food emergency in Malawi of sufficient magnitude to
warrant a disaster declaration. Unmet food requirements
are currently estimated at some 272,000 metric tons. In
response to the developing crisis, the Mission requests
that USAID/FFP provide at least 50,000 MT of food aid,
including 10,000 MT of pulses, to Malawi in the coming
months. The Mission is not, repeat not, requesting any
response or resources from USAIDs Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance at this time. However, the Mission
is in regular contact with OFDAs Southern Africa
Regional Office to closely monitor the situation.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000514

SIPDIS

AIDAC

PRETORIA FOR DISKIN, HALE, SINK AND REYNOLDS
USAID FOR DCHA/FFP LANDIS, WELLER, MUTAMBA, SKORIC,
PETERSEN AND BERGMAN
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA BORNS, MARX, PRATT,
KHANDAGLE, HAGELMAN, AND BARTON
USAID FOR AFR/DP WARREN, KNEPP
USAID FOR AFR/SD WHELAN
USAID FOR AFR/SA LOKEN, COOKE
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/GGI, PM/ISP
NCS FOR MELINE
NAIROBI FOR PUTMAN, ESTES, AND DEPREZ
HARARE FOR REED
LUANDA FOR LYVERS
GABORONE FOR KHUPE
ROME FOR FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EAGR MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SLOW ONSET FOOD
EMERGENCY

REF: (A) STATE 207288; (B) LILONGWE 00423; (C) LILONGWE
00382

Summary: This is an action cable for USAIDs Office of
Food for Peace. Per the criteria set forth in reftel A,
the Chief of Mission has determined that there is a slow
onset food emergency in Malawi of sufficient magnitude to
warrant a disaster declaration. Unmet food requirements
are currently estimated at some 272,000 metric tons. In
response to the developing crisis, the Mission requests
that USAID/FFP provide at least 50,000 MT of food aid,
including 10,000 MT of pulses, to Malawi in the coming
months. The Mission is not, repeat not, requesting any
response or resources from USAIDs Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance at this time. However, the Mission
is in regular contact with OFDAs Southern Africa
Regional Office to closely monitor the situation.


1. In a letter dated June 1, 2005, the Government of
Malawi formally requested food aid assistance from the
USG. This request follows the recent release of Malawi
Vulnerability Assessment Committee results for the May
2005 to April 2006 marketing year that indicate
e
significant unmet food aid needs. Post has determined
that the conditions for declaration of a disaster are
met: the food aid gap is clearly beyond the capacity of
the GOM alone to respond; the GOM has formally requested
USG assistance; and lastly, it is in the USG interest to
assist Malawi during this crisis.


2. The emerging food gap in Malawi is a result of
significant crop losses caused by an extensive mid-season
dryspell in many parts of the country. Ministry of
Agriculture second round crop estimates put the maize
crop production at 1.3 million MT, the lowest production
in 7 years against a national food requirement of close
to 2 million MT, reftel B. This is against a background
of poor production the last 3 years and low purchasing
power and asset depletion in rural areas, reftel C.


3. Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee results
released last May indicate a worse humanitarian situation
than earlier anticipated, reftel B. The most likely
scenario suggests that 4.2 million people, or well over a
third of the population, will need humanitarian
assistance over the next nine months. Unmet food aid
needs for next 9 months are estimated at 272,000 MT, of
which 139,000 MT will be covered by the GOM and recent
pledges by other donors, particularly the European Union
and United Kingdoms DFID. Yet Malawi still has
significant unmet food aid needs of some 133,000 MT.


4. OFDA assistance is not needed at this time but there
is a possibility that it may be needed on the ground from
early FY 2006. Post currently anticipates potential
emergency needs in the sectors of water, health, and
livelihood recovery. In conjunction with OFDAs Southern
Africa Regional Office, Post is closely monitoring the
situation in the country and will report on any emerging
humanitarian needs in the coming months.


5. According to the 2005/2006 budget currently being
considered in Parliament, the GOM plans to provide 12,000
0
MT from its own resources to meet humanitarian needs as
well as some $6 million toward logistical and
distribution costs. Food aid distribution and food-for-
work activities in six of the worst affected districts
are scheduled to start this month, June 2005 using
existing Strategic Grain Reserve stocks.


6. In the coming months, one third of the population has
insufficient purchasing power to meet their household
food needs and thus will need food aid. To respond to
this slow-onset emergency, Post requests the USAIDs Food
for Peace Office to plan to provide at least 50,000 MT of
food aid to Malawi, including at least 10,000 MT of
pulses.

GILMOUR