Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ROME459
2005-02-11 15:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

FAO UPDATE ON TSUNAMI DISASTER RESPONSE

Tags:  EAID EFIS PREF EAGR SENV AORC XO FAO 
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UNCLAS ROME 000459 

SIPDIS


USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, EGAT
STATE FOR IO/EDA, OES/O, OES/E, EAP/RSP, SA/INS
USDA FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS, LREICH, RHUGHES;
BRUSSELS FOR LERNER

FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIS PREF EAGR SENV AORC XO FAO
SUBJECT: FAO UPDATE ON TSUNAMI DISASTER RESPONSE

REF: ROME 0096 (NOTAL)

UNCLAS ROME 000459

SIPDIS


USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, EGAT
STATE FOR IO/EDA, OES/O, OES/E, EAP/RSP, SA/INS
USDA FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS, LREICH, RHUGHES;
BRUSSELS FOR LERNER

FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIS PREF EAGR SENV AORC XO FAO
SUBJECT: FAO UPDATE ON TSUNAMI DISASTER RESPONSE

REF: ROME 0096 (NOTAL)


1. Summary: At a briefing on 9 February for
representatives of affected states and donor countries,
FAO officials provided a progress report on the agency's
response to the Asian tsunami disaster. FAO has received
over $30 million in donor contributions and pledges.
This exceeds the organization's initial appeal for
$26.5 million for the first six months, but remains short
of the $67 million or more that FAO estimates is needed
to carry out its role in the longer-term rehabilitation
and reconstruction of the fisheries and agriculture
sectors. Italy, Japan, Belgium, Norway, Germany are the
leading donors. Australia and the U.S. have thus far not
contributed to FAO's response efforts in the region. End
summary.


2. FAO Director General Jacques Diouf convened a meeting
of permreps from affected countries and potential donors
to provide a briefing on FAO's actions and plans thus
far. Deputy Director General David Harcharik, Director
of Emergency Operations & Rehabilitation Anne Bauer, and
Rehabilitation & Humanitarian Policies Unit Coordinator
Richard China also participated. Diouf made the
following points:

-- FAO initially appealed for $26.5 million for projects
in six countries (Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar,
Seychelles, Somalia and Sri Lanka); but "the needs for
early recovery of agriculture and fisheries far exceed
the appeal by FAO."

-- FAO's priorities are (1) coordination and technical
assistance; (2) supply of fishing gear, repair and
replacement of boats, rehabilitation and restocking of
fish ponds, early rehabilitation of harbors, anchorages,
fish storage and processing; (3) seeds, tools, and other
agricultural inputs; and (4) repair of irrigation and
drainage infrastructure, and reclamation of crop land
affected by salt water flooding.

-- FAO has already received $12.5 million from 7 donors
(most notably Japan, Norway, Germany, UK),and

contributed $1.5 million from its own Technical
Cooperation Program funds. Other donors (principally
Belgium, China, Canada) have committed an additional
$6.5 million. (Later at the same meeting, Italy
announced a major contribution; see below.)

-- Germany, Norway and UK contributed to FAO's new
Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities
(SFERA),a revolving trust fund that allowed FAO to
initiate some activities rapidly.

-- Additional funding is being negotiated with a number
of donors, with an estimated $45.8 million in the
pipeline, and possibly as much as $67 million.

-- Needs in the area remain large, but the unprecedented
donor response to the UN and NGOs poses "a high risk of
inappropriate and fragmented assistance for recovery."
The need for coordination and technical guidance on
practical modalities has become a priority.

-- FAO has deployed an additional 35 international
experts and recruited equivalent national teams to assist
governments of affected countries to deepen needs
assessments and develop results-based program
frameworks. These efforts are backstopped by a task
force in Rome and by the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok.
Also, direct assistance to affected populations has
started.

-- The EU has called on FAO to take the lead in
coordinating rehabilitation of the fisheries sector in
the region.


3. The ensuing discussion and Q&A session included the
following points:

-- The Philippines Ambassador, speaking on behalf of the
Asia Group, expressed thanks to donors and FAO for their
support.

-- Italy announced a contribution to FAO of _ 9.5 million
(about $12.4 million).

-- Various participants reiterated the need for
coordination among donors, within the UN system, and with
the international financial institutions.


4. Comment: Among the traditional large contributors to
emergency relief activities, Australia and the U.S. are
conspicuous by their absence in responding to the FAO's
post-tsunami appeal. There may be good reasons --
including FAO's weak performance in certain other
emergency operations -- for channeling the bulk of USG
relief assistance to the affected areas through other
U.N. agencies and non-governmental mechanisms. But the
complete lack of a U.S. contribution to date may
compromise our ability to achieve other objectives within
the organization, particularly as we attempt to influence
the "after-action" evaluative process concerning FAO's
failures with its emergency locust control operations
last year. FAO has a clear mandate and better track
record in multilateral efforts to restore livelihoods in
fisheries and agriculture.

HALL


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2005ROME00459 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED