WORLD BANK GRANTS USD 13 MILLION TO AID

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 004761 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS; TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016 TAGS: KFLU TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID KWBG IS SUBJECT: WORLD BANK GRANTS USD 13 MILLION TO AID PALESTINIAN AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPARATIONS; CONCERN ABOUT PA READINESS CLASSIFIED BY: CONSUL GENERAL JAKE WALLES, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: THE WORLD BANK HAS APPROVED TWO GRANTS TO AID AVIAN INFLUENZA PREVENTION AND CONTROL EFFORTS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA. A USD 3 MILLION SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY GRANT, SIGNED WITH UNDP IN OCTOBER 2006, WILL SUPPORT PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER AN INITIAL 12-MONTH PERIOD. A SECOND GRANT OF USD 10 MILLION, APPROVED BY THE WORLD BANK BUT STILL AWAITING THE PA PRESIDENT'S OFFICE SIGNATURE, AIMS TO BUILD UP INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO COMBAT AVIAN INFLUENZA IN BOTH HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH SECTORS OVER THE MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM. THE WORLD BANK'S ACTION OFFICER ON AVIAN INFLUENZA IS CONCERNED THAT NON-PAYMENT OF PA SALARIES AND ASSOCIATED STRIKES HAVE COMPROMISED THE PA'S ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY CONFRONT A LIKELY AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK THIS WINTER. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) WORLD BANK SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER HUSAM ABU DAGGA RECENTLY ADVISED ECONOFFS THAT WORLD BANK HAS APPROVED TWO GRANTS TOTALING USD 13 MILLION INTENDED TO ASSIST PALESTINIANS IN COMBATING AVIAN INFLUENZA. THE WORLD BANK IN OCTOBER SIGNED A SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY GRANT OF USD 3 MILLION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP) TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WHO AND THE FAO. ACCORDING TO ABU DAGGA THIS GRANT WILL ADDRESS ANIMAL HEALTH NEEDS, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE COORDINATION OF VETERINARY SERVICES, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM, ENHANCEMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC CAPACITY, CULLING ACTIVITIES, AND COMPENSATION FOR AFFECTED FARMERS. THE GRANT WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE PREVENTION AND HUMAN SAFETY MEASURES, STRENGTHEN PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AND RESPONSE CAPACITY. ¶3. (SBU) A SECOND USD 10 MILLION WORLD BANK GRANT AIMS TO BUILD INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO COMBAT AVIAN INFLUENZA OVER THE MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM. IT PROVIDES TRAINING OF FIELD STAFF, PROVISION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE), VACCINES, TWO VETERINARY LABORATORIES -- ONE IN GAZA AND ONE IN THE WEST BANK -- AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS ACTIVITIES. ASSISTANCE WILL ALSO ADDRESS CULLING AND DISPOSAL AS WELL AS COMPENSATION FOR INCOME LOSS. THE PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE STRENGTHENED BY ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING LABORATORIES AND PROVIDING EQUIPMENT FOR SPECIMEN COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION AND TESTING. EFFORTS WILL ALSO BE MADE TO STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH SECTOR RESPONSE TO A POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS AMONG HUMANS. ¶4. (C) ABU DAGGA EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE NON-PAYMENT OF PA EMPLOYEE SALARIES, STRIKES AND THE CLOSURE OF MANY PA OFFICES HAS LEFT THE GOVERNMENT POORLY PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE NEXT OUTBREAK OF AVIAN INFLUENZA. PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND ADEQUATE RESPONSES CANNOT BE ORGANIZED WITHOUT THE FULL INVOLVEMENT OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. CURRENTLY, THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BUT THE REMEDIES EXIST ONLY ON PAPER. MOST OF THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS, SUCH AS NEW LABORATORIES, WILL NOT BE IN PLACE THIS SEASON. ALTHOUGH PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI COOPERATION WAS GOOD LAST YEAR, THE NEED TO SEND SAMPLEQO ISRAEL FOR TESTING RESULTED IN DAMAGED SHIPMENTS AND INACCURATE RESULTS IN SOME INSTANCES, ACCORDING TO ABU DAGGA. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECENT TECHNICAL MEETINGS BETWEEN THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN SIDES. ¶5. (C) ABU DAGGA SAID THAT THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED UNDP WITH USD 1.5 MILLION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACTING ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IF AN OUTBREAK OCCURS THIS WINTER. HE SAID HE IS NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BEYOND WHAT THE WORLD BANK AND NORWEGIANS ARE PROVIDING. ECONCHIEF NOTED THAT THE USAID MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANOTHER DELIVERY OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT KITS. WALLES