Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM4761
2006-11-08 16:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

WORLD BANK GRANTS USD 13 MILLION TO AID

Tags:  KFLU TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID KWBG IS 
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VZCZCXYZ0044
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJMA #4761 3121646
ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZUI RUEWMCF9317 3121641
O 081646Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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).

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