UN AGENCIES APPEAL FOR USD 1.25 MILLION IN

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000994

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/GREENE/LOGERFO/WAECHTER; PRM FOR FRONT OFFICE AND
PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS, DORAN, MUSTAFA; TREASURY FOR
ADKINS; STATE PASS TO USAID/ANE/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ECON EAID PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: UN AGENCIES APPEAL FOR USD 1.25 MILLION IN
ASSISTANCE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR THE WEST BANK
AND GAZA



1. (SBU) Summary: Three United Nations agencies -- the World
Health Organization (WHO),the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA),and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) --
issued an appeal March 6 to local donors for USD 1.25 million
for emergency medical supplies for the Palestinian Authority.
(Note: Full text of the letter emailed to NEA/IPA. End
Note.) The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) plans to issue a similar revised appeal to
donors in mid-April to cover emergency UN operations. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) In a March 6 letter circulated to donors, the local
heads of three UN agencies (WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF) appealed to
donors to provide USD 1.25 million to the PA MOH for
essential medical supplies in light of their evaluation of
the February 7 request by the PA Acting Health Minister. The
supplies are intended to support PA health system operations
at primary and secondary levels for three months.


3. (SBU) The appeal calls for:

-- Essential drugs at a cost of USD 300,000 and medical
disposable supplies at a cost of USD 350,000. UNFPA and
UNICEF will use these drugs in primary and secondary health
care services, including maternal and child health services
as well as emergency services;

-- Laboratory reagents at a cost of USD 100,000. UNFPA and
WHO will use the laboratory reagents and UNFPA and UNICEF
will use the disposables for specialized laboratories,
although some items are for primary and secondary health
care; and

-- Non-EPI vaccines at a cost of USD 500,000. (Note:
Non-EPI vaccines refer to "non-essential program
immunizations." Essential vaccines typically include
measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio,
tuberculosis. In a March 3 meeting with USAID and
ConGenOffs, the UNICEF local head of office confirmed that
all EPI vaccines for 2006 are in place. He noted that EPI
vaccines for 2007 need to be ordered by July 2006. In the
West Bank, he said the PA administers 85 percent of the
vaccines, while United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA) administers 15 percent. In Gaza, 75 percent are
administered by UNRWA and 25 percent by the PA. End
Note.) The non-EPI vaccines will provide one year of
coverage for vaccines such as Hepatitis B for health
workers, and influenza, rabies and meningitis for Hajj-bound
pilgrims.


4. (SBU) OCHA reported that it plans to issue a similar
appeal to donors prior to a mid-year review of the UN's 2006
consolidated appeal for emergency programs in the West Bank
and Gaza. OCHA said it is expediting the review of the
appeal and will release its assessment and revised appeal in
mid-April.


5. (SBU) Comment: The appeal reflects the UN's concern about
imminent stock shortages at the MOH and a possible disruption
of service to the healthcare delivery system. Stock
shortages could have a ripple effect on other key healthcare
providers, such as UNRWA, which currently relies on PA labs
to provide free testing for its network of primary healthcare
clinics. Given the evolving situation on the ground, we
anticipate that additional appeals from the UN will be
forthcoming as various agencies are starting to assess the
impact on their operations. Washington agencies will need to
evaluate requests for donor support to the PA Ministry of
Health as part of our ongoing review of U.S. assistance.
Based on our evaluation, we should coordinate with other
donors to ensure a consistent international approach. End
Comment.
WALLES