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