WFP'S NEW PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BURMA'S NEEDIEST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001615 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, I/O; PACOM FOR FPA, TREASURY FOR OASIA:AJEWELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON PGOV BM SUBJECT: WFP'S NEW PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BURMA'S NEEDIEST RANGOON 00001615 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Under a new Country Director, the World Food Program (WFP) will continue to supply food to three of Burma's most vulnerable regions in Shan and Rakhine States, and Magwe Division. WFP plans to consolidate these three programs and expand operations slightly to include selected villages that suffer from chronic food insecurity in Kachin and Chin States. WFP will present this proposal for approval at the November Executive Board meeting. Despite the overall repressive environment, WFP has been able to help some of Burma's neediest populations, both in border areas as well as in central Burma, and we recommend support for the program. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On 30 October, new Country Director Christopher Kaye briefed Charge on WFP's proposal, "Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations" for 2007 to 2009. WFP plans to continue its existing programs, including Food For Work, Food For Training and Food for Education, in the three areas where it currently operates. In the Dry Zone of Magwe Division, remote villages with no access to water suffer from food insecurity. In opium crop substitution areas of Shan State, farmers experience difficulty in the transition to other food or cash crops. In the Rohingya areas of Northern Rakhine State, government controls on movement and land use make access to food a year-round problem. WFP proposes to move all three programs under one operational umbrella, and to expand into nearby villages in Chin and Kachin States to address food security vulnerabilities. WFP also will expand its nutritional support to mothers and children. ¶3. (SBU) The proposal states that WFP programs are implemented without government involvement. WFP conducts its own assessments and then implements programs through two UN organizations, 13 international NGOs and two local NGOs. The new plan includes delivery of 110,000 tons of food, worth $50 million, over the next three years. This represents an increase of about $4 million of food deliveries annually, compared with 2005, when WFP delivered $11 million in food. According to Kaye, and Deputy Director Hakkan Tongul, the GOB facilitates access to vulnerable populations and provides permission to move food supplies. Authorities have not imposed any restrictions contained in the new NGO guidelines on WFP, said Tongul. Difficulties Resolved, For Now -------------- ¶4. (SBU) WFP purchases most of its food supplies in country. When contracted suppliers experienced problems with transportation and delivery to the regions, WFP began to accept shipments in Rangoon or Mandalay, and then used WFP transportation for delivery to remote areas. Remaining distribution difficulties eased when the regional commanders changed in Spring. WFP was also able to resolve the problem of a 10% tax collected by the government on its purchase of food from domestic suppliers. After WFP Director Morris protested this practice during his visit in August, the Minister of Commerce wrote a letter exempting these transactions from the normal 10% tax on foreign currency transactions. ¶5. (SBU) Major donors to WFP's program in Burma include Australia, Japan, the EU, and Germany. Smaller countries, such as Malaysia and Thailand recently have begun to contribute. China donated 10,000 tons of food to the former poppy growing region, and the GOB requested training from WFP on distribution methods. These donors respond to needs that are outlined in the proposal, including WFP estimates that one third of children in Burma are malnourished, one fifth are born underweight and 32% of children under 5 are RANGOON 00001615 002.2 OF 002 underweight and stunted. The report continues that, "high rates of chronic malnutrition indicate deteriorating food security resulting from insufficient nutritious food, poor access to health facilities, inadequate water and sanitation facilities, poor maternal and child care and limited livelihood opportunities." ¶6. (SBU) Comment: The proposal makes the case clearly -- government policies have led to deteriorating food security for numerous poor, vulnerable families. We have seen their programs at work in Northern Rakhine State and the Wa region, and found WFP very effective. We have no reason to believe WFP efforts in Magwe and potentially Chin and Kachin - all of which are considered among the poorest parts of Burma - are any less effective. We recommend supporting WFP's proposal for 2007-09. End comment. VILLAROSA