NOTE TO SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE FROM

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001245 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM XW SUBJECT: NOTE TO SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE FROM KJELL BONDEVIK, SYG SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN ENVOY FOR HORN OF AFRICA REF: MALY-MCKEE EMAIL OF 15 JUNE ¶1. Mission received the following note dated June 15, 2006, from Kjell Magne Bondevik, UN SYG's Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of Africa, requesting a meeting on June 26, 2006, to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa. USUN is in discussion with IO/RHS on how to facilitate meetings with Department and USAID. Text of note follows in para 2 below. ¶2. Begin text: 15 June 2006 Dear Madame Secretary, I am writing to request a meeting with you on 26 June to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa and the persistent problem of chronic hunger. The Secretary-General appointed me as his Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa in February 2006 in response to the drought crises afflicting the region since the beginning of the year. As you are aware, the Horn of Africa is one of the most food-insecure regions in the world, with more that 40 percent of people undernourished. One of my tasks as Special Envoy is to ensure effective humanitarian action in response to the ongoing drought crisis. I am also tasked with addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity, in collaboration with the United Nations system, affected countries, the donor community, Non Governmental Organizations, International Financial Institutions, and regional organizations such as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development. I visited the Horn region in February and April. Following my last visit, I traveled to European donor capitals, including Brussels, London, Geneva and Berlin where I urged the political leadership to increase their contributions to the Horn of Africa appeals, which are less than 40 percent funded out of a total requirement of US dollars 855 million. I also implored donor capitals to double their efforts to tackle the root causes of recurrent drought and break the cycle of hunger in the region. I am grateful for your consideration of my request. Please accept, Madame Secretary, the assurances of my highest consideration. Kjell Magne Bondevik Secretrary-General's Special Humanitarian Envoy SIPDIS for the Horn of Africa Secretary Condoleezza Rice SIPDIS Secretary of State SIPDIS United States Department of State End text. Washington, DC. BOLTON