WORKING TO FEED BURMA,S HUNGRY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001139 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, F, PRM STATE FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA KY LUU, ROBERT THAYER, TOM ROGERS STATE FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA DAA GREG GOTTLIEB BANGKOK FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR TOM DOLAN KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER GENEVA FOR USAID NANCY KYLOH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PGOV ECON BM SUBJECT: WORKING TO FEED BURMA,S HUNGRY REF: A. RANGOON 952 ¶B. RANGOON 874 RANGOON 00001139 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. According to international NGOs, malnutrition rates are increasing in Northern Rakhine State (NRS). In the past year, humanitarian organizations have seen a 380 percent increase in severely malnourished patients seeking treatment due to drought, flood, and inflation. Action Contre La Faim (ACF),an NGO that runs several therapeutic feeding centers in NRS, reported that an average of 53 people a day sought treatment at the Sittwe feeding center during the first 10 months of 2007. ACF, which has secured funding from ECHO through January 2008, has submitted a proposal for additional funding. Post strongly supports ACF's work in Burma and recommends the Department fund the proposal. End Summary. Rising Rates of Malnutrition -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Francois Olive-Keravec, Action Contre La Faim (ACF) Head of Mission, told us that malnutrition continues to be a problem in Northern Rakhine State. In August, Olive-Keravec explained that humanitarian organizations working in NRS saw a sudden upswing in severe malnutrition (Ref B). Between June and August 2007, ACF, which runs several therapeutic feeding centers in NRS, saw a 380 percent increase of severely malnourished patients at their clinics. The ACF clinic in Sittwe, the largest city in Rakhine State, reported that an average of 53 people per day sought treatment for malnutrition during the first 10 months of ¶2007. ¶3. (SBU) Although ACF treated fewer patients in September and October, Olive-Keravec explained that the situation in NRS was not improving. The lower than expected rainfall during the 2007 rainy season severely affected the people of Northern Rakhine State, who depend on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods. The droughts damaged food stocks and led to a decrease in overall food production. Olive-Keravec also noted that Sittwe Township, which does not produce enough rice to feed its people, depends on rice imports from lower Burma. The GOB's unannounced fuel price hike in August also played a role in increasing malnutrition, as rice prices in Rakhine State rose 20 percent. A majority of Burmese, who live hand-to-mouth, spend more than 70 percent of their salaries on food; the unavailability of food and the higher prices of rice in the NRS have increased malnutrition rates. ¶4. (SBU) Olive-Keravec also highlighted that thirty-one percent of malnourished children admitted into ACF's feeding clinics had associated diseases. These children first contracted infections, such as diarrhea or malaria, which left them weak and unable to eat. Malnutrition does not always occur because of lack of food. Lack of access to health services and the inability to treat diseases make the people of NRS more susceptible to disease. Why Rakhine State? -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Rakhine State is one of the more underdeveloped places in Burma. For years, the GOB has neglected parts of Rakhine State, particularly the NRS, by minimizing investments in health and education. Northern Rakhine State is home to Burma's Muslim Rohingya population. The GOB RANGOON 00001139 002.2 OF 002 refuses to grant them citizenship, and severely limits their ability to earn a living by tightly restricting their freedom of movement. Olive-Keravec explained that 95 percent of ACF's therapeutic feeding centers beneficiaries are Muslim. ACF and other humanitarian organizations provide this marginalized population with medical care, fulfilling one of the Rohingya's basic needs. Proposal -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Olive-Keravec submitted a proposal to us, requesting funding for ACF's programs in Sittwe in 2008. ACF received funding this year from ECHO, which runs out in January 2008. The program has three specific objectives: to treat severe acute malnutrition through therapeutic feeding; to treat moderate acute malnutrition through a supplementary feeding program; and to prevent malnutrition and improve mother/child care practices. The total requested was $820,000, which would fund ACF's clinic from February 2008-January 2009. Olive-Keravec explained that if that amount was not available, ACF could prioritize its program and focus on the first and third objectives. This would bring their total budgetary needs to $525,000. Although ACF only requested funding for one year, Olive-Keravec stated that ACF plans to continue the program as long as it is needed. Embassy Rangoon will forward the complete proposal and budget breakdown via email to EAP, F, and PRM for review. Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Most Burmese are poor, subsisting on $1 a day or less. The Rohingyas, Burma's poorest and arguably most oppressed people, would not survive were it not for the work of humanitarian organizations such as ACF. By supporting feeding programs, like ACF's, we directly thwart the Than Shwe regime's efforts to eliminate the most vulnerable people. We recommend USG support for these humanitarian programs. VILLAROSA