USAID/DCHA/OFDA RESPONSE TO DISASTER

UNCLAS STATE 138933 SIPDIS AIDAC RANGOON FOR SAMANTHA CARL YODER, BANGKOK FOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SUBJECT: USAID/DCHA/OFDA RESPONSE TO DISASTER DECLARATION FOR DETERIORATING HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN BURMA REFS: (A) RANGOON 00952 (B) STATE 165530 (OFDA FY 2007 GUIDANCE CABLE) RDMA WHELDEN, CONTROLLER, AND OFDA DOLAN, KATHMANDU FOR BERGER AND MCINTYRE, GENEVA FOR KYLOH, NSC FOR MARCHAM ¶1. IN ACCORDANCE WITH POST'S REF A DISASTER DECLARATION AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE, USAID/DCHA/OFDA IS ESTABLISHING A MISSION ALLOWANCE OF USDOLS 50,000 AS A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF AFFECTED POPULATIONS IN BURMA. USAID/DCHA/OFDA UNDERSTANDS THAT THESE FUNDS WILL BE AWARDED TO SAVE THE CHILDREN/BURMA BY USAID'S REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MISSION FOR ASIA (RDMA) IN BANGKOK, IN CONSULTATION WITH EMBASSY RANGOON AND OFDA'S BANGKOK-BASED SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR. ¶2. USAID/DCHA/OFDA APPRECIATES POST'S ONGOING CONSULTATION WITH USAID/DCHA/OFDA REGIONAL ADVISORS AND RDMA REGARDING UTILIZATION OF THESE FUNDS AND ANY POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS. ¶3. NOTE: BASED ON THE MULTIPLE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DETERIORATING HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN BURMA (REF A),INCLUDING FOOD INSECURITY AND CIVIL UNREST, USAID/DCHA/OFDA IS CATEGORIZING THIS ASSISTANCE AS RESPONSE TO A COMPLEX EMERGENCY. ¶4. FISCAL DATA WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE TRANSMITTED WITH THIS CABLE IS UNAVAILABLE DUE TO THE FISCAL YEAR TRANSITION AND WILL BE PROVIDED SEPARATELY BY EMAIL TO RDMA FOR AWARD OF FUNDS TO SAVE THE CHILDREN. ¶5. INFORMATION ON NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED AND DISPLACED IS IMPORTANT FOR OFDA RECORDS. THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO NEEDED TO RESPOND TO CONGRESSIONAL AND PUBLIC INQUIRIES. ¶6. THESE FUNDS ARE TO BE USED FOR IMMEDIATE DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS. RELIEF ASSISTANCE IS THAT AID WHICH IS PROVIDED TO SAVE LIVES AND REDUCE HUMAN SUFFERING AND MAY BE PROVIDED FOR AS LONG AS THE CONDITION OF THE VICTIMS RESULTING FROM THE DISASTER REQUIRES THIS SUPPORT. USAID/DCHA/OFDA WILL CONSIDER THE RELIEF PHASE ENDED NINETY DAYS AFTER A SUDDEN EVENT, UNLESS POST REQUESTS AND USAID/DCHA/OFDA APPROVES A CONTINUATION OF THIS PERIOD. RELIEF ASSISTANCE FOR ONGOING DISASTERS SUCH AS DROUGHT AND CIVIL STRIFE CAN LAST MORE THAN ONE YEAR DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WILL REQUIRE ANNUAL DISASTER DECLARATIONS. ¶7. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE BEYOND THAT DETAILED IN THIS CABLE REQUIRES PRIOR APPROVAL FROM USAID/DCHA/OFDA PER THE GENERAL GUIDANCE PROVIDED IN REF B. ¶8. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FUNDS OR RELIEF SUPPLIES, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY USAID/DCHA/OFDA RESTS PRIMARILY WITH THE RECIPIENT U.S. MISSION. THE U.S. MISSION IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING AND RETAINING RECEIPTS FOR ALL PROPERTY TRANSFERRED TO HOST AGENCIES AND PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS. TITLE TO THE PROPERTY TRANSFERS TO THE RECIPIENT INSTITUTION AT THE TIME THE PROPERTY IS PHYSICALLY TRANSFERRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE U.S. MISSION IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE RELIEF GOODS, EITHER PROVIDED BY USAID/DCHA/OFDA OR PROCURED LOCALLY, REACH THE INTENDED DISASTER VICTIMS. SIMILARLY, THE U.S. MISSION IN THE AFFECTED COUNTRY IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY AND ALL FUNDS PROVIDED BY USAID/DCHA/OFDA. ALL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY USAID/DCHA/OFDA IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME AUDIT RIGHTS AS OTHER TYPES OF U.S. ASSISTANCE. ¶9. USAID/DCHA/OFDA ACTION OFFICER FOR THIS DISASTER IS ROB THAYER. THAYER CAN BE REACHED DURING BUSINESS HOURS AT (202)712-1257. MOBILE PHONE NUMBER FOR THAYER IS (202) 294-8424. AFTER CLOSE OF BUSINESS, USAID/DCHA/OFDA PERSONNEL CAN ALSO BE REACHED THROUGH THE OFDA DUTY OFFICER AT (301)675-5953. ¶10. PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING FORTHCOMING FISCAL DATA FOR THIS AWARD TO JOHN PEYREBRUNE AT (202) 712-4193 OR EMAIL AT JPEYREBRUNE@USAID.GOV. ¶11. SECTION 2110 OF THE EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, AND TSUNAMI RELIEF, 2005, PROVIDES THAT NO INTERNATIONAL DISASTER AND FAMINE ASSISTANCE (IDFA) FUNDS MAY BE OBLIGATED TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT FAILS TO ADOPT A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT PROVIDES FOR THE PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES OF IDFA-FUNDED ASSISTANCE FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF OPERATIONS. THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO FUNDS OBLIGATED FOR FY 2005 AND FOR SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS. TO THIS END, THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ALL AWARDS UTILIZING OFDA'S IDFA FUNDS: "CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES OF ASSISTANCE FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF OPERATIONS AS A CONDITION FOR THIS AWARD, THE RECIPIENT CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS ADOPTED A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES OF ASSISTANCE FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF OPERATIONS. SUCH CODE OF CONDUCT MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTER-AGENCY STANDING COMMITTEE (IASC) TASK FORCE ON PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING CORE PRINCIPLES: - SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE BY HUMANITARIAN WORKERS CONSTITUTE ACTS OF GROSS MISCONDUCT AND ARE THEREFORE GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; - SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH CHILDREN (PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18) IS PROHIBITED REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF MAJORITY OR AGE OF CONSENT LOCALLY. MISTAKEN BELIEF IN THE AGE OF A CHILD IS NOT A DEFENSE; - EXCHANGE OF MONEY, EMPLOYMENT, GOODS, OR SERVICES FOR SEX, INCLUDING SEXUAL FAVORS OR OTHER FORMS OF HUMILIATING, DEGRADING, OR EXPLOITATIVE BEHAVIOR IS PROHIBITED. THIS INCLUDES EXCHANGE OF ASSISTANCE THAT IS DUE TO BENEFICIARIES; - SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HUMANITARIAN WORKERS AND BENEFICIARIES ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED SINCE THEY ARE BASED ON INHERENTLY UNEQUAL POWER DYNAMICS. SUCH RELATIONSHIPS UNDERMINE THE CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY OF HUMANITARIAN AID WORK; - WHERE A HUMANITARIAN WORKER DEVELOPS CONCERNS OR SUSPICIONS REGARDING SEXUAL ABUSE OR EXPLOITATION BY A FELLOW WORKER, WHETHER IN THE SAME HUMANITARIAN AID AGENCY OR NOT, S/HE MUST REPORT SUCH CONCERNS VIA ESTABLISHED AGENCY REPORTING MECHANISMS; AND - HUMANITARIAN WORKERS ARE OBLIGED TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH PREVENTS SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE AND PROMOTES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR CODE OF CONDUCT. MANAGERS AT ALL LEVELS HAVE PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITIES TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP SYSTEMS WHICH MAINTAIN THIS ENVIRONMENT." RICE