(C) USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM: ONLF CONTACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000400 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF DAS SWAN, AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, PRM A/S SAUERBREY, PRM/AFR USAID AFR/AA FOR KALMQUIST, WWARREN, JBORNS, KNELSON, CTHOMPSON DCHA/AA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, ACONVERY, CCHAN, PMORRIS, KCHANNELL DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMORAN, SANTHONY, PBERTOLIN LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, RTILSWORTH, AND LPANASUK NAIROBI FOR OFDA/ECARO GPLATT, RFFPO NCOX, USAID/EA ROME FOR AMBASSADOR, OHA, HSPANOS BRUSSELS FOR USEU PBROWN GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA USUN FOR FSHANKS NSC FOR PMARCHAN STATE PLS PASS TO DEPT OF AGRICULTURE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2018 TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET SUBJECT: (C) USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM: ONLF CONTACT REF: A. ADDIS 3644 ¶B. ADDIS 3611 ¶C. ADDIS 0027 ¶D. ADDIS 0153 Classified By: DCM Deborah Malac. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Between January 15 and January 21, 2008, USG Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT) staff in Ethiopia traveled to Gode and Korahe zones in Somali Region as part of a third field visit to assess the current humanitarian situation. During this time, the USG HAT convoy, including UN and partner NGO vehicles, encountered an Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) checkpoint while traveling between Gode and Kebridehar towns. ¶2. (C) The ONLF twice stopped the USG HAT convoy at the same checkpoint on the way to and from Kebridehar town. On the way from Gode to Kebridehar town, the ONLF approached the drivers and allowed the convoy to pass with limited delay. Two days later, on the HAT convoy's return from Kebridehar town to Gode, the ONLF required the convoy to wait until an ONLF member had climbed to the top of a hill beside the road before permitting the convoy to pass. The USG HAT noted an atmosphere of increased tension compared to the first time the convoy passed the checkpoint. In addition, the ONLF questioned UN World Food Program staff as to why food aid was not being delivered to rural areas. YAMAMOTO