Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANTANANARIVO207
2009-03-25 10:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
DISASTER DECLARATION - COMPLEX EMERGENCY: POLITICAL CRISIS
how-toO 251029Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2243 AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION UN ROME USEU BRUSSELS NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHINGTON DC JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000207
AIDAC
STATE FOR USAID/W FOR AFR/SA,ELOKEN, LDOBBINS,HIRSCH,JHARMON
STATE FOR OFDA/W,PMORRIS,ACONVERY,LPOWERS,TDENYSENKO
STATE FOR FFP/W,JBORNS,LPETERSEN
STATE FOR AFR/EA,AMARCUS
STATE FOR AF/E,LMORIORATY,MOKEEFE
PRETORIA FOR USAID/OFDA,HHALE,PDISKIN,SMCNIVEN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
ROME FOR USUN HSPANOS
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PBROWN
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO
NSC FOR CPRATT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL PHUM PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION - COMPLEX EMERGENCY: POLITICAL CRISIS
AND FOOD INSECURITY IN MADAGASCAR
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000207
AIDAC
STATE FOR USAID/W FOR AFR/SA,ELOKEN, LDOBBINS,HIRSCH,JHARMON
STATE FOR OFDA/W,PMORRIS,ACONVERY,LPOWERS,TDENYSENKO
STATE FOR FFP/W,JBORNS,LPETERSEN
STATE FOR AFR/EA,AMARCUS
STATE FOR AF/E,LMORIORATY,MOKEEFE
PRETORIA FOR USAID/OFDA,HHALE,PDISKIN,SMCNIVEN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
ROME FOR USUN HSPANOS
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PBROWN
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO
NSC FOR CPRATT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL PHUM PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION - COMPLEX EMERGENCY: POLITICAL CRISIS
AND FOOD INSECURITY IN MADAGASCAR
1. This is an Action Request. See paragraph 2 and 11.
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
2. A power struggle beginning in January 2009 that led to an
unconstitutional transfer of power has resulted in a severe shock to
the economy of Madagascar and a near paralysis of government
capability to respond to humanitarian concerns emerging in the
country. The crisis has led to over 50,000 job losses in
Antananarivo alone. At the same time, unseasonably poor rainfall
across Madagascar, particularly in the south, has compromised food
security. The UN is preparing a flash appeal to respond to the
humanitarian concerns arising from this combination of economic and
climatic shocks. It is in the US interest to support humanitarian
assistance in Madagascar. Given these conditions, the Chief of the
US Mission exercises authority to declare that a complex
humanitarian disaster is in progress and requests an immediate USD
50,000 for urgent humanitarian programming. USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP
are requested to continue to monitor the situation and support
partners as determined appropriate.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
3. In January 2009, a power struggle broke out between the President
of the Republic of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, and opposition
leader and former Antananarivo mayor, Andry Rajoelina. President
Marc Ravalomanana handed over power to the military on March 17,
2009. Power was subsequently handed to the opposition. Weeks of
opposition protests and turmoil have taken the lives of more than
150 people, and injured around 1,000.
4 As a result of the political crisis, the socio-economic situation
of Madagascar has declined drastically. The crisis has severely
destabilized the economy and resulted in a near halting of the 390
million USD/year tourism industry. A recent suspension of much
international foreign development aid will exacerbate the plight of
the nearly 70 percent of the Malagasy population living on less than
1 USD/day.
5. Among those particularly affected are vulnerable people living in
the urban areas of several cities in Madagascar. This is manifested
through increased unemployment, rising food prices, and
deteriorating sanitation conditions due to limited functioning of
public works and the incapacity of government to provide social
services. Some church groups in the capital of Antananarivo have
indicated a fourfold increase in requests for assistance, as
compared to the pre-crisis period.
6. A preliminary assessment conducted by a group of agriculture and
food security disaster actors (FAO, CRS, WFP and other local NGOs)
demonstrates that over 50,000 people in the capital have lost their
jobs due to lay-offs in export processing zones, closure of several
private companies, suspension of income generating activities, and
reduction in work force. Lack of cash to purchase food is coupled
with an increase in staple food/commodities prices and localized
market shortages.
7. In addition to direct impacts on health, nutrition, and overall
food security, the crisis is taking a toll on the country's natural
resource base, which is the primary source of livelihood for poor
rural communities. There are increased reports of opportunistic,
unsustainable and illegal depletion of natural resources due to a
lack of rule of law and dysfunction of the government. Reports of
potential human rights abuses inflicted by illegal operators and
forest profiteers upon rural communities are also increasing,
particularly in the northern forest areas. These conditions
undermine livelihoods and security of poor, rural communities.
8. Significant rainfall shortages across the country have also
contributed to growing food insecurity. The December Early Warning
System (EWS) bulletin generated by BNGRC "Bureau National de la
Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes" reported that 31 communes
in southern Madagascar were facing severe food insecurity due to a
prolonged drought. April and May harvests are expected to fail in
calendar year 2009 in Androy and Anosy regions. An estimated
150,000 people may soon be affected by food insecurity within these
areas.
9. As the government has effectively ceased to function during the
crisis, regular food security monitoring for other vulnerable
populations across Madagascar has not occurred. However,
preliminary assessments by USAID implementing partners, such as
Adventist Development Relief Agency and CARE, indicate that affected
communities are already employing significant coping strategies,
including selling off livestock and household goods in order to
purchase food.
10. The Chief of Mission has determined that the impact of the
political crisis on already vulnerable populations, particularly in
urban and peri-urban areas, and the food insecurity across the
country, particularly in southern Madagascar, are of sufficient
magnitude to warrant US Government assistance. The Chief of Mission
is therefore exercising his disaster assistance authority.
--------------
Action Required
--------------
11. Due to the political crisis, significant rainfall shortages
across the country, and significant food insecurity amongst
vulnerable Malagasy populations, Post hereby declares a complex
humanitarian disaster in Madagascar.
12. Disaster assistance of USD 50,000 will be awarded to a joint
group of UN agencies and NGOs to assess food insecurity in urban and
rural priority districts.
13. This cable requests support from USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP to
work with USAID Madagascar and its implementing partners to
determine the size, scope and sector of any additional emerging
humanitarian assistance requirements. Post will continue to monitor
and report on the situation.
MARQUARDT
AIDAC
STATE FOR USAID/W FOR AFR/SA,ELOKEN, LDOBBINS,HIRSCH,JHARMON
STATE FOR OFDA/W,PMORRIS,ACONVERY,LPOWERS,TDENYSENKO
STATE FOR FFP/W,JBORNS,LPETERSEN
STATE FOR AFR/EA,AMARCUS
STATE FOR AF/E,LMORIORATY,MOKEEFE
PRETORIA FOR USAID/OFDA,HHALE,PDISKIN,SMCNIVEN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
ROME FOR USUN HSPANOS
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PBROWN
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO
NSC FOR CPRATT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL PHUM PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION - COMPLEX EMERGENCY: POLITICAL CRISIS
AND FOOD INSECURITY IN MADAGASCAR
1. This is an Action Request. See paragraph 2 and 11.
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
2. A power struggle beginning in January 2009 that led to an
unconstitutional transfer of power has resulted in a severe shock to
the economy of Madagascar and a near paralysis of government
capability to respond to humanitarian concerns emerging in the
country. The crisis has led to over 50,000 job losses in
Antananarivo alone. At the same time, unseasonably poor rainfall
across Madagascar, particularly in the south, has compromised food
security. The UN is preparing a flash appeal to respond to the
humanitarian concerns arising from this combination of economic and
climatic shocks. It is in the US interest to support humanitarian
assistance in Madagascar. Given these conditions, the Chief of the
US Mission exercises authority to declare that a complex
humanitarian disaster is in progress and requests an immediate USD
50,000 for urgent humanitarian programming. USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP
are requested to continue to monitor the situation and support
partners as determined appropriate.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
3. In January 2009, a power struggle broke out between the President
of the Republic of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, and opposition
leader and former Antananarivo mayor, Andry Rajoelina. President
Marc Ravalomanana handed over power to the military on March 17,
2009. Power was subsequently handed to the opposition. Weeks of
opposition protests and turmoil have taken the lives of more than
150 people, and injured around 1,000.
4 As a result of the political crisis, the socio-economic situation
of Madagascar has declined drastically. The crisis has severely
destabilized the economy and resulted in a near halting of the 390
million USD/year tourism industry. A recent suspension of much
international foreign development aid will exacerbate the plight of
the nearly 70 percent of the Malagasy population living on less than
1 USD/day.
5. Among those particularly affected are vulnerable people living in
the urban areas of several cities in Madagascar. This is manifested
through increased unemployment, rising food prices, and
deteriorating sanitation conditions due to limited functioning of
public works and the incapacity of government to provide social
services. Some church groups in the capital of Antananarivo have
indicated a fourfold increase in requests for assistance, as
compared to the pre-crisis period.
6. A preliminary assessment conducted by a group of agriculture and
food security disaster actors (FAO, CRS, WFP and other local NGOs)
demonstrates that over 50,000 people in the capital have lost their
jobs due to lay-offs in export processing zones, closure of several
private companies, suspension of income generating activities, and
reduction in work force. Lack of cash to purchase food is coupled
with an increase in staple food/commodities prices and localized
market shortages.
7. In addition to direct impacts on health, nutrition, and overall
food security, the crisis is taking a toll on the country's natural
resource base, which is the primary source of livelihood for poor
rural communities. There are increased reports of opportunistic,
unsustainable and illegal depletion of natural resources due to a
lack of rule of law and dysfunction of the government. Reports of
potential human rights abuses inflicted by illegal operators and
forest profiteers upon rural communities are also increasing,
particularly in the northern forest areas. These conditions
undermine livelihoods and security of poor, rural communities.
8. Significant rainfall shortages across the country have also
contributed to growing food insecurity. The December Early Warning
System (EWS) bulletin generated by BNGRC "Bureau National de la
Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes" reported that 31 communes
in southern Madagascar were facing severe food insecurity due to a
prolonged drought. April and May harvests are expected to fail in
calendar year 2009 in Androy and Anosy regions. An estimated
150,000 people may soon be affected by food insecurity within these
areas.
9. As the government has effectively ceased to function during the
crisis, regular food security monitoring for other vulnerable
populations across Madagascar has not occurred. However,
preliminary assessments by USAID implementing partners, such as
Adventist Development Relief Agency and CARE, indicate that affected
communities are already employing significant coping strategies,
including selling off livestock and household goods in order to
purchase food.
10. The Chief of Mission has determined that the impact of the
political crisis on already vulnerable populations, particularly in
urban and peri-urban areas, and the food insecurity across the
country, particularly in southern Madagascar, are of sufficient
magnitude to warrant US Government assistance. The Chief of Mission
is therefore exercising his disaster assistance authority.
--------------
Action Required
--------------
11. Due to the political crisis, significant rainfall shortages
across the country, and significant food insecurity amongst
vulnerable Malagasy populations, Post hereby declares a complex
humanitarian disaster in Madagascar.
12. Disaster assistance of USD 50,000 will be awarded to a joint
group of UN agencies and NGOs to assess food insecurity in urban and
rural priority districts.
13. This cable requests support from USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP to
work with USAID Madagascar and its implementing partners to
determine the size, scope and sector of any additional emerging
humanitarian assistance requirements. Post will continue to monitor
and report on the situation.
MARQUARDT