UN FLASH APPEAL MAKING SLOW PROGRESS

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000360 DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E-MBEYZEROV, AF/EX USAID FOR FFP-JTAYLOR; OFDA-HHALE; AFR/EA-AMARCUS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MA SUBJECT: UN FLASH APPEAL MAKING SLOW PROGRESS REF: ANTANANARIVO 309 ¶1. SUMMARY: This is an action request. One month after the announcement of a United Nations flash appeal for immediate relief and early recovery efforts in Madagascar (reftel),only 2 percent of the requested USD 35.7 million has been received. Post requests that the Department consider contributing to the appeal, in addition to the complimentary programs being implemented by USAID. END SUMMARY. ¶2. In the last five months, Madagascar has faced extraordinary challenges on several fronts: a political crisis has toppled the government and sent the economy into freefall, and the impact of cyclone Jade, combined with an ongoing drought in the south, will likely delay the May harvest by three months in several regions, reducing local yields by 30 to 40 percent. The United Nations has requested USD 35.7 million to supply immediate emergency aid, and launch recovery activities, to over three million people in major population centers and rural areas in the south. ¶3. According to United Nations Ambassador Xavier Leus, the UN has received only 2 percent of the request to date. On May 8, the French Ambassador announced that France would be making a substantial contribution, although no amount has yet been confirmed. USAID is already preparing to engage in several complimentary efforts, including the distribution of Title 2 direct food assistance in collaboration with the World Food Program, and will be providing disaster relief directly through NGOs. However, the UN has identified a multitude of additional areas, including water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, health, education, and governance that still represent a dire need in the face of ongoing political paralysis in the transition government. ¶4. Reftel provides further details on the individual elements of this flash appeal. Post requests that the Department consider a direct USG contribution to the UN appeal, particularly in light of recent cuts in non-humanitarian assistance from almost all partners that will have an indirect impact on this very humanitarian crisis. MARQUARDT