Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ISLAMABAD2956
2009-12-10 07:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
LAUNCH OF 2010 HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR PAKISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO2210 PP RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2956 3440703 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 100703Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6331 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 1277 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9372 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 8363 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 2669 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 8268 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 7323 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 4172 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0427 INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002956
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PTER PREF IO PK
SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF 2010 HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR PAKISTAN
REF: Islamabad 2880
REF: Islamabad 2993
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002956
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PTER PREF IO PK
SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF 2010 HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR PAKISTAN
REF: Islamabad 2880
REF: Islamabad 2993
1. (SBU) Summary. Although the U.N. remains in discussions with the
Government of Pakistan (GoP) to obtain a non-objection decision for
the release of a seven-month 2010 Pakistan Humanitarian Response
Plan (PHRP),the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) is considering a "soft launch" - to donors only -
next week. The official launch of the PHRP will depend on the
outcome of a meeting between the U.N. and the Minister of State for
the GoP Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to be held in the coming
days. End Summary.
--------------
Non-Objection Decision
--------------
2. (SBU) The U.N. does not require the approval of a host
government to release a humanitarian appeal; however, the U.N. makes
every effort to ensure that host governments will not explicitly
object to their release. In cases where a host government does not
consent to the release of an appeal, the U.N. Emergency Relief
Coordinator and Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Sir John
Holmes may decide, in consultation with the U.N. Secretary-General,
to release an appeal despite a government's objection.
3. (SBU) Despite its efforts, the U.N. has not obtained a
non-objection decision from the GoP for the 2010 PHRP. However,
according to OCHA officials in Islamabad, the U.N. has not yet
decided to officially launch the 2010 PHRP without the GoP's
consent, primarily due to a pending meeting with the EAD Minister of
State.
--------------
Meeting with the EAD
--------------
4. (SBU) OCHA's Head of Office in Pakistan presented EAD officials
with a seven-month PHRP, valued at approximately $537.5 million on
December 5. Unfortunately, the EAD Minister of State did not attend
the meeting. While the December 5 meeting was useful, the U.N. did
not receive EAD's support nor a non-objection decision from the EAD
Minister of State regarding the 2010 PHRP. According to OCHA, Sir
John Holmes has reaffirmed his support for the $537.5 million PHRP
and recently indicated that he is prepared to take the issue to the
U.N. Secretary-General, if necessary.
--------------
Potential Stalemate and "Soft Launch" of PHRP
--------------
5. (SBU) In a December 9 phone conversation with USAID's Office of
U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, OCHA reported that the U.N. has
repeatedly requested a meeting with the EAD Minister of State. If a
meeting cannot be arranged by December 15, OCHA indicated that the
U.N. is preparing to conduct a "soft launch" of the 2010 PHRP (to
donors only) at a scheduled U.N.-donor meeting on December 16, at
which U.N. will provide donors with overall funding figures, an
executive summary, a breakdown by U.N. cluster, and limited
information on implementing partners.
--------------
Conclusion
--------------
6. (SBU) Although the U.N. may consider a "soft launch" of the
appeal to donors in the coming week, OCHA does not expect the
official PHRP launch to occur until mid-to-late January 2010.
However, if the U.N. obtains a non-objection decision before
December 16, the U.N. may still be able to officially launch the
appeal before the end of 2009.
Patterson
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PTER PREF IO PK
SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF 2010 HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR PAKISTAN
REF: Islamabad 2880
REF: Islamabad 2993
1. (SBU) Summary. Although the U.N. remains in discussions with the
Government of Pakistan (GoP) to obtain a non-objection decision for
the release of a seven-month 2010 Pakistan Humanitarian Response
Plan (PHRP),the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) is considering a "soft launch" - to donors only -
next week. The official launch of the PHRP will depend on the
outcome of a meeting between the U.N. and the Minister of State for
the GoP Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to be held in the coming
days. End Summary.
--------------
Non-Objection Decision
--------------
2. (SBU) The U.N. does not require the approval of a host
government to release a humanitarian appeal; however, the U.N. makes
every effort to ensure that host governments will not explicitly
object to their release. In cases where a host government does not
consent to the release of an appeal, the U.N. Emergency Relief
Coordinator and Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Sir John
Holmes may decide, in consultation with the U.N. Secretary-General,
to release an appeal despite a government's objection.
3. (SBU) Despite its efforts, the U.N. has not obtained a
non-objection decision from the GoP for the 2010 PHRP. However,
according to OCHA officials in Islamabad, the U.N. has not yet
decided to officially launch the 2010 PHRP without the GoP's
consent, primarily due to a pending meeting with the EAD Minister of
State.
--------------
Meeting with the EAD
--------------
4. (SBU) OCHA's Head of Office in Pakistan presented EAD officials
with a seven-month PHRP, valued at approximately $537.5 million on
December 5. Unfortunately, the EAD Minister of State did not attend
the meeting. While the December 5 meeting was useful, the U.N. did
not receive EAD's support nor a non-objection decision from the EAD
Minister of State regarding the 2010 PHRP. According to OCHA, Sir
John Holmes has reaffirmed his support for the $537.5 million PHRP
and recently indicated that he is prepared to take the issue to the
U.N. Secretary-General, if necessary.
--------------
Potential Stalemate and "Soft Launch" of PHRP
--------------
5. (SBU) In a December 9 phone conversation with USAID's Office of
U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, OCHA reported that the U.N. has
repeatedly requested a meeting with the EAD Minister of State. If a
meeting cannot be arranged by December 15, OCHA indicated that the
U.N. is preparing to conduct a "soft launch" of the 2010 PHRP (to
donors only) at a scheduled U.N.-donor meeting on December 16, at
which U.N. will provide donors with overall funding figures, an
executive summary, a breakdown by U.N. cluster, and limited
information on implementing partners.
--------------
Conclusion
--------------
6. (SBU) Although the U.N. may consider a "soft launch" of the
appeal to donors in the coming week, OCHA does not expect the
official PHRP launch to occur until mid-to-late January 2010.
However, if the U.N. obtains a non-objection decision before
December 16, the U.N. may still be able to officially launch the
appeal before the end of 2009.
Patterson