Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ISLAMABAD2956
2009-12-10 07:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

LAUNCH OF 2010 HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR PAKISTAN

Tags:  EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PTER PREF IO PK 
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VZCZCXRO2210
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