JOINT WFP/UNHCR FOOD APPEAL FOR OSIRE REFUGESS

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000350 DEPT FOR PRM, AF/S AF/S PLEASE PASS TO USAID/AFR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL WA SUBJECT: JOINT WFP/UNHCR FOOD APPEAL FOR OSIRE REFUGESS REF: WINDHOEK 326 ¶1. (U) Post has received a joint letter from WFP and UNHCR, dated September 23, 2009, making a formal appeal for food assistance for refugees in the Osire settlement. Please see action request in paragraph 4. ¶2. (U) Begin text of letter: 23 September 2009 H.E. Ms. G.D.T. Mathieu Ambassador Embassy of the United States of America 14 Lossen Street Windhoek Your Excellency, RE: Request for financial support for the Osire refugee food assistance programme The offices of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Namibia present their compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and have the honour to inform you that the WFP refugee food support operation PRRO10543.0 is facing a shortfall of US$120,000, which is required to procure and distribute 110 mt Cereals, 10 mt Pulses, 14 mt Oil, 2 mt Salt, 14 mt CSB, and 15 mt Sugar for some 6500 refugees in Osire settlement in order to meet their basic food needs through to the end of 2009. Kindly note that, unless new contributions are confirmed very soon, WFP and UNHCR will have no option but to reduce the rations by 50% or more in October and November, and that the food distributions will come to a complete stop by December. In view of the dire consequences this may have for the health and nutritional status of these refugees, any financial support you may give to WFP for this operation would be most highly appreciated. Attached, for you information, is a more detailed brief of the WFP refugee food support operation. Also, kindly note that our offices remain at your disposal should you require any additional information. The World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees avail themselves of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of their highest consideration. Yours Sincerely, Baton Osmani Joyce Mends-Cole WFP Officer in Charge UNHCR Representative End text of letter. ¶3. (U) According to UNHCR representative Joyce Mends-Cole, the Government of Namibia has not responded to date to this appeal for additional food assistance. ¶4. (U) Action requested: Post would appreciate Department's guidance on how we should respond to the WFP/UNHCR letter. MATHIEU