USAID/DART OVERVIEW OF HAITI FOOD DISTRIBUTION PLAN

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000108 AIDAC SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PREF HA SUBJECT: USAID/DART OVERVIEW OF HAITI FOOD DISTRIBUTION PLAN REF: PORT A 60; POR A 72; PORT A 96; PORT A 98; PORT A 100 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. This weekend, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) will shift to a geographically-focused distribution system in metropolitan Port-au-Prince through 16 identified sites. Distribution of food ration coupons is scheduled to begin on January 30, prior to distribution of food on January 31. Outside Port-au-Prince, WFP and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will continue to conduct settlement and site-based food distributions, with the support of military personnel. To date, the majority of food distributed in Haiti was provided or funded by the U.S. Government (USG). End summary. -------------- THE NEED -------------- ¶2. (U) Prior to the January 12 earthquake, approximately 1.8 million people in Haiti were defined as food insecure, according to WFP - signifying that nearly 20 percent of Haiti's population did not have access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs. Following the earthquake, WFP issued a six-month $264 million Emergency Operation (EMOP) appeal, estimating that approximately 2 million earthquake-affected people in Haiti required emergency food assistance, including a portion of the previously identified food insecure population. However, ongoing needs assessments in the coming days should provide a more evidenced-based indication of food requirements in Haiti. ¶3. (U) Based on the assumption that earthquake-affected populations had limited access to storage, cooking facilities, and clean water, the EMOP requested the short-term provision of food that did not require preparation, primarily high-energy biscuits and meals ready-to-eat (MREs),and humanitarian daily rations (HDRs). However, following the short-term emergency ration, WFP planned to transition to traditionally consumed foods. Furthermore, WFP indicated that improved access to affected neighborhoods, increased water tankering, shelters, and provision of kitchen sets would support a transition to dry rations. ¶4. (U) Recent assessments by USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) in settlements in and around Port-au-Prince have verified that displaced families are demonstrating a capacity and preference to cook their own meals, with makeshift kitchens observed throughout campsites. U.S. military personnel have also reported several instances in which displaced individuals refused MREs. As a result, since January 21, the majority of WFP food assistance beneficiaries have received dry rations which typically consist of a combination of rice, oil, pulses, and salt. -------------- --- SHIFTING AWAY FROM SETTLEMENT-BASED DISTRIBUTION -------------- --- ¶3. (SBU) As of 2000 hours on January 29, WFP, NGOs, the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH),and the Joint Task Force Haiti (JTF/H) - consisting of U.S. and Canadian military personnel - had identified and surveyed 16 sites for large-scale food distributions in Port-au-Prince and Carrefour. Each site will serve as the central food distribution point for a designated geographic area (similar to a voting precinct) determined by population density and other factors. Simultaneously, in areas outside Port-au-Prince, WFP and NGOs will continue to conduct ongoing settlement and site-based food distributions. ¶4. (SBU) At present, lead NGOs had been confirmed to oversee and manage distributions at all of the 16 identified sites, including Save the Children, the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED),Catholic Relief Service, World Vision, GOAL, and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). ¶5. (U) Joint teams of MINUSTAH and JTF/H personnel will provide security at sites when distributions begin, with MINUSTAH taking the lead at seven sites and JTF/H heading nine sites. Forces will also provide security to convoys carrying food assistance. -------------- COUPONS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Following best practices, prior to collecting food assistance, beneficiaries will receive coupons that inform the family of the distribution site's location and a day to collect food rations. Coupon distribution is scheduled to begin, Saturday, January 30, as agreed by the Government of Haiti (GoH),WFP, and NGOs. Coupons will be distributed jointly by teams composed of a local official, an NGO representative, and a WFP representative to ensure equitability. In addition, to stem confusion among beneficiaries regarding the new distribution system, the GoH and WFP plan to conduct public awareness campaigns in Port-au-Prince neighborhoods prior to dissemination of coupons in that area. -------------- FOOD DISTRIBUTION -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Food distributions under the new system will begin Sunday, January 31, and continue for a 14-day period, targeting approximately 1,700 households per site per day, or approximately 9,000 people. In exchange for their coupons, beneficiaries will receive a 15-day ration of rice, a staple food in Haiti. During this period, WFP and NGOs will use MREs as contingency stock, in addition to targeted distributions of MREs to institutions, including orphanages and hospitals. -------------- ISSUES AND CONCERNS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Security will continue to be a primary concern for those conducting food distributions, due to the inherent risks associated with large crowds congregating in an urban area. However, the new distribution system is fully coordinated between WFP, lead NGOs, MINUSTAH, and JTF/H to ensure ample security at each site. ¶9. (SBU) In addition, the urban environment, traffic, lack of storage space, and sheer quantity of humanitarian assistance delivered by road present significant logistical challenges. Furthermore, limited entry points to warehouse facilities, coupled with damage sustained during the earthquake, have slowed down the truck loading process. To alleviate some logistical constraints, organizations are planning to load and move the trucks at night. ¶10. (SBU) Coordination will remain a challenge for all actors involved in food distribution. Distributors of coupons and food assistance must work to ensure that Port-au-Prince's affected populations are reached, while attempting to prevent duplication or fraud that allows individuals to collect food at more than one distribution location. -------------- USG FOOD ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶11. (U) To date, the USAID's Office of Food for Peace has contributed $68 million in food assistance to WFP's EMOP in response to the earthquake. USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance has also provided $10 million towards the EMOP for logistical support. USG contributions to WFP represent approximately 86 percent of confirmed contributions to the EMOP to date, according to WFP's most recent resource update. In addition, with logistical support from the JTF/H, the USG continues to provide prepared meals (HDRs and MREs) to WFP and NGOs for targeted distribution to individuals in hospitals, orphanages, and displaced populations in outside Port-au-Prince. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED MERTEN