Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10UNROME26
2010-02-23 17:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
UN Rome
Cable title:  

WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: SOMALIA OPERATIONS SITUATION UPDATE AS

Tags:  WFP AORC EAID PREF 
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VZCZCXRO1186
PP RUEHRN
DE RUEHRN #0026/01 0541752
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231752Z FEB 10
FM USMISSION UN ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1306
INFO RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0048
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0027
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0062
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0026
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0333
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0396
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0490
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 1384
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 UN ROME 000026 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NAIROBI FOR GEORGIANNA PLATT, SUREKA KHANDAGLE, NICK COX AND
PETE MOHAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: WFP AORC EAID PREF
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: SOMALIA OPERATIONS SITUATION UPDATE AS
OF FEBRUARY 22, 2010

REF: A) 09 STATE 132604; B) UN ROME 01; C) UN ROME 03; D) UN ROME 08; E) UN ROME 10; F) UN ROME 12; G) UN ROME 18

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 UN ROME 000026

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NAIROBI FOR GEORGIANNA PLATT, SUREKA KHANDAGLE, NICK COX AND
PETE MOHAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: WFP AORC EAID PREF
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: SOMALIA OPERATIONS SITUATION UPDATE AS
OF FEBRUARY 22, 2010

REF: A) 09 STATE 132604; B) UN ROME 01; C) UN ROME 03; D) UN ROME 08; E) UN ROME 10; F) UN ROME 12; G) UN ROME 18


1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please
handle accordingly.


2. (SBU) On February 23, WFP disseminated its latest situation
report. The text is pasted in its entirety below:

BEGIN REPORT
"WFP Somalia Operations Situation
As of February 22, 2010

Summary Update

-- WFP adjusted its food allocation from 30,000 mt/month to
29,000 mt/month for next six months with the beneficiary number
being reduced from 2.8 to 2.5 million. Findings from the
recently completed interagency assessment indicated improvement
in overall food security situation in Somalia. As a result, the
number of people in humanitarian emergency (HE) and acute food
and livelihood crisis (AFLC) has reduced from 2.1 million to 1.8
million since the previous assessment in July/August 2009. The
number of internally displaced people (IDPs) remains 1.39
million. Based on the above, WFP refined its targeting
modalities and revised the allocation plan. For the next six
months, WFP will assist 2.5 million beneficiaries (including
suspended areas) with 29,000 mt of food per month.

-- The Government of Puntland, a self declared independent state
in north-east Somalia has issued clearance for WFP's food
delivery from Berbera port to Galkayo. This agreement was
reached at a meeting between WFP Head of Sub Office, the Acting
President of Puntland and line ministers. The Government
reiterated the need of prior notice on WFP's plan for
transporting food aid via corridors between Somaliland and
Puntland for safety and security reasons. An 82 truck convoy,
which had previously been prevented at Las Anod from moving by
the government has been given the green light to proceed and
reached Galkayo this past weekend.

-- During the reporting period, a total of 3,550 mt of assorted
food was discharged at Bossasso port. A total of 1,876 mt of
food was distributed to 161,820 beneficiaries in Benadir and
Mudug through wet feeding, supplementary feeding and general
food distribution programmes.

-- Food delivery to Afgoye remains challenging. Other than the
first test deliveries in January 2010, no further deliveries

have reached final distribution points in Afgoye due to threats
from Al Shabaab to WFP contracted transporters.

-- WFP received an assurance letter from the district
commissioner of Doolow District, Gedo Region in South Somalia
requesting WFP and all the humanitarian agencies to resume
activities in the district, guaranteeing the safety and security
of the aid agencies. According to the letter, this is the third
request calling humanitarian agencies to return.

-- According to Xinhua News Agency, Somali President Sheikh
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed called for more support from the
international community to Somalia's transitional government in
order to solve the country's prolonged and complicated crisis.
Islamist insurgent groups, which now control most parts of south
and limited areas of central Somalia have been mounting deadly
attacks against forces of the transitional government and the
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),causing heavy
casualty in troops and civilians. Piracy is a continued problem
for the government. A strong government could not be established
without strong and effective support from the international
community, the president said.

WFP Security Update

-- According to the information UN received as of early February
2010, Al Shabaab Al-Islamiya leaders planned to implement a new
strategy towards Kenya in the coming weeks. The strategy
included unknown plans to assassinate diplomats and UN staff. No

UN ROME 00000026 002 OF 002


further information was provided.

-- According to Sh. M. Network, Al Shabaab officials said that
WFP will not operate in the areas under the control of their
administration in Somalia until it takes commandments ordered
earlier. Sheik Moktar Robow Ali better known as (Abu Mansour),
high profile of Harakat Al-shabaab Mujahideen told reporters at
Baidoa town that WFP will never operate in southern Somalia and
also in any places that are under the control of Al-shabaab
unless it abides by the conditions displayed earlier. Abu
Mansour said that among the conditions, it suggested WFP to buy
the food from the Somali farmers and they will not accept from
the agency to provide food from USA.

-- In Mogadishu, day missions for international staff members
are possible but subject to New York Security Clearance.
National staff members continue to operate from the seaport.
Most parts of Somaliland have remained accessible for
humanitarian operations. Due to the prevailing security
situation, areas such as Las Anod, Buuhoold, Xudun and Taleh
that are located in the Sool region have remained closed."
END REPORT


3. (SBU) Because WFP remains restricted from operating in South
and some areas of Central Somalia, USUN Rome has requested that
WFP include in its next situation report a breakdown between
actual food allocations for beneficiaries being served and total
population in need.
COUSIN