This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
--------- 
SUMMARY 
--------- 
 
¶1.  USAID STAFF FROM THE U.S. MISSION IN ROME AND 
FOOD FOR PEACE/WASHINGTON TRAVELED TO GUINEA, 
LIBERIA, AND SENEGAL SEPTEMBER 29 THROUGH OCTOBER 9 
TO REVIEW THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION FOR REFUGEES, 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS), AND RESIDENTS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  01 OF 09  061632Z 
WHOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY INFLUXES OF 
EITHER GROUP.  THIS REPORT FOCUSES ON LIBERIA SOLELY. 
GUINEA WILL BE REPORTED VIA SEP TEL. 
 
¶2.  THE U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) IS CURRENTLY 
PROVIDING FOOD RATIONS TO 184,027 IDPS IN LIBERIA. 
THE NUMBER OF IDPS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE LAST 
SIX MONTHS.  THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IN THE CAMPS 
MUST BE IMPROVED.  WFP HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES 
IN TIGHTENING THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROCESS, MAKING 
IT MORE EFFICIENT AND TIMELY, BUT IT REQUIRES 
CONSTANT VIGILANCE.  WFP HAS ALSO PUT INTO PLACE 
MEASURES TO GUARD AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.  THE 
RATION SIZE GIVEN TO IDPS NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.  IDPS 
HAVE BEEN GIVEN LAND FOR PLANTING AND THOSE WHO WERE 
ABLE TO PLANT LAST SPRING/SUMMER ARE EXPECTING A GOOD 
HARVEST.  THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE IDPS IS 
APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AS THE LOCAL POPULATION AND 
CURRENTLY AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS.  THE GROWING BURDEN 
PLACED ON HOST FAMILIES MAY SOON HAVE TO BE 
ADDRESSED.  THE MORALE OF THE U.N. FAMILY IS MUCH 
IMPROVED FROM SIX MONTHS AGO.  APPROXIMATELY 22,500 
SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEES REMAIN IN LIBERIA.  SEE PARA 
36 FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.  END SUMMARY 
 
------------- 
BACKGROUND 
------------- 
 
¶3.  SEPTEMBER 29 THROUGH OCTOBER 9, SENIOR EMERGENCY 
COORDINATOR (SEC) IN THE U.S. MISSION/ROME R. DAVIS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  01 OF 09  061632Z 
AND B. KRAHAM, USAID/DCHA/FOOD FOR PEACE OFFICER 
(FFPO), TRAVELED TO LIBERIA AND GUINEA TO REVIEW THE 
FOOD SECURITY SITUATION FOR REFUGEES, INTERNALLY 
DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS), AND RESIDENTS WHOSE 
COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY INFLUXES OF EITHER 
GROUP.  THE TEAM ALSO VISITED WFP'S WEST AFRICA 
REGIONAL OFFICE IN DAKAR TO REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS. 
 
¶4.  IN LIBERIA OCTOBER 1-3, THE TEAM MET WITH WFP, 
OTHER UNITED NATIONS (U.N.) AGENCIES, NON- 
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS, AND VISITED IDP CAMPS IN BONG COUNTY AND 
IDP AND REFUGEE CAMPS IN MONTSERRADO COUNTY. THE SEC 
VISITED LIBERIA LAST FEBRUARY AND VISITED THE BONG 
COUNTY CAMPS AND REFUGEE CAMPS NEAR MONROVIA AT THAT 
TIME. 
 
¶5.  WFP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ALL 
IDPS AND REFUGEES IN LIBERIA.  A NEW WFP COUNTRY 
DIRECTOR (JUSTIN BAGIRISHYA, RWANDAN NATIONAL) AND 
DEPUTY (HOUSAINOU TAAL, GAMBIAN NATIONAL) ARRIVED IN 
JUNE.  TOGETHER THEY HAVE WORKED TO INSTITUTE MANY 
CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT WFP IS OPERATING IN THE 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2515 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  02 OF 09  061632Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  PRM-00   SAS-00 
        /004W 
                  ------------------0467CE  061716Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6782 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2388 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2915 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  02 OF 09  061632Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
COUNTRY-ALL WITH THE INTENTION OF TIGHTENING THE 
OPERATION.  THIS REPORT WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON WFP'S 
REFORMS AND AREAS WHERE ATTENTION IS STILL NEEDED. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
SITES OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  IDP CAMPS IN BONG COUNTY (CARI I AND II, TV 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  02 OF 09  061632Z 
TOWER) WERE ATTACKED IN MAY AND JUNE AND THE 
INHABITANTS WERE DISPLACED FOR A SECOND, AND 
SOMETIMES THIRD OR FOURTH TIME.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THREE 
CAMPS NEAR THE TOWN OF TOTOTA WERE CONSTRUCTED: 
MAIMU I, II, AND III.  SOME IDPS LEFT AND RETURNED TO 
CARI I, AND OTHER NEW IDPS ENTERED THE CARI CAMPS. 
TV TOWER CAMP ALSO REMAINS.  THE OCTOBER POPULATION 
TOTAL FOR THE CAMPS IN BONG COUNTY WAS 59,160, WHICH 
IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER THAT WERE DISPLACED IN 
BONG IN FEBRUARY (28,500).  90 PERCENT OF THE IDPS IN 
THE BONG CAMPS ARE FROM LOFA COUNTY. 
 
¶7.  IDPS ALSO REMAIN IN BELEFANAI, BUT IT IS 
CURRENTLY INACCESSIBLE DUE TO INSECURITY.  IN 
ADDITION, THERE IS A GROUP OF ABOUT 5,550 IDPS IN 
GANTA (EAST OF BELEFANAI IN NIMBA COUNTY) WHO CHOOSE 
TO REMAIN CLOSE TO THE BORDER WITH GUINEA, BUT ARE 
RECEIVING FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM WFP. 
 
¶8.  IN ADDITION, THERE ARE FIVE IDP CAMPS IN 
MONTSERRADO COUNTY, WHICH ARE EXTREMELY CLOSE TO 
MONROVIA.  THE TOTAL POPULATION OF IDPS IN 
MONTSERRADO IS 111,045 AS OF OCTOBER 24.  THIS FIGURE 
REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT 34 PER CENT INCREASE OVER 
THE NUMBER OF IDPS THAT WFP FED IN MONTSERRADO IN 
SEPTEMBER.  (NOTE:  THE NUMBER OF IDPS IN WILSON 
CORNER MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM 12,310 NEAR THE END OF 
SEPTEMBER TO 35,350 IN OCTOBER.  WFP/LIBERIA AND 
OTHERS FEEL THAT DISPLACED STAYING WITH FAMILIES NEAR 
MONROVIA ARE BEING ENCOURAGED BY THEIR RELATIVES TO 
SEEK SHELTER IN THE CAMPS.  SEE PARAS 28-29 BELOW. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  02 OF 09  061632Z 
END NOTE.)  THERE ARE ALSO FOUR REFUGEE CAMPS IN 
MONTSERRADO WITH A POPULATION TOTALING 22,500. 
 
------------------------------- 
CLEANING UP IDP REGISTRATION 
------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IN THE IDP CAMPS IS 
SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO BE PERFECTED.  THE 
GOVERNMENT'S LIBERIA REFUGEE, REPATRIATION AND 
RESETTLEMENT COMMISSION (LRRRC) WAS, UNTIL RECENTLY, 
SOLELY IN CHARGE OF THE REGISTRATION, BUT THERE WERE 
MANY PROBLEMS AND WFP WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE 
PROCESS.  LRRRC WAS RELYING ON CAMP MANAGERS TO 
COMPOSE THE LISTS OF BENEFICIARIES.  IN AN EFFORT TO 
VERIFY THAT POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES WERE TRULY 
DISPLACED, LRRRC HAD REQUIRED A FAMILY TO BUILD ITS 
HOUSE BEFORE IT RECEIVED A RATION CARD.  DUE TO THE 
VULNERABILITY OF SOME HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS, THIS 
PRACTICE LED TO A LONG DELAY FOR SOME BENEFICIARIES 
IN RECEIVING ANY FOOD ASSISTANCE. 
 
¶10.  WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, IT WAS AGREED THAT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2517 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  03 OF 09  061633Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SEC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      PRM-00   SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------0467DE  061716Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6783 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2389 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2916 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  03 OF 09  061633Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
WHEN LRRRC REGISTERS THE IDP FAMILY, WFP WOULD HAVE A 
REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT TO ISSUE THE RATION CARD. 
THIS WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF THE COUPON THAT LRRRC HAD 
BEEN GIVING, WHICH HAS CAUSED SOME FRAUD WITHIN THE 
DISTRIBUTIONS.  EVEN SO, DURING AN OCTOBER 3 MEETING 
IN JAHTONDO CAMP, WHICH HAS AN ESTIMATED POPULATION 
OF 16,383 (AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 4,000 FROM THE 
SEPTEMBER FIGURE), IT BECAME QUITE CLEAR THAT THE 
RECENT REGISTRATION EXERCISE WAS FLAWED AND WOULD 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  03 OF 09  061633Z 
NEED TO BE REPEATED. 
 
¶11.  IN ADDITION, WFP HAS BEEN CONDUCTING 
VERIFICATION EXERCISES BEFORE DISTRIBUTIONS WHEREBY 
WFP STAFF VISIT THE HOUSE AND THE FAMILY MUST PRESENT 
THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS LISTED ON THE CARD.  WFP 
CONDUCTED VERIFICATIONS IN ALL CAMPS PRIOR TO 
DISTRIBUTIONS IN SEPTEMBER AND PLANS TO EXECUTE THE 
VERIFICATION EXERCISE EVERY OTHER MONTH. 
 
¶12.  THE U.N. OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF 
HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) IS PLANNING A 
VERIFICATION EXERCISE OF ALL IDPS WHICH WILL SOON 
TAKE PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN ALL THE CAMPS.  UN 
AGENCIES AND NGOS ARE GIVING FULL SUPPORT TO OCHA. 
WFP IS SUPPORTING OCHA WITH BACK-UP COMPUTER SUPPORT 
AND TRANSPORT FOR THE EXERCISE AND IS HOPING THE 
VERIFICATION WILL LEAD TO REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBERS. 
 
--------------------------------- 
RE-VAMPING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶13.  AFTER THE SECURITY PROBLEMS OF LAST MAY AND 
JUNE, WFP STOPPED STORING COMMODITIES IN LOCAL 
WAREHOUSES UP-COUNTRY.  EACH DAY THE TRUCKS FILLED 
WITH WFP COMMODITIES DROVE UP TO BONG COUNTY AND WFP 
DISTRIBUTED FOOD DIRECTLY FROM THE TRUCKS.  ALTHOUGH 
THIS METHOD PREVENTED LOSS OF STOCKS, THE 
DISTRIBUTIONS WERE TAKING ALMOST THE ENTIRE MONTH TO 
COMPLETE.  BAGIRISHYA AND HIS TEAM HAVE SINCE CUT 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  03 OF 09  061633Z 
MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION TIME DOWN TO SEVEN DAYS BY 
REOPENING THE WAREHOUSE IN PHEBE (BONG COUNTY) WITH 
THE ADDED PRECAUTION OF STORING FOOD FOR ONLY ONE DAY 
PRIOR TO DISTRIBUTION, AND LEAVING IT PRACTICALLY 
EMPTY THE REST OF THE MONTH.  WFP INTENDS TO 
ULTIMATELY CUT THE DISTRIBUTION TIME DOWN TO THREE OR 
FOUR DAYS. 
 
¶14.  BAGIRISHYA ALSO DISCOVERED THAT MANY OF THE FOOD 
MONITORS HAD BECOME OFFICE-BOUND AND DISPATCHED THEM 
ALL TO THE FIELD.  THE MONTSERRADO CAMP MONITORS 
VISIT THE CAMPS EVERY DAY; THE UP-COUNTRY MONITORS 
VISIT TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.  THE MONITORS 
OVERSEE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, ADDRESS PROBLEMS THAT 
ARISE, AND WORK WITH WFP'S IMPLEMENTING PARTNER TO 
INCREASE EFFICIENCY.  THE MONITORS WILL ALSO SOON BE 
TRAINED IN POST-DISTRIBUTION MONITORING, SO THAT WFP 
WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF HOW LONG THE FOOD IS 
LASTING AND HOW IT IS USED. 
 
¶15.  IN RESPONDING TO THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ISSUES, 
WFP/LIBERIA IS TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT ALL FOOD 
AID MONITORS ADDRESS PROMPTLY AND ADEQUATELY ALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2519 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  04 OF 09  061633Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SEC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      PRM-00   SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------0467F6  061716Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6784 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2390 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2917 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  04 OF 09  061633Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
GENDER ISSUES DURING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, WHICH 
INCLUDE ENFORCING THE POLICY OF WFP'S COMMITMENTS TO 
WOMEN AND DISCOURAGING ALL ACTS THAT TEND TO ABUSE 
FEMALE BENEFICIARIES DURING AND AFTER THE 
DISTRIBUTIONS. 
 
¶16.  WFP IS ALSO DISCUSSING WITH WORLD VISION (WV) 
AND PREMIERE URGENCE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ONE OR BOTH 
NGOS ASSUMING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SYSTEMATIC POST- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  04 OF 09  061633Z 
DISTRIBUTION MONITORING.  THE QUESTION OF FUNDING HAS 
TO BE RESOLVED, HOWEVER. 
 
¶17.  IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASED MONITORING, WFP IS 
ESTABLISHING FOOD COMMITTEES IN EACH CAMP COMPOSED OF 
60 PERCENT FEMALES AND 40 PERCENT MALES.  FORMED IN 
COORDINATION WITH THE LRRRC, THE COMMITTEES WILL ALSO 
MONITOR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND REGISTER 
COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMS PROFFERED BY THE IDPS. 
MEMBERSHIP ON THE COMMITTEES IS FOR SIX MONTHS AND 
THE MEMBERS ARE ELECTED. 
 
¶18.  BAGIRISHYA HAS RESURRECTED THE COMMITTEE ON FOOD 
AID (CFA) AND SERVES AS ITS CHAIR.  IT IS COMPOSED OF 
WFP, UNHCR, NGOS, THE LRRRC, AND DONORS.  THE CFA 
MEETS EVERY OTHER WEEK AND PROVIDES A FORUM FOR ALL 
PARTNERS TO DISCUSS ISSUES AND PROBLEMS AND TO FIND 
SOLUTIONS WITHIN THE GROUP.  ALL PARTNERS WELCOMED 
THIS MOVE. 
 
¶19.  BAGIRISHYA HAS ALSO ORGANIZED A CFA TECHNICAL 
COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF SELECTED CFA MEMBERS AND 
OTHER AGENCIES WORKING WITH FOOD AID.  THE TECHNICAL 
COMMITTEE ADVISES THE CFA ON POLICY MATTERS AND 
ENSURES THAT DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CFA ARE EXECUTED. 
 
-------------------------------- 
WFP AND IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶20.  IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WFP HAS SIGNED 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  04 OF 09  061633Z 
AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS NGOS TO WORK AS IMPLEMENTING 
PARTNERS (IPS), DISTRIBUTING WFP FOOD IN THE CAMPS. 
WFP IS PROVIDING SOME TRAINING TO ITS IPS ABOUT THE 
CORRECT METHODS OF DISTRIBUTING THE FOOD:  HOW TO 
CHECK THE CARDS, HOW TO SCOOP THE RATIONS FOR EACH 
FAMILY SIZE, ETC.  THE IP AGREEMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 
 
¶A.  BONG COUNTY IDP CAMPS (ALL 7):  LUTHERAN WORLD 
FEDERATION (LWF) 
 
¶B. MARGIBI COUNTY, KAKATA (IDPS):  ADRA 
 
¶C.  NIMBA COUNTY, GANTA (IDPS):  UNITED METHODIST 
COMMITTEE ON RELIEF (UMCOR) 
 
¶D.  MONTSERRADO IDP CAMPS: 
 
     BLAMASEE AND WILSON TOWN:  LIBERIAN ISLAMIC 
UNION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (LIURD) 
     SAWEGBEAH, PLUS IDPS IN VOA AND ZUANNAH TOWN 
REFUGEE CAMPS:  WORLD VISION (WV) 
     JAHTONDO AND RICKS INSTITUTE:  ADRA 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2520 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  05 OF 09  061633Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SEC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      PRM-00   SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------04680A  061717Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6785 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2391 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2918 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  05 OF 09  061633Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
¶E.  MONTSERRADO REFUGEE CAMPS (ALL 4):  LIBERIAN 
ISLAMIC UNION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 
(LIURD) 
 
-------------------- 
RATION SIZES 
-------------------- 
 
¶21.  WFP IS CURRENTLY PROVIDING IDPS A RATION EQUAL 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  05 OF 09  061633Z 
TO 1,800 KILOCALORIES (KC) PER DAY, WHICH IS 300 KC 
SHORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD OF 2,100 KC PER 
DAY.  UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THOSE LIVING NEARER 
TO MONROVIA WOULD HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL 
COPING MECHANISMS, WFP'S NEW PRRO (WHICH BEGINS IN 
JANUARY) PLANS TO PROVIDE THE IDPS IN MONTSERRADO 
WITH 1,800 KILOCALORIES (KC), WHILE THE RATION FOR 
THOSE IN CAMPS UP-COUNTRY WOULD INCREASE TO 2,100 KC. 
AFTER VIEWING THE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION OUTSIDE SOME 
OF THE BONG COUNTY CAMPS, HOWEVER, THE USAID TEAM 
RECOMMENDS THE DECISION REGARDING RATION SIZE SHOULD 
BE BASED ON VULNERABILITY AND/OR NUTRITIONAL 
ASSESSMENT RATHER THAN A NOTIONAL DETERMINATION OF 
COPING MECHANISMS AND URGED WFP TO MAKE DECISIONS 
REGARDING RATION SIZE AFTER CONDUCTING ASSESSMENTS. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY AROUND THE CAMPS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶22.  THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IDPS ARE BEING PROVIDED 
LAND FOR PLANTING AROUND THE CAMPS IN BONG, AS WELL 
AS IN MONTSERRADO.  WHEREAS IN FEBRUARY, THE AMOUNTS 
OF LAND PROVIDED TO THE IDPS WERE VERY SMALL AND IDP 
MOVEMENTS WERE GREATLY RESTRICTED OUTSIDE THE CAMP, 
TODAY THE SITUATION IS MUCH IMPROVED.  THERE SEEMS TO 
BE NO PROBLEM NOW WITH IDPS FREELY MOVING IN THE 
AREA, AND THE FIELDS WITNESSED BY THE TEAM WERE TRULY 
IMPRESSIVE.  THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION 
OF THE U.N. (FAO) PROVIDED SEEDS LAST SPRING, AND THE 
HARVEST WILL BE GOOD FOR THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  05 OF 09  061633Z 
PLANT. 
 
¶23.  THE IDPS FROM LOFA ARE AN INDUSTRIOUS BUNCH AND 
WANT TO CONTINUE THEIR ACTIVITIES.  DURING A 
DISCUSSION WITH THE USAID TEAM, THEY ASKED FOR 
VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS MORE AGRICULTURAL 
SUPPORT.  AS BONG AND LOFA COUNTIES ARE CONSIDERED 
THE BREAD BASKETS FOR THE COUNTRY, IT IS CRITICALLY 
IMPORTANT THAT IDPS FROM THESE COUNTIES BE ABLE TO 
CONTINUE AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR TEMPORARY 
LOCATIONS. 
 
¶24.  THE IDPS IN JAHTONDO CAMP IN MONTSERRADO HAVE 
BEEN GIVEN 189 ACRES OF LAND FOR PLANTING, AND ARE 
HOPING TO GET MORE TO ACCOMMODATE ITS 16,383 
INHABITANTS.  PLOTS, WHICH ARE SHARED BY TWO 
FAMILIES, ARE 132 X 82.5 FEET IN SIZE. THE IDPS IN 
JAHTONDO HAD PLANTED CASSAVA, COW PEAS, AND GROUND 
NUTS.  SOME OF THE SEEDS HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTED BY FAO. 
LRRRC TOLD THE USAID TEAM THAT IT HAD SEEN THE IMPACT 
OF FAO'S WORK IN LIBERIA, WHICH WAS CERTAINLY WELCOME 
NEWS. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2522 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  06 OF 09  061634Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SEC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      PRM-00   SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------046815  061717Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6786 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2392 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2919 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  06 OF 09  061634Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 06 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
--------------------- 
NUTRITIONAL STATUS 
--------------------- 
 
¶25.  ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM (ACF) IS ADDRESSING 
NUTRITIONAL PROBLEMS IN LIBERIA AND TOLD THE USAID 
TEAM THAT THE NUTRITIONAL SITUATION WAS PRECARIOUS, 
BUT FAR FROM A DISASTER.  MALNUTRITION RATES HAD 
PEAKED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, THE END OF THE HUNGRY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  06 OF 09  061634Z 
SEASON BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER. 
 
¶26.  ACF REPORTED THE NUMBER OF SEVERELY MALNOURISHED 
BENEFICIARIES (LESS THAN 70 PERCENT WEIGHT FOR 
HEIGHT) IN THE THERAPEUTIC FEEDING CENTERS (TFCS) WAS 
ALREADY BEGINNING TO DECLINE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 
SEPTEMBER.  THERE WERE 180 IN THE TFC IN THE VOA CAMP 
(MONTSERRADO COUNTY) AND 40 PERCENT OF THOSE WERE 
FROM THE LOCAL POPULATION.  ACF REPORTED THE SAME 
TREND IN ITS TFC IN PHEBE IN BONG COUNTY.  OUT OF THE 
80 TFC BENEFICIARIES IN BONG, 45-50 PERCENT WERE FROM 
THE LOCAL POPULATION.  ACF ATTRIBUTED THIS TREND TO 
THE INCREASED BURDEN PUT ON HOUSEHOLDS ACTING AS HOST 
FAMILIES TO IDPS, AS WELL AS THE DISRUPTION IN 
AGRICULTURE CAUSED BY THE UPROOTING OF OVER 200,000 
PEOPLE.  SUCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SEVERELY 
MALNOURISHED BENEFICIARIES FROM THE LOCAL POPULATION 
IS WORRISOME AND MERITS CLOSE MONITORING, EVEN THOUGH 
THE OVERALL NUMBERS ARE STILL SMALL. 
 
¶27.  ACF SAID THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR 
MODERATELY MALNOURISHED IN THE SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING 
CENTERS (SFCS) WAS THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.  THE 
RECOVERY TIME IS LONGER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE THE SFC 
RATION IS BEING SHARED WITH THE FAMILY OR 
SOLD/BARTERED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED NEEDS. 
NUMBERS IN THE SFCS IN MONTSERRADO COUNTY WERE 
BETWEEN 2,000 AND 2,500, WHEREAS NUMBERS IN THE SFCS 
UP-COUNTRY TOTALED APPROXIMATELY 1,000. 
 
------------------------- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  06 OF 09  061634Z 
NEEDS OF HOST FAMILIES 
------------------------- 
 
¶28.  AS STATED ABOVE, THE LOCAL POPULATIONS ARE 
BEGINNING TO FEEL THE BURDEN OF THE GROWING NUMBERS 
OF DISPLACED.  IT SEEMED THAT EVERY LIBERIAN THE 
USAID TEAM MET WAS HOSTING EXTENDED FAMILY DISPLACED 
FROM THE NORTH.  THE BURDEN THAT SUCH EXTRA FAMILY 
MEMBERS (SOMETIMES AS MANY AS 10 OR MORE) CREATES ON 
AN ALREADY POOR FAMILY IS SIGNIFICANT.  AS A RESULT, 
MANY IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAVE NOTICED AN 
INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF DESPERATION AND IN THE 
NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEGGING. 
 
¶29.  THE NEEDS OF THE HOST FAMILIES MAY SOON HAVE TO 
BE ADDRESSED.  WFP IS HOPING TO TAKE AN INITIAL STEP 
TO IDENTIFY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS BY STARTING WITH A 
VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS AND MAPPING (VAM) STUDY.  THE 
USAID TEAM FULLY SUPPORTS THIS INITIATIVE, AS THE 
NEEDS OF HOST FAMILIES ARE AN ISSUE THAT COULD GROW 
IN IMPORTANCE OVER TIME.  ALREADY THE NUMBER OF 
HOSTING FAMILIES IN AND AROUND MONROVIA IS TROUBLING. 
AS PROVIDING ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE NEAR MONROVIA IS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2525 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  07 OF 09  061634Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SEC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      PRM-00   SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------04681D  061717Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6787 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2393 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2920 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  07 OF 09  061634Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 07 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
LADEN WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRAUD, CREATIVE 
APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS WILL BE 
NECESSARY. 
 
------------------- 
POSITIVE CHANGES 
------------------- 
 
¶30.  THE LRRRC STAFF SEEM MUCH MORE ENGAGED THAN THEY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  07 OF 09  061634Z 
DID IN FEBRUARY.  THEY ARE TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN 
THE CAMPS, THEY ARE MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN THE PROBLEM- 
SOLVING PROCESS, AND SEEM NOW TO BE MORE MOTIVATED 
AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THE IDPS. 
 
¶31.  LIKEWISE, THE MORALE OF THE U.N. COUNTRY TEAM 
HAS SUBSTANTIALLY RISEN.  THE ADDITION OF THE U.N. 
RESIDENT COORDINATOR/ HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR MARC 
DE BERNIS HAS HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE 
TEAM'S MORALE.  HE HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN PULLING 
THE TEAM TOGETHER, IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THE KEY 
ISSUES REGARDING THE STATUS AND CONDITION OF THE IDPS 
(INCLUDING PROTECTION ISSUES), AND IN WORKING WITH 
THE GOVERNMENT ON THESE ISSUES.  THE WORK OF OCHA HAS 
ALSO GREATLY IMPROVED. 
 
------------------ 
REFUGEE OPERATIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶32.  WFP CURRENTLY PROVIDES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO 
APPROXIMATELY 22,500 SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEES WHO ARE 
ACCOMMODATED IN FOUR CAMPS IN MONTSERRADO COUNTY.  AS 
STATED ABOVE, LIURD IS THE DISTRIBUTION PARTNER AND 
LWF IS CONDUCTING POST-DISTRIBUTION MONITORING (PDM) 
WHICH WAS BEGUN AFTER THE FEBRUARY VISIT OF FFP. 
LWF'S PDM METHODOLOGY AND REPORTING HAVE PROVEN TO BE 
INADEQUATE, HOWEVER.  WFP INTENDS TO ADDRESS THIS 
PROBLEM. 
 
¶33.  WFP, THROUGH THE LIURD, PROVIDES A RATION OF 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  07 OF 09  061634Z 
APPROXIMATELY 1,800 KC PER DAY PER REFUGEE.  IN THE 
MEETING WITH THE REFUGEES, THEY ASKED THE USAID TEAM 
FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS RANGING FROM BETTER SALT TO 
LARGER RATIONS TO SUITCASES FOR THE TRIP HOME.  ONE 
REFUGEE EVEN COMPLAINED THAT THE COMPUTER TRAINING HE 
HAD RECEIVED FROM UNHCR WAS INAPPROPRIATE TO HIS 
SITUATION.  THE USAID TEAM STRONGLY ENCOURAGED THE 
REFUGEES TO RETURN TO SIERRA LEONE IN THE NEAR 
FUTURE. 
 
-------------------- 
FOOD REQUIREMENTS 
-------------------- 
 
¶34.  UNDER ITS CURRENT PROTRACTED RELIEF AND RECOVERY 
OPERATION (PRRO), IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT WFP/LIBERIA 
WOULD REQUIRE A TOTAL OF 16,476 METRIC TONS (MT) FOOD 
AID TO PROVIDE FOR A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 112,000 
BENEFICIARIES (JANUARY - DECEMBER 2002), WHICH 
WFP/LIBERIA IS CURRENTLY FAR EXCEEDING (FEEDING OVER 
223,000 IN NOVEMBER).  FY 2002 USAID/DCHA/FFP TITLE 
II EMERGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS TO LIBERIA WERE 5,480  MT 
FOOD COMMODITIES OR 2.8 MILLION USD, REPRESENTING 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2526 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  08 OF 09  061634Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SEC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      PRM-00   SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------046822  061718Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6788 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2394 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2921 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  08 OF 09  061634Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 08 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
ABOUT 33 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL PRRO FOOD REQUIREMENTS 
FOR LIBERIA.  WFP REPORTS THAT THE PIPELINE IS FINE 
THROUGH THE END OF 2002. 
 
¶35.  THE NEW PRRO FOR COASTAL WEST AFRICA WAS 
APPROVED AT THE OCTOBER WFP EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING 
AND BEGINS JANUARY 1, 2003.  IT REQUESTS 30,305 MT 
FOOD FOR 12 MONTHS FOR LIBERIA.  BY COINCIDENCE, THE 
NEW PRRO INCLUDES COTE D'IVOIRE AND ALSO CARRIES WITH 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  08 OF 09  061634Z 
IT A CONTINGENCY MEASURE TO ACCOMMODATE AN ADDED 
BENEFICIARY LOAD OF 50,000, IF NEEDED.  THE 
CONTINGENCY WAS ORIGINALLY WITH LIBERIA IN MIND, BUT 
COULD BE ACTIVATED FOR ANY OF THE FOUR COUNTRIES OF 
THE PRRO. 
------------------ 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶36.  RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS FOR WFP AND 
USAID: 
 
--  WFP NEEDS TO REMAIN VIGILANT ABOUT THE 
REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR THE CURRENT CAMPS AND NEW 
IDPS.  THE NEW PROCESSES WFP HAS PUT INTO PLACE ARE 
WELCOME AND EFFECTIVE, BUT IT IS A DYNAMIC PROCESS 
THAT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION. 
 
--  WFP SHOULD BASE THE SIZE OF THE IDP RATION ON 
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS RATHER THAN ASSUMPTIONS 
REGARDING COPING MECHANISMS AS THEY RELATE TO CAMP 
LOCATION. 
 
--  AS MANY OF WFP'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH ITS IPS ARE 
FAIRLY NEW, WFP SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE WORK OF 
THE IPS' DISTRIBUTIONS FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS TO 
ENSURE EFFICIENCY. 
 
--  WFP SHOULD WORK TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING A VAM STUDY 
OF HOST FAMILIES TO DETERMINE LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY 
OUTSIDE THE IDP CAMPS.  WFP/LIBERIA WILL HAVE TO 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05421  08 OF 09  061634Z 
DETERMINE HOW THIS WILL BE FUNDED.  USAID/DCHA ALSO 
NEEDS TO CONSIDER HOW ASSISTANCE IN AND AROUND 
MONROVIA MAY BE PROVIDED TO HOST FAMILIES IF DEEMED 
NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE. 
 
NOTE:  TO THIS END, USAID/DCHA/OFDA ALREADY IS 
FUNDING WFP/VAM WORK IN GUINEA SO THAT WFP CAN BETTER 
TARGET VULNERABLE IDPS AND THEIR HOST FAMILIES. 
WFP/SIERRA LEONE, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE THREE 
OTHER FOOD PIPELINE AGENCIES, HAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED 
A VAM PROPOSAL TO USAID/OFDA FOR CONSIDERATION.  THE 
SEC RECOMMENDS THAT WFP ENSURE A COMMON REGIONAL VAM 
METHODOLOGY IN THESE THREE COUNTRIES AND THAT 
USAID/OFDA CONSIDER SUPPORTING SUCH A REGIONAL 
APPROACH. 
 
--  WFP SHOULD SOON BEGIN POST-DISTRIBUTION 
MONITORING (PDM) IN THE IDP CAMPS.  FUNDING IS AGAIN 
AN ISSUE THAT MUST BE RESOLVED. 
 
--  THE PDM THAT IS ONGOING IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS 
NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND IMPROVED, AS THE REPORTS ARE 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2527 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05421  09 OF 09  061634Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   E-00     UTED-00  FDRE-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    NSAE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01 
      SEC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      PRM-00   SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------046829  061718Z /38 
P 061523Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6789 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2395 
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEU BRUSSELS 2922 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05421  09 OF 09  061634Z 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 09 OF 09 ROME 005421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP 
STATE FOR AF, IO, DAS/PRM 
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND 
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO 
DAKAR FOR NESTES AND KSTURR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT:  LIBERIA:  WFP ADDRESSES A GROWING NUMBER OF 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS 
 
SERIOUSLY LACKING PERTINENT INFORMATION. 
 
--  WFP/LIBERIA IS ABSENT AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM 
OFFICER.  ALTHOUGH THE NATIONAL STAFF MEMBER IS QUITE 
COMPETENT, THIS POSITION NEEDS TO BE FILLED SOON. 
THE WFP REGIONAL OFFICE IS AWARE OF THIS NEED. 
 
¶37.  MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.  HALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05421  09 OF 09  061634Z 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME05421 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED