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

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 006133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 
STATE FOR PRM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, SA/INS, IO/EDA 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, AA/ANE, 
PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/AS OR U/S PENN 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012 
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS 
 
REF: ROME 6072 
 
CLASSIFIED BY:   AMBASSADOR TONY HALL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
-------- 
SUMMARY 
--------- 
 
¶1.  (S)  CURRENT RATION CARD SYSTEM IS CUMBERSOME FOR THOSE 
WHO BECOME DISPLACED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES MOVEMENT 
FROM THE SOUTH/CENTRAL TO THE NORTH.  U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  06133  01 OF 05  241419Z 
(WFP) HAS OBTAINED PARTIAL DATABASE INFORMATION FOR THE 
SOUTH/CENTRAL REGIONS:  NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND LIST OF FOOD 
AGENTS BROKEN DOWN BY SUB-DISTRICT.  WFP HAS CONDUCTED A 
HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY SURVEY IN THE NORTH AND A MORE 
ANECDOTAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN SOUTH/CENTRAL.  WFP COUNTRY 
DIRECTOR (CD) SAYS THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN IRAQ LIVE IN 
BASRA AND OTHERS ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.  THE 
POOREST OF THE POOR'S, (30 TO 35 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION) 
CURRENT FOOD SUPPLY WOULD PROBABLY BE DEPLETED BY 
LATE-FEBRUARY.  WFP CD FEELS VERY STRONGLY THAT KEEPING OR 
QUICKLY REVIVING THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IS THE ONLY 
OPTION, BUT WFP HQ MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT THREE SCENARIOS. 
THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ'S (GOI) MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (MOT) 
PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND 
KEEPING IT RUNNING IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM IS CRITICAL, SAYS 
WFP CD.  IF MOT STAFF COULD NOT BE RELIED UPON TO RE-START 
THE SYSTEM UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP, WFP'S NATIONAL AND 
INTERNATIONAL STAFF NEEDS WOULD EXPONENTIALLY INCREASE.   IN 
ANTICIPATION, WFP HAS ALREADY BEGUN TRAINING ITS NATIONAL 
STAFF IN THE BASICS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND 
REPORTING.  MUST BE READY TO LOGISTICALLY ADDRESS MAJOR 
UPHEAVAL AT PORT UMM QASR AND ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.  WFP 
ESTABLISHES GULF TASK FORCE, WITH WFP REGIONAL DIRECTOR 
KHALED ADLY AT THE HELM.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------ 
BACKGROUND 
------------ 
 
¶2.  (C)  ON DECEMBER 20, SENIOR EMERGENCY COORDINATOR (SEC) 
DAVIS IN U.S. MISSION/ROME MET FOR TWO HOURS WITH TORBEN DUE 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  06133  01 OF 05  241419Z 
(PLEASE PROTECT), WFP COUNTRY DIRECTOR IN IRAQ.  HE WAS 
PASSING THROUGH WFP HEADQUARTERS (HQ) ON HIS WAY HOME TO 
DENMARK FOR THE HOLIDAYS.  DAVIS MET ONE-ON-ONE WITH DUE, AND 
HE WAS QUITE CANDID AND FORTHCOMING.  REF TEL PROVIDED AN 
OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN IRAQ. 
DUE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS REGARDING THE CURRENT 
SYSTEM AND WFP'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AS WELL AS HIS 
CONCERNS REGARDING CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS IN 
BAGHDAD.  INFORMATION BELOW BUILDS ON WHAT WAS PROVIDED IN 
REF TEL. 
 
-------------------------- 
IMPORTANCE OF RATION CARD 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (S) AS REPORTED IN REF TEL, EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A RATION 
CARD FOR FOOD.  IF ONE MOVES, ONE MUST GET ONE'S NAME TAKEN 
OFF THE LIST FROM THE PREVIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD OR TOWN BEFORE IT 
CAN BE ADDED TO A NEW LIST.  THE RATION CARD NOT ONLY 
SPECIFIES ONE'S ADDRESS AND TOWN, BUT ALSO SPECIFICIES WHICH 
FOOD/FLOUR AGENT(S) ONE MUST USE.  AS THE GOI IS CURRENTLY 
 
                          SECRET 
 
                              SECRET        PTQ5696 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  06133  02 OF 05  241413Z 
ACTION PRM-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AGRE-00  AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00 
      EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      L-00     NEA-00   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   PRS-00 
      P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      SA-00    DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------1C5962  241413Z /03 
O 241053Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7484 
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN 
AMEMBASSY BERN 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2// 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC 
USEU BRUSSELS 3026 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USNATO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  06133  02 OF 05  241413Z 
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL 
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE 
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC 
 
S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 05 ROME 006133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 
STATE FOR PRM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, SA/INS, IO/EDA 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, AA/ANE, 
PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/AS OR U/S PENN 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012 
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS 
 
EXPELLING KURDS FROM THE KIRKUK AREA AND SENDING THEM NORTH, 
WFP IS INTERVENING WITH THE CENTRAL MOT (WHICH MAINTAINS THE 
DATABASE) TO HAVE THE DISPLACED KURDS' NAMES REMOVED FROM THE 
GOI FOOD DISTRIBUTION LISTS IN THE CENTRAL REGION SO THEY CAN 
BE ADDED TO WFP'S LISTS IN THE NORTH.  DUE EXPLAINED THIS 
PROCESS CAN BE CUMBERSOME.  DUE SAID THE RATION CARD IS ALL 
IMPORTANT IN IRAQ, RECEIVING A HIGHER VALUE THAN A PERSON'S 
IDENTITY CARD AND REINFORCED THAT THE CARD SERVES AS A 
GOVERNMENT CONTROL MECHANISM. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  06133  02 OF 05  241413Z 
WFP'S RESPONSIBILITIES IN SOUTH/CENTRAL 
----------------------------------------- 
 
   ¶4.  (C) IN SOUTH/CENTRAL IRAQ, WFP MAKES REGULAR VISITS TO 
THE WAREHOUSES--TRANSIT AND EXTENDED DELIVERY POINT (EDP) 
WAREHOUSES, OBSERVES ALL LOADING OF COMMODITIES, AND EXAMINES 
THE BOOKS OF THE FOOD AND FLOUR AGENTS.  WFP HAS 10-15 
NATIONAL STAFF IN EACH GOVERNORATE WHO DO THE BULK OF THIS 
WORK.  DUE REPORTS THAT THE NATIONAL STAFF IS CONSTANTLY 
INTIMIDATED BY THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS.  JUST RECENTLY, DUE 
HAD TO MEET WITH MOT TOP MANAGEMENT TO EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS 
IMPORTANT FOR THE U.N. TO VISIT THE WAREHOUSES, AS THE MOT 
WAS TRYING TO BLOCK SUCH VISITS.  DUE CLARIFIED THAT NOT ALL 
FOOD GOES INITIALLY TO A TRANSIT WAREHOUSE, AS REPORTED IN 
REF TEL; SOME COMMODITIES MAY GO DIRECTLY TO THE EDP FROM THE 
ENTRY POINT INTO IRAQ. 
 
¶5.  (C) WFP STAFF ALSO CONDUCT POST-DISTRIBUTION MONITORING 
(PDM) IN THE SOUTH/CENTRAL REGIONS (AS THEY ALSO DO IN THE 
NORTH).  THE QUESTIONNAIRE DEVELOPED FOR THE PDM WAS APPROVED 
BY THE GOI.  WFP STAFF ARE ABLE TO MAKE IMPROMPTU PDM VISITS 
TO HOMES, BUT ARE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY AN IRAQI ESCORT WHO 
IS SUPPOSED TO STAND SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE WFP 
INTERVIEWER AND THE BENEFICIARIES, BUT IS ALWAYS WITHIN EAR 
SHOT, SO THE BENEFICIARIES ARE CAREFUL WHAT THEY REPORT.  WFP 
HAS CONDUCTED SOME ONE MILLION PDM INTERVIEWS OVER THE YEARS. 
 
¶6.  (U) THE DECEMBER DISTRIBUTION (FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH), WHICH 
IS AGAIN FOR TWO MONTHS, BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6 AND ENDED 
DECEMBER 20.  (NOTE:  NOVEMBER DISTRIBUTION WAS FOR 
DECEMBER/JANUARY.  END NOTE.)  THE GOI TELLS THE FOOD AGENTS 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  06133  02 OF 05  241413Z 
AND WFP ON WHICH DATE THE MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION IS TO BEGIN. 
 
----------- 
DATABASES 
----------- 
 
¶7.  (S) AS STATED IN REF TEL, WFP MAINTAINS THE DATABASE OF 
BENEFICIARIES IN THE NORTH AND THE GOI'S MOT MAINTAINS THE 
DATABASE FOR THE CENTRAL/SOUTH.  THE SEC ASKED DUE IF WFP HAD 
ANY ACCESS TO THE MOT'S DATABASE.  DUE RELAYED THAT IN 
PREPARATION FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTIVITY, WFP HAD BEEN 
ATTEMPTING TO GET A COPY OF THE LISTS, BUT THUS FAR HAD NOT 
SUCCEEDED.  WFP HAS, HOWEVER, BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN DATABASE 
INFORMATION BY SUB-DISTRICT, WHICH PROVIDES A LISTING OF THE 
NUMBERS OF FAMILIES UNDER EACH FOOD/FLOUR AGENT, AND LISTS 
THE FOOD/FLOUR AGENTS.  IT DOES NOT/NOT CONTAIN ANY NAMES 
HOWEVER.  A COPY OF THIS LIST HAS BEEN SENT TO WFP'S REGIONAL 
OFFICE IN CAIRO.  (NOTE:  AS WFP ALREADY REALIZES, IT WOULD 
BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A COPY OF THE SOUTH/CENTRAL DATABASE 
FOR POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM. END NOTE.) 
 
                          SECRET 
 
                              SECRET        PTQ5723 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  06133  03 OF 05  241417Z 
ACTION PRM-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AGRE-00  AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00 
      EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      L-00     NEA-00   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   PRS-00 
      P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      SA-00    DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------1C5A38  241417Z /03 
O 241053Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7485 
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN 
AMEMBASSY BERN 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2// 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC 
USEU BRUSSELS 3027 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USNATO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  06133  03 OF 05  241417Z 
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL 
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE 
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC 
 
S E C R E T SECTION 03 OF 05 ROME 006133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 
STATE FOR PRM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, SA/INS, IO/EDA 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, AA/ANE, 
PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/AS OR U/S PENN 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012 
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS 
 
--------------- 
VULNERABILITY 
--------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) WFP HAS CONDUCTED A HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY SURVEY 
COUNTRYWIDE, HOWEVER IN  SOUTH/CENTRAL IT WAS DONE BY THE 
NATIONAL STAFF, GATHERING WHAT INFORMATION IT COULD ON A MORE 
ANECDOTAL BASIS.  EVEN SO, THE SURVEY HAS PROVIDED WFP WITH 
SOME GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT VULNERABILITY.  IN THE NORTH, THE 
SURVEY WAS MORE SOPHISTICATED AND WAS MODELED AFTER  SAVE THE 
CHILDREN HOUSEHOLD FOOD ECONOMY METHODOLOGY, WHEREBY FAMILIES 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  06133  03 OF 05  241417Z 
ARE DIVIDED INTO ONE OF FOUR INCOME GROUPS:  RICH, 
MIDDLE-INCOME, POOR, AND VERY POOR. 
 
¶9.  (C)  WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE GREATEST VULNERABILITY IN THE 
COUNTRY, DUE SAID THAT THOSE LIVING IN THE BASRA REGION IN 
THE SOUTH ARE THE POOREST IN THE COUNTRY AND VERY VULNERABLE, 
EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN OIL-RICH AREA.  DUE SAID THAT OTHER THAN 
BASRA, THE VULNERABLE ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.  70 
PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN CENTRAL/SOUTH LIVE IN THE 
CITIES, BUT DUE DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE URBAN POPULATION IS 
NECESSARILY MORE VULNERABLE THAN SOME IN RURAL AREAS.  SOME 
30 TO 35 PERCENT OF IRAQIS MAKE UP THE POOREST OF THE POOR, 
SAYS DUE, AND THEY SELL PART OF THE MONTHLY RATION IN ORDER 
TO COME UP WITH THE 250 DINARS PER PERSON (EQUAL TO 0.12 USD) 
NEEDED TO PURCHASE THE NEXT MONTH'S RATION. 
 
¶10.  (C) DUE ALSO STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH BENEFICIARIES 
RECEIVED A TWO-MONTHS RATION IN NOVEMBER AND IN DECEMBER, 
WHICH IN THEORY WOULD PROVIDE FOOD UNTIL THE END OF MARCH, 
THE POOREST WOULD ONLY HAVE FOOD UP TO LATE FEBRUARY OR EARLY 
MARCH IN A BEST-CASE SCENARIO.  SOME WILL HAVE SOLD PART OF 
IT FOR OTHER NEEDED ITEMS OR CASH.  IN ADDITION, THE PDM 
VISITS SHOW THAT THE RATION LASTS ABOUT 20-25 DAYS RATHER 
THAN A FULL MONTH.  THE DECEMBER DISTRIBUTION WAS ALSO NOT 
COMPLETE, AS IT WAS MISSING PULSES (BEANS) AND MILK, TWO 
IMPORTANT SOURCES OF PROTEIN IN THE RATION. 
 
--------------------------- 
ONLY ONE SCENARIO SAYS HE 
--------------------------- 
 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  06133  03 OF 05  241417Z 
¶11.  (S) THE IRAQ WFP COUNTRY OFFICE (CO) STRONGLY FEELS THAT 
THERE ARE NO OTHER SCENARIOS OTHER THAN REVIVING THE CURRENT 
SYSTEM OF FEEDING EVERYONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.  DUE AND 
HIS TEAM DO NOT FEEL IT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE VULNERABILITY 
OF 4.9 OR 9.6 MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF 25.8 MILLION, WHEN 60 
PERCENT OR MORE ARE TOTALLY OR EXTREMELY DEPENDENT ON THE 
FOOD RATION.  DUE SAID THIS WAS THE PRIMARY REASON HE CAME TO 
ROME: TO CONVINCE WFP UPPER MANAGEMENT OF THIS.  "THE PUBLIC 
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAS/HAS TO FUNCTION--THERE IS NO/NO OTHER 
OPTION," SAID DUE.  "ENSURING THAT THE MOT REMAINS FUNCTIONAL 
IS A KEY/KEY PIECE OF THE EQUATION."  THE MOT SERVES AS THE 
INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT AGENT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND 
ARRANGES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT OF COMMODITIES.  IT 
ARRANGES FOR THE TRANSPORT AND MAINTAINS THE DATABASE OF 
BENEFICIARIES IN THE CENTRAL/SOUTH.  IT ALSO MAINTAINS THE 
WAREHOUSES, FLOUR MILLS, AND SILOS, AND SERVES AS THE OVERALL 
PLANNING CENTER.  WFP INTERFACES WITH THE MOT EVERY DAY. 
 
¶12.  (S) THE SEC ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF PUSH CAME TO SHOVE, 
HOW WOULD WFP GO ABOUT FEEDING 4.9 OR 9.6 MILLION PEOPLE AS 
OUTLINED IN THE CURRENT CONTINGENCY PLANNING.  DUE COULD NOT 
 
                          SECRET 
 
                              SECRET        PTQ5728 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  06133  04 OF 05  241418Z 
ACTION PRM-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AGRE-00  AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00 
      EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      L-00     NEA-00   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   PRS-00 
      P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      SA-00    DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------1C5A55  241418Z /03 
O 241053Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7486 
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN 
AMEMBASSY BERN 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2// 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC 
USEU BRUSSELS 3028 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USNATO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  06133  04 OF 05  241418Z 
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL 
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE 
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC 
 
S E C R E T SECTION 04 OF 05 ROME 006133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 
STATE FOR PRM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, SA/INS, IO/EDA 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, AA/ANE, 
PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/AS OR U/S PENN 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012 
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS 
 
EVEN DISCUSS SUCH A SCENARIO AS HE FEELS SO TIED TO THE NEED 
TO KEEP THE CURRENT SYSTEM GOING OR REVIVING IT AS SOON AS 
POSSIBLE.  (NOTE:  DUE'S MEETING WITH WFP UPPER MANAGEMENT 
TOOK PLACE AFTER THE SEC'S MEETING ON LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 
SHE HAS LEARNED THAT WFP HAS DECIDED TO MAINTAIN ITS THREE 
SCENARIOS FOR THE TIME-BEING, AND IF NEEDED WOULD COMPRESS 
THE TIMING OF ITS EMERGENCY OPERATION (EMOP), IF THE 
BENEFICIARY LEVELS AND TONNAGE REQUIREMENTS ROSE.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶13.  (C) DUE PROPOSED THAT THE STATUS OF FOUR KEY ELEMENTS 
HAS TO BE DETERMINED IMMEDIATELY IN A POST-CONFLICT AREA:  1) 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  06133  04 OF 05  241418Z 
 HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY; 2) WHAT IS LEFT OF THE 
INFRASTRUCTURE IN EACH AREA; 3)  THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES 
OF THE VARIOUS OFFICES OF THE MOT; 4) CURRENT STOCKS IN 
COUNTRY AND WHAT IS IN THE PIPELINE.  (NOTE:  DUE IS OF THE 
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OIL FOR FOOD (OFF) PROGRAM CURRENTLY 
HAS LET CONTRACTS FOR 4.5 TO 5 MILLION METRIC TONS (MT) FOOD 
THAT WOULD BE IN THE PIPELINE, RATHER THAN THE 8 MILLION MT 
THOUGHT BY WASHINGTON.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶14.  (C) REGARDING POINT FOUR ABOVE, DUE SAID IT IS EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT THAT THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL GIVE WFP LEGAL 
OWNERHSIP OF THE OIL FOR IRAQ PROGRAM (OIP) FOOD CONTRACTS. 
THIS LEGALITY IS VITAL TO ENSURING THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FOOD 
IN THE PIPELINE TO FEED THE CURRENT NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES. 
 
-------------------- 
STAFF PREPARATIONS 
-------------------- 
 
¶15.  (C) WFP HAS ALREADY CONDUCTED A MASSIVE TRAINING OF ITS 
NATIONAL STAFF IN THE BASICS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND 
REPORTING IN PREPARATION FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MAY 
HAVE TO ASSUME SOME OR ALL OF THESE TASKS.  FIVE NATIONAL 
STAFF RECENTLY ATTENDED WFP'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING 
COURSE HELD IN SWEDEN, AND 60 NATIONAL STAFF WILL SOON BE 
TRAINED IN ASSESSING HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY.  LASTLY, WFP 
HUMAN RELATIONS IS DEVELOPING A TRAINING ENTITLED "JUST IN 
TIME" WHICH WILL BE READY BY JANUARY 17 AND MADE AVAILABLE TO 
WFP IRAQ NATIONAL STAFF.  THIS TRAINING CONTAINS SEVERAL 
DIFFERENT MODULES PERTAINING TO WFP FIELD OPERATIONS. 
 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  06133  04 OF 05  241418Z 
¶16.  (C) DUE SAID THAT IF THE MOT STAFF COULD NOT CONTINUE 
THEIR CURRENT FUNCTIONS AND WFP HAD TO PLAY THOSE ROLES, WFP 
WOULD NEED APPROXIMATELY 2,600 ADDITIONAL NATIONAL STAFF AND 
150 TO 200 INTERNATIONAL STAFF.  (COMMENT.  FINDING 150 TO 
200 EXPERIENCED EMERGENCY WFP INTERNATIONAL STAFF, WHILE 
MAINTAINING ITS CURRENT WORLDWIDE OPERATIONS, WOULD BE A 
MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR WFP.  END COMMENT.) 
 
------------------ 
GLOOMY THOUGHTS 
------------------ 
 
¶17.  (S) WHEN ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT THE GOI MIGHT DO IF 
ATTACKED THAT WOULD INHIBIT WFP'S OPERATION, DUE SAID THAT 
SADDAM MIGHT BLOW UP PORT UMM QASR, AS WELL AS THE MAJOR BULK 
WHEAT STORAGE AND MILLING INSTALLATION ALSO LOCATED AT THE 
PORT.  THE PORT MUST BE CLEANED DAILY DUE TO THE SAND/SILT 
THAT COLLECTS EACH DAY, SO THAT LARGE SHIPS CAN DOCK.  ANY 
EXPLOSION WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SHIPS TO DOCK AT THE 
PORT UNTIL NEW DREDGES ARRIVED TO RE-START THE DAILY DREDGING 
OPERATION.  ALTERNATE PORTS WOULD BE ACABA, KUWAIT, OR 
 
                          SECRET 
 
                              SECRET        PTQ5729 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  06133  05 OF 05  241418Z 
ACTION PRM-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AGRE-00  AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00 
      EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      L-00     NEA-00   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   PRS-00 
      P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      SA-00    DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00     /005W 
                  ------------------1C5A77  241419Z /03 
O 241053Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7487 
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN 
AMEMBASSY BERN 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2// 
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC 
USEU BRUSSELS 3029 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USNATO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  06133  05 OF 05  241418Z 
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL 
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE 
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC 
 
S E C R E T SECTION 05 OF 05 ROME 006133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 
STATE FOR PRM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, SA/INS, IO/EDA 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, AA/ANE, 
PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/AS OR U/S PENN 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012 
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS 
 
IRANIAN PORTS, SAYS DUE, BUT CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE TO 
THE SHIPPING CONTRACTS AND THERE MAY BE COST IMPLICATIONS. 
THE GOI COULD ALSO HOLD UP ALL OIP FOOD COMMODITY CONTRACTS 
THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PROCESS. 
 
¶18.  (S) DUE (PLEASE PROTECT) ALSO CONFIDED THAT A RUSSIAN 
DIPLOMAT HAD TOLD HIM THAT THE GOI HAS DUG DEEP HOLES NEXT TO 
ALL OIL WELLS WHERE IT ALREADY HAS PLANTED EXPLOSIVES. 
 
---------------------------- 
WFP TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED 
                          SECRET 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  06133  05 OF 05  241418Z 
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¶19.  (C)  ALSO AS A RESULT OF THE FRIDAY MEETING, WFP DECIDED 
TO ESTABLISH A GULF TASK FORCE WITH THE FRIDAY DISCUSSION 
SERVING AS THE FIRST MEETING.  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, IS THE 
SECOND MEETING.  THE TASK FORCE PLANS TO MEET ONCE A WEEK. 
MEMBERS INCLUDE THE WFP COUNTRY OFFICES IN THE REGION AND WFP 
HQ PERSONNEL, WITH KHALED ADLY, THE WFP REGIONAL DIRECTOR IN 
CAIRO SERVING AS THE TASK FORCE LEADER.  WFP HAS ALSO DECIDED 
TO RUN ANY POTENTIAL GULF OPERATION FROM ROME, SO ADLY WILL 
TRANSFER TO ROME FROM HIS OFFICE IN CAIRO.    HE MOVES HERE 
AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.  (NOTE.  DURING THE AFGHANISTAN OPERATION 
LAST YEAR, IT BECAME CLEAR THERE WERE TOO MANY LAYERS IN 
WFP'S SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING MASSIVE OPERATIONS, 
WITH THE REGIONAL CLUSTERS AND REGIONAL OFFICES-THUS THE 
DECISION TO MOVE ADLY TO ROME FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. 
END NOTE.) 
HALL 
 
                          SECRET 
 
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 2002ROME06133 - Classification: SECRET