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

UNCLAS ROME 004603 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
AIDAC 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR PRM/P AND IO/EDA 
INFO USAID FOR A/AID, DCHA/FFP LANDIS, DCHA/OFDA MENGHETTI 
INFO GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID 
MONROVIA FOR DART 

E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREF WFP UN
SUBJECT:  WFP APPEAL FOR WEST AFRICA COASTAL SPECIAL 
OPERATIONS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) HAS FOUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS 
(SO) WHICH ADDRESS RECENT THREATS TO ITS PROTRACTED RELIEF 
AND RECOVERY OPERATION FOR REFUGEES, RETURNEES, AND 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN GUINEA, SIERRA LEONE, AND 
LIBERIA.  TOTAL REQUIRED FUNDING IS U.S. DOLLARS (USD) 6.8 
MILLION, YET ONLY ABOUT 3.3 MILLION USD HAS BEEN PLEDGED TO 
DATE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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FOUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS (SO) 
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¶2. LIBERIA SO 10300, "AUGMENTED LOGISTICS AND ICT CAPACITY 
IN SUPPORT TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN LIBERIA," PLANNED 
FROM AUGUST 2003 THROUGH JANUARY 2004, IS ESTIMATED AT 
1,345,589 USD.  A SUPPLY VESSEL WAS CHARTERED FOR 60 DAYS TO 
PROVIDE THE ENTIRE HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY WITH FUEL TO 
OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES AND GENERATORS; PROVIDE BASIC 
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT FOR OPERATIONS AND SECURITY TO 
ESTABLISH A COUNTRY OFFICE AND SIX SUB-OFFICES; AND PROVIDE 
HUMANITARIAN WORKERS A SAFE BASE FROM WHICH TO WORK UPON 
    THEIR RE-ENTRY TO LIBERIA.  THIS SUPPLY VESSEL HAS BEEN 
DEMOBILIZED, AND A SMALLER REPLACEMENT SHIP WITH A CAPACITY 
OF 1,000 METRIC TONS IS NOW BEING USED TO TRANSPORT FOOD. 
ALTHOUGH THIS IS A CRITICAL OPERATION AND SERVES TO JUMP- 
START THE UN'S OPERATIONS, NO CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN 
RECEIVED TO DATE. 
 
¶3. LIBERIA SO 10263, "EMERGENCY TRUCKING CAPACITY INCREASE 
TO THE WFP FLEET IN SUPPORT TO THE HUMANITARIAN OPERATION IN 
LIBERIA," BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2003 FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD. 
ESTIMATED AT 2,547,270 USD, ITS PURPOSE IS TO PURCHASE THREE 
NEW 15-METRIC TON TRUCKS AND RELATED SERVICES REQUIRED TO 
INCREASE TRUCKING CARGO CAPACITY BY 120 TO 324 METRIC TONS, 
I.E., TO PRE-CIVIL WAR LEVELS.  THE CURRENT FUNDING 
SHORTFALL IS 985,475 USD. 
 
¶4. LIBERIA UNJLC SO 10303, "ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNITED 
NATIONS JOINT LOGISTICS CENTER IN SUPPORT OF THE 
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN LIBERIA," ESTIMATED AT 799,536 USD 
AND RUNNING FROM AUGUST THROUGH NOVEMBER 2003, WOULD DEPLOY 
UP TO SEVEN SPECIALIZED STAFF, INCLUDING THE HEAD OF THE 
UNJLC, AN OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, LOGISTICS INFORMATION 
SUPPORT OFFICER, GIS/DATA OFFICER, CIVIL MILITARY 
COORDINATOR, AIR PLANNING OFFICER, AND AIR INFORMATION 
OFFICER. 
Q 
¶5. WEST AFRICA COASTAL SO 10061.1, "WFP AIR SUPPORT SERVICE 
FOR THE WEST AFRICA COASTAL REGION," ESTIMATED AT 2,150,609 
USD, HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING OPERATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND AT 
THIS JUNCTURE IS SCHEDULED TO END IN DECEMBER 2003.  THIS 
    PROJECT ESTABLISHED PASSENGER SERVICE TO THE HUMANITARIAN 
COMMUNITY WORKING IN THE COASTAL REGION.  IN AUGUST, WFP 
CHARTERED A SECOND AIRCRAFT TO ACCOMMODATE INCREASED DEMAND. 
THE SHORTFALL FOR THIS SO IS 877,610 USD. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶6. PER WFP'S APPEAL, SUPPORT TO THESE SPECIAL OPERATIONS 
WILL ENABLE WFP AND PARTNERS TO EXTEND THEIR HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE TO BROADER SEGMENTS OF THE LIBERIAN POPULATION. 
HALL 
 
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	2003ROME04603 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED