VZCZCXRO4286
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0551 2751300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021300Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3366
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3765

UNCLAS MASERU 000551 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S, F; 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR OVIP PGOV LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: USAID ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR ASSESSES FOOD 
SECURITY 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  From September 22-24, USAID Assistant 
Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian 
Assistance Michael Hess visited Lesotho to assess food security 
and to review the USG's ongoing response to recent drought and 
failed harvests.  Accompanied by Emboff, the Hess delegation 
consulted with C-SAFE partners (World Vision, CRS, and CARE); 
visited USAID-funded program areas in Mafeteng and Mohale's Hoek 
districts; attended a dinner with donors, NGOs, and GOL 
representatives hosted by Charge; and consulted with the World 
Food Programme.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------ 
Instructive Field Visits 
------------------------ 
 
¶2.  USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Hess, accompanied by 
Disaster Operations Specialist Chris Pratt, Special Assistant 
Amber Brooks, Regional Food for Peace Officer Pat Diskin, and 
Emboff met on September 23 with representatives of the NGO 
consortium C-SAFE in Maseru for a briefing and site visits.  The 
C-SAFE consortium, comprised of CARE, Catholic Relief Services, 
and World Vision, serves as a major conduit for USAID-supplied 
food aid to rural communities in Lesotho.  After their briefing, 
C-SAFE officials escorted the delegation to program sites in 
Mafeteng district.  At these site visits, the delegation 
observed keyhole gardens, trench gardens, and other conservation 
agriculture techniques promoted through "food-for-assets" 
programs in rural communities.  Program participants uniformly 
noted that they experienced better agricultural results than 
their neighbors who used more traditional farming methods. 
 
------------------ 
Dinner Discussions 
------------------ 
 
¶3.  On the evening of September 23, Charge hosted a dinner in 
honor of Assistant Administrator Hess which included 
representatives of donor missions, UN agencies, NGOs, and an 
official of Lesotho's Disaster Management Authority. 
Conversation centered on the GOL's response to the current food 
insecurity crisis. 
 
--------------------- 
Consultation with WFP 
--------------------- 
 
¶4.  On the morning of September 24, A/A Hess visited World Food 
Programme (WFP) Country Director Bhim Udas and held a frank 
discussion about the WFP's activities in Lesotho, the nature of 
Lesotho's food insecurity crisis, and WFP's role in the UN 
system in Lesotho.  Mr. Udas described WFP's role as larger than 
its mandate would imply, as it is the only UN organization with 
a national network and is thus tasked with a wide range of 
missions.  Mr. Udas stated that he was pleased with the donor 
community's response to date to WFP's flash appeal for food aid 
in Lesotho. 
 
------------------- 
Thanks for Visiting 
------------------- 
 
¶5.  COMMENT: The visit of Assistant Administrator Hess to 
Lesotho reiterated U.S. concerns about the current regional food 
insecurity crisis, as well as the need for coordination and 
information gathering/sharing in forming an efficient 
international response.  Hess suggested that the U.S. Mission 
explore a mass media nutritional education outreach in Lesotho, 
and offered to explore possible funding streams.   Embassy 
Maseru thanks A/A Hess for his timely visit.  We look forward to 
continuing our productive cooperation with USAID FFP and OFDA to 
help ameliorate Lesotho's current food crisis and to identify 
appropriate activities as follow on to the disaster declaration 
issued in July 2007.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶6. USAID/FFP Pretoria cleared this cable. 
 
NOLAN