VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #0412/01 0500545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190545Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9603
INFO RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 2131
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 8920
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3386
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3101
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4182
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3031
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6388
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7256
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/CCJ5/CCJS//
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000412 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, DAS AF JSWAN, AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, 
A/S PRM SAUERBREY, AND PRM/AFR 
AFR/AA KALMQUIST, WWARREN, JBORNS, KNELSON, CTHOMPSON 
DCHA/AA MHESS, GGOTTLIEB 
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, CCHAN, PMORRIS, KCHANNELL 
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN, SANTHONY, PBERTOLIN 
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, RTILSWORTH, AND LPANASUK 
NAIROBI FOR OFDA/ECARO GPLATT, RFFPO NCOX, USAID/EA 
ROME FOR AMBASSADOR, OHA, HSPANOS 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU PBROWN 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA 
USUN FOR FSHANKS 
NSC FOR PMARCHAN 
 
AIDAC 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
REF:  A) ADDIS 3644  B) ADDIS 3642  C) ADDIS 0053  D) ADDIS 0064  E) 
ADDIS 0120  F) ADDIS 0134  G) ADDIS 0152  H) ADDIS 0213  I) ADDIS 
0233  J) ADDIS 0315 
SUBJECT: USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM: PHASE I FINDINGS AND NEXT 
STEPS 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  During the December 20 to January 31 Phase I of the U.S. 
Government (USG) Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT) in Ethiopia 
presence, USG HAT staff conducted multiple humanitarian assessment 
trips to the conflict-affected areas of Somali Region, including 
Degehabur, Fik, Gode, and Korahe zones.  USG HAT staff did not 
observe indicators of an immediate crisis within areas visited. 
However, based on regional assessments, USG HAT staff note that 
humanitarian and food security conditions could significantly 
deteriorate in the coming weeks as a result of the cumulative impact 
of poor food aid delivery mechanisms, current disruptions on 
commercial trade and livestock movement, reduced access to and 
delivery of essential health services, restricted humanitarian 
access and movement, and the poor performance of the 2007 rains. 
 
¶2.  To mitigate deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Somali 
Region in the coming weeks, USG HAT staff recommend improved food 
aid distribution; independent standardized nutritional surveys in 
conflict-affected areas; support for the regional measles campaign; 
increased commercial trade; and improved humanitarian access and 
movement. 
 
¶3.  As of February 1, the USG HAT presence in Ethiopia has 
transitioned from Phase I, focused on gaining access and assessing 
current humanitarian conditions in the region, to Phase II with a 
focus on advocacy, monitoring, and program management.  End 
summary. 
 
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PHASE I 
------- 
 
¶4.  Between December 20 and January 31, the USG HAT, composed of 
technical experts from USAID and the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 
coordination with USAID/Ethiopia and the U.S. Embassy in Addis has 
conducted multiple field assessments in Somali Region to examine 
health, nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and water and 
sanitation conditions in the region as part of Phase I of the USG 
HAT presence in Ethiopia.  During Phase I, the USG HAT staff were 
successful in gaining access to conflict-affected areas in Somali 
Region; monitoring USG interventions; energizing and strengthening 
UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) confidence; and 
identifying gaps in humanitarian assistance and obstacles to 
response efforts. 
 
--------------------------- 
USG HAT ASSESSMENT FINDINGS 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  USG HAT staff did not observe indicators of an immediate crisis 
within areas visited.  However, based on regional assessments, USG 
HAT staff report that humanitarian and food security conditions 
could significantly deteriorate in the coming weeks as a result of 
 
the cumulative impact of poor food aid delivery mechanisms, current 
restrictions on commercial trade and livestock movement, reduced 
access to and delivery of essential health services, restricted 
humanitarian access and movement, and the poor performance of the 
2007 rains.  In the absence of the resumption of commercial trade, 
the delay in the delivery, mismanagement, and diversion of food 
assistance represent a significant threat to humanitarian 
conditions, including 745,000 people in need of immediate food 
assistance within the conflict-affected areas and an additional 
840,000 people at risk identified by the (GFDRE) Disaster Prevention 
and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) Deyr/Karan Assessment.  Current 
obstacles to food aid delivery in Somali Region include required 
military escorts; minimal capacity within UN World Food Program 
(WFP) and DPPA to effectively target, monitor, and deliver 
assistance; mismanagement and diversion of food aid; and the 
confinement of a large percentage of food aid to district capitals. 
 
----------------------------------- 
USG HAT RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  To mitigate deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Somali 
Region in the coming weeks, USG HAT staff recommend specific 
interventions and improvements in access and movement in the region. 
 USG HAT, USAID/OFDA, and USAID/Ethiopia staff have initiated 
efforts to advocate and implement the following recommendations. 
 
-- Improve food aid distribution.  USAID/Ethiopia has contacted 
WFP/Rome to communicate concerns regarding current obstacles to food 
aid delivery and distribution and advocate for improved targeting 
and monitoring mechanism. In addition, USG HAT and USAID/Ethiopia 
ALT staff are regularly meeting with WFP and the DPPA in Addis Ababa 
to address operational concerns.  WFP has also agreed to incorporate 
USAID staff in WFP field monitoring teams in the region.  USAID/FFP 
has contributed 78.9 metric tons (MT) of emergency food aid valued 
at approximately $44.2 million to Somali Region, since June 2007. 
 
 
-- Allow the current supplementary feeding program to be expanded in 
the five conflict-affected zones.   USAID/FFP has provided necessary 
food assistance to implement supplemental feeding programs and are 
discussing next steps with WFP. 
 
-- Establish a USAID field presence in Kebridehar town, Korahe Zone. 
 USG HAT staff have negotiated a tentative approval for the 
establishment of office space in Kebridehar to be co-located with 
the UN, pending U.S. Embassy Resident Security Officer (RSO), 
USAID/Ethiopia, U.S. Embassy, and UN approval. 
 
-- Support the early February Somali Region measles campaign.  USG 
HAT and USAID/Ethiopia effectively advocated for a February 2008 
regional measles campaign in response to concerns for a potential 
outbreak in the region resulting from poor vaccination coverage 
rates and expected declines in nutrition levels.  USAID/OFDA is 
currently reviewing a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) emergency measles 
campaign proposal for $1.5 million to immunize 784,000 children 6 to 
59 months of age in Somali Region. 
 
 
-- Continue and improve the use of mobile health teams within 
conflict-affected areas.  USAID/OFDA has provided $1.8 million to 
UNICEF in support of mobile health teams operating in Somali Region. 
 Since January 2008, 14 teams are active in Somali Region. 
 
-- Advocate with the GFDRE and DPPA to allow qualified UN or NGO 
partners to conduct standardized nutritional surveys in 
conflict-affected areas to identify vulnerable populations and 
inform appropriate interventions. 
 
-- Enhance the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and WFP 
security staffing and capacity in Somali Region to more effectively 
support humanitarian operations.  USAID/Washington is in contact 
with UNDSS/New York 
 
-- Support additional appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene 
interventions, such as the rehabilitation of boreholes and 
traditional water reservoirs.  To date, USAID/OFDA has provided $6.6 
million for emergency programs in Somali Region, including water, 
sanitation, and hygiene interventions. 
 
-- Improve humanitarian access and movement.  USG HAT staff have 
communicated concerns regarding recent NGO staff detentions and 
restricted UN and NGO movement in Warder and Korahe zones to the 
GFDRE and the U.S. Embassy. 
 
-- Align future USAID/OFDA funding with USAID/Ethiopia long-term 
planning in Somali Region, including Regional Enhanced Livelihoods 
in Pastoral Areas (RELPA),1207, possible famine funds, or 
supplemental resources.  USAID/OFDA staff are working closely with 
USAID/Ethiopia to integrate successful relief to development 
programming and disaster risk reduction planning. 
 
------------------ 
USG HAT TRANSITION 
------------------ 
 
¶7.  As of February 1, the USG HAT presence in Ethiopia has 
transitioned from Phase I with a focus on gaining access and 
assessing current humanitarian conditions in the region to Phase II 
with a focus on advocacy, monitoring, and program management. 
During Phase II, USG HAT will assist USAID/Ethiopia, implementing 
partners, and host-country government ministries to implement 
response programs.  USG HAT staff will also develop and disseminate 
sector specific strategies to assist USAID/Ethiopia with long-term 
planning in the region to integrate humanitarian assistance needs 
and development assistance goals and objectives.  In addition, USAID 
is planning to establish a USAID field presence in Kebridehar town, 
Korahe Zone to facilitate additional targeted field visits and 
enhance coordination and information sharing with UN agencies and 
NGOs operating in the region. 
 
 
 
YAMAMOTO