VZCZCXRO3645
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #2670/01 2730825
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290825Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2182
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002670 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM ET
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES OGADEN RELIEF AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Deputy Prime Minister Adissu Legesse told Ambassador, UN 
Res Rep Sarasorro, and USAID Mission Director Anders in a meeting on 
September 25 that the government was taking an "integrated" approach 
in the Somali region of Ethiopia, similar to the UN-USAID "two 
track" approach of humanitarian relief (the "hub and spoke," NGO 
grants, training, pastoral programs, etc.) in conjunction with 
recovery and transition process to help promote agricultural and 
economic development.  He noted the focal role of the new State 
Minister and his chairing of the joint Special Committee for Somali 
region.  Due to lack of capacity at the local government level, the 
Federal Government will play a larger role, with donor assistance, 
in promoting health care, education, water supply, and agro-pastoral 
development, the four priorities for the Ogaden region.  While the 
number of food aid beneficiaries has now been raised to 6.4 million 
(based on the joint assessment), including 1.98 million in the 
Ogaden, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed hope that food aid needs 
will decrease with the rains.  While NGOs have reported good access 
to many parts of the Somali region, insecurity remains a problem 
and, with the recent kidnapping of two foreign aid workers in the 
Ogaden, there is a fear of increasing extremist activities hampering 
food distribution and other aid.  Adissu remarked that ultimately it 
is up to the elders and clan leaders in the Somali region of 
Ethiopia and their commitment and support of development to bring 
peace to the region and that military action by Ethiopian forces is 
not a solution.  End Summary. 
 
FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE OGADEN 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The regular joint UN-US dialogue with the government on food 
security, food distribution, development and the Ogaden was 
conducted September 25.  Deputy Prime Minister Adissu Legesse noted 
to UN Res Rep Fidele Sarasorro, USAID Director Glenn Anders and 
Ambassador that the joint UN-USAID "hub and spoke" plan for food 
distribution in the Ogden/Somali region of Ethiopia would soon be 
operational and should facilitate greater food deliveries.  (Note: 
2,900 mt of the anticipated 35,000 mt of relief food was delivered 
last month.  Under the "hub and spoke" system, large trucks will 
take the food from Djibouti to designated centers in the Somali 
region of Ethiopia where smaller trucks will deliver the food to 
beneficiaries.  End Note.)  Adissu also remarked that the 
dissolution of the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency 
(DPPA, Ethiopia's emergency disaster agency), in favor of the 
establishment of a food security and disaster response organization 
to oversee deliveries under a new state minister for agriculture 
will improve efficiencies.  Further, the newly formed donor-GoE-NGO 
Special Committee coordinating group on the Somali region will be 
more effective under the new State Minister's leadership. 
 
¶3. (U) Sarasorro raised the UN-USAID concept of a two pronged 
approach to the Ogaden region of pursuing humanitarian relief in 
conjunction with promoting longer-term economic development through 
"recovery" and "transition" process.  The UN and USAID can provide 
experts and focus assistance on helping pastoralists recover as well 
as promote agricultural development which will help communities 
better survive droughts.  Adissu noted the GoE's pilot project in 22 
woredas in the Ogaden region which stresses the four priorities -- 
health care, education, water supply, and agro-pastoral development. 
 This success will be expanded throughout the Somali region. 
Sarasorro and Anders made clear their commitment to be a part of the 
development strategy for the Somali region.  Adissu replied that 
discussions are taking place within the government and that he would 
approach the UN and USAID within the next two weeks on coordination 
and partnership efforts in this area. 
 
BENEFICIARIES -- HOW MANY? 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The Ambassador raised the requests by Somali regional 
government officials to formally increase the number of 
beneficiaries, the need for capacity development, and expanded 
support from the federal government.  Adissu replied that the 
Special Committee on the Somali region made up of officials from the 
region and officials from various ministries have agreed on the 
higher beneficiary number of 1.98 million posed by the Somali region 
government.  Further, the government raised the total number of 
beneficiaries in Ethiopia from 4.8 million, announced in June, to 
6.4 million.  Questioned on whether this number was too low, Adissu 
replied that, due to rains and crop production, he felt the number 
of beneficiaries is declining and that food deliveries are 
improving.  The concern, as the USAID director noted, is the 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002670  002 OF 002 
 
 
forecast of poor October rains in the pastoral regions which could 
affect the number of beneficiaries.  Adissu admitted that there are 
pockets of severe malnutrition throughout the country.  Still, he 
noted that promoting the government's integrated approach or four 
priorities of education, health care, water projects and 
agricultural development, will help enable the country to cope with 
the constant cycles of drought. 
 
PLAYING A BIGGER ROLE IN THE OGADEN 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Adissu said that due to the lack of capacity within the 
Somali regional and local governments the federal government will 
take a greater role in running the region's development program. 
This did not mean complete control or full management of the 
region's affairs, but lending experts and working closely with the 
regional government on development projects and food distribution. 
Adissu stated that his intent is to find ways to help the Somali 
region develop expertise and capacity to enable the federal 
government to step back in the near future to allow the local 
government to run its operations. 
 
SECURITY A MAJOR CHALLENGE 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) The group agreed that insecurity remains a difficult 
challenge.  Extremists' detentions of aid workers just after the 
Ambassador and USAID director visited the Ogaden last week and the 
kidnapping of two foreign aid workers by an unknown group operating 
out of Somalia this week raised concerns over security.  Sarasorro 
and the Ambassador noted reports from NGOs in the Ogaden that there 
were fewer restrictions on travel, but asked whether security issues 
will change this condition.  Adissu speculated that the insecurity 
is limited to only a couple of places, outside of Jijiga, Fik, 
Degahabur, and Warder towns.  He believed that the current openness 
in most parts of the Ogaden will continue. 
 
¶7. (U) Adissu concluded the meeting by expressing frustration over 
press reports of human rights abuse and restrictions by the 
Ethiopian government in the Ogaden region.  He noted the openness 
reported by the NGOs there and the expansion to over 20 NGOs 
operating in the region.  The group remarked to Adissu on the need 
for the government to address the concerns raised by the NGOs and 
other groups as well as to inform, through possible regular press 
conferences on how the Ethiopian Government is correcting problems, 
addressing needs, and correcting possible misinformation. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶8. (SBU) These UN-US joint meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister 
have helped raise more effectively in a smaller forum the concerns 
over food deliveries, NGO access, development questions and human 
rights issues on behalf of the donor, international, and NGO 
communities.  The UN-US joint approach has led to the establishment 
of the joint Special Committee for the Somali region as a forum for 
NGO's, donors and the government.  Frustrations remain and responses 
are slow, as displayed by the three month delay in the government's 
agreement to implement the "hub and spoke" food delivery approach, 
but Adissu, who has not often met with donor groups, has readily met 
with the UN-US group.  The security situation is a growing concern 
to the donor group and while the NGOs have reported fewer human 
rights abuses by the Ethiopian military recently, it likely is due 
in large part to the lack of fighting in the region.  The 
unprecedented kidnapping of foreign aid workers is an alarming sign 
and could signal a resumption of fighting by insurgents and 
extremists from Somalia which would lead to a rapid response from 
the Ethiopian security forces.  We will continue to work closely 
with the Deputy Prime Minister and our own private meetings with the 
Prime Minister and other members of the ruling party's central 
committee to inform and influence the situation in the Somali Region 
and other parts of Ethiopia.  End Comment. 
 
YAMAMOTO