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DE RUEHPU #0108/01 0300533
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O 300532Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0082
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0289
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INFO RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000108 
 
AIDAC 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PREF HA
SUBJECT: USAID/DART OVERVIEW OF HAITI FOOD DISTRIBUTION PLAN 
 
REF: PORT A 60; POR A 72; PORT A 96; PORT A 98; PORT A 100 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  This weekend, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) 
will shift to a geographically-focused distribution system in 
metropolitan Port-au-Prince through 16 identified sites. 
Distribution of food ration coupons is scheduled to begin on 
January 30, prior to distribution of food on January 31.  Outside 
Port-au-Prince, WFP and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will 
continue to conduct settlement and site-based food distributions, 
with the support of military personnel.  To date, the majority of 
food distributed in Haiti was provided or funded by the U.S. 
Government (USG). End summary. 
 
 
 
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THE NEED 
 
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¶2.  (U) Prior to the January 12 earthquake, approximately 1.8 
million people in Haiti were defined as food insecure, according to 
WFP - signifying that nearly 20 percent of Haiti's population did 
not have access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs. 
Following the earthquake, WFP issued a six-month $264 million 
Emergency Operation (EMOP) appeal, estimating that approximately 2 
million earthquake-affected people in Haiti required emergency food 
assistance, including a portion of the previously identified food 
insecure population.  However, ongoing needs assessments in the 
coming days should provide a more evidenced-based indication of 
food requirements in Haiti. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (U) Based on the assumption that earthquake-affected 
populations had limited access to storage, cooking facilities, and 
clean water, the EMOP requested the short-term provision of food 
that did not require preparation, primarily high-energy biscuits 
and meals ready-to-eat (MREs), and humanitarian daily rations 
(HDRs).  However, following the short-term emergency ration, WFP 
planned to transition to traditionally consumed foods. 
Furthermore, WFP indicated that improved access to affected 
neighborhoods, increased water tankering, shelters, and provision 
of kitchen sets would support a transition to dry rations. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (U) Recent assessments by USAID's Disaster Assistance Response 
Team (USAID/DART) in settlements in and around Port-au-Prince have 
verified that displaced families are demonstrating a capacity and 
preference to cook their own meals, with makeshift kitchens 
observed throughout campsites.  U.S. military personnel have also 
reported several instances in which displaced individuals refused 
MREs.  As a result, since January 21, the majority of WFP food 
assistance beneficiaries have received dry rations which typically 
consist of a combination of rice, oil, pulses, and salt. 
 
 
 
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SHIFTING AWAY FROM SETTLEMENT-BASED DISTRIBUTION 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) As of 2000 hours on January 29, WFP, NGOs, the U.N. 
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and the Joint Task Force 
Haiti (JTF/H) - consisting of U.S. and Canadian military personnel 
- had identified and surveyed 16 sites for large-scale food 
distributions in Port-au-Prince and Carrefour.  Each site will 
serve as the central food distribution point for a designated 
geographic area (similar to a voting precinct) determined by 
population density and other factors.  Simultaneously, in areas 
 
outside Port-au-Prince, WFP and NGOs will continue to conduct 
ongoing settlement and site-based food distributions. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) At present, lead NGOs had been confirmed to oversee and 
manage distributions at all of the 16 identified sites, including 
Save the Children, the Agency for Technical Cooperation and 
Development (ACTED), Catholic Relief Service, World Vision, GOAL, 
and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). 
 
 
 
¶5.  (U) Joint teams of MINUSTAH and JTF/H personnel will provide 
security at sites when distributions begin, with MINUSTAH taking 
the lead at seven sites and JTF/H heading nine sites.  Forces will 
also provide security to convoys carrying food assistance. 
 
 
 
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COUPONS 
 
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¶6.  (SBU) Following best practices, prior to collecting food 
assistance, beneficiaries will receive coupons that inform the 
family of the distribution site's location and a day to collect 
food rations.  Coupon distribution is scheduled to begin, Saturday, 
January 30, as agreed by the Government of Haiti (GoH), WFP, and 
NGOs.  Coupons will be distributed jointly by teams composed of a 
local official, an NGO representative, and a WFP representative to 
ensure equitability.  In addition, to stem confusion among 
beneficiaries regarding the new distribution system, the GoH and 
WFP plan to conduct public awareness campaigns in Port-au-Prince 
neighborhoods prior to dissemination of coupons in that area. 
 
 
 
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FOOD DISTRIBUTION 
 
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¶7.  (SBU) Food distributions under the new system will begin 
Sunday, January 31, and continue for a 14-day period, targeting 
approximately 1,700 households per site per day, or approximately 
9,000 people.  In exchange for their coupons, beneficiaries will 
receive a 15-day ration of rice, a staple food in Haiti. During 
this period, WFP and NGOs will use MREs as contingency stock, in 
addition to targeted distributions of MREs to institutions, 
including orphanages and hospitals. 
 
 
 
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ISSUES AND CONCERNS 
 
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¶8.  (SBU) Security will continue to be a primary concern for those 
conducting food distributions, due to the inherent risks associated 
with large crowds congregating in an urban area.  However, the new 
distribution system is fully coordinated between WFP, lead NGOs, 
MINUSTAH, and JTF/H to ensure ample security at each site. 
 
 
 
¶9.  (SBU) In addition, the urban environment, traffic, lack of 
storage space, and sheer quantity of humanitarian assistance 
delivered by road present significant logistical challenges. 
Furthermore, limited entry points to warehouse facilities, coupled 
with damage sustained during the earthquake, have slowed down the 
 
truck loading process.  To alleviate some logistical constraints, 
organizations are planning to load and move the trucks at night. 
 
 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Coordination will remain a challenge for all actors 
involved in food distribution.  Distributors of coupons and food 
assistance must work to ensure that Port-au-Prince's affected 
populations are reached, while attempting to prevent duplication or 
fraud that allows individuals to collect food at more than one 
distribution location. 
 
 
 
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USG FOOD ASSISTANCE 
 
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¶11.  (U) To date, the USAID's Office of Food for Peace has 
contributed $68 million in food assistance to WFP's EMOP in 
response to the earthquake.  USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign 
Disaster Assistance has also provided $10 million towards the EMOP 
for logistical support.  USG contributions to WFP represent 
approximately 86 percent of confirmed contributions to the EMOP to 
date, according to WFP's most recent resource update.  In addition, 
with logistical support from the JTF/H, the USG continues to 
provide prepared meals (HDRs and MREs) to WFP and NGOs for targeted 
distribution to individuals in hospitals, orphanages, and displaced 
populations in outside Port-au-Prince. 
 
 
 
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
MERTEN