253. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Agency for International Development (Meyer) to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (McDaniel)1
SUBJECT
- Food Aid for Ethiopia in FY 87
A few weeks ago you wrote asking about our food strategy for Ethiopia for the future.2 I have reviewed the situation in Ethiopia and [Page 680] after considering various options have concluded that the following course of action best serves overall U.S. interests.
1. NO EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT FROM USG
It is unlikely there will be any requirement for US emergency food aid in FY 87. The weather in Ethiopia has been excellent. The recent small harvest was fine, and the major harvest is promising.
During the last six months, emergency feeding levels have been lower than anticipated. They will go up for the rest of the year, but there are huge stockpiles of relief food. Even with increased deliveries to those in need, we anticipate that at the end of this year there will be a carryover of non-US relief food of between 350,000 to 450,000 MT of food. This quantity should be adequate to meet all currently projected emergency needs. If there is a large unanticipated deterioration in the situation we will have sufficient time to respond. (This analysis does not cover our cross border feeding efforts which rely on a different pipeline. To the extent possible and as needed we will continue to provide food to the cross border operation.)
2. MODEST REGULAR PROGRAM FOR FY 87
A.I.D. will propose a modest regular feeding program of 18-22,000 MT for DCC consideration for FY 87. This program will be implemented by a number of Private and Voluntary Organizations (CARE, CRS, SCF, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Missionaries of Charity and, possibly, WVRO). Before 1985 the regular feeding program with CRS was about 12,000 MT. To manage the program we will locate a personal services contractor who would be in place in Addis Ababa by March of 1987. The full A.I.D. mission will close at that time and the current United State Direct Hire (USDH) staff will not be replaced. Monitoring from our regional office in Nairobi will continue.
On developmental grounds, there is little justification for any regular program. The proposed program will achieve modest recovery and humanitarian objectives. It will allow PVOs to move away from emergency feeding and will serve other U.S. interests by enabling A.I.D. and Embassy staff to travel throughout Ethiopia to monitor the situation.
Under our proposal, all of the organizations, except CRS, are getting close to what they want. The CRS request for FY 87 was 28,000 MT. We propose they receive 6,000 MT, about half of the current regular program they have in Ethiopia this year. If they are the cooperating sponsor for Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity, CRS would also receive an additional 3,000 MT.
For their regular Title II programs, sponsoring agencies have traditionally paid internal transport charges. Some of the agencies consider [Page 681] ing programs within this framework have indicated an unwillingness to bear such costs in Ethiopia. Legislative prohibitions limit our flexibility on this issue. Therefore, those agencies unwilling to accept the internal transport burden can not participate in a regular program. There would be corresponding reductions in the level of the program.
We will monitor the situation. If there is a need to revise this strategy we will advise your staff.