UNHCR/ACCRA READOUT ON POSSIBLE P-2 GROUP IN GUINEA

UNCLAS ACCRA 000719

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM, GENEVA FOR RMA, ABIDJAN AND NAIROBI FOR
REFCOORDS, ROME FOR INS, CONAKRY FOR RIOS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GV IO PREF
SUBJECT: UNHCR/ACCRA READOUT ON POSSIBLE P-2 GROUP IN GUINEA


(U) 1. Summary: UNHCR/Accra officer Catherine Hammon
provided a read-out on her recent trip to Guinea to assess
refugee groups on possible resettlement needs. Hammon was
positive that some 600 refugees from both Conakry and Dabola
could be categorized and identified clearly as a Priority 2
group for referral to the USG. While hard-file case review
would need to be conducted due to shortcomings in
registration efforts, if given the proper attention, UNHCR
could work speedily to identify the group for resettlement.
USG support for this effort is encouraged in order to not
only help this group in need but also to strengthen the
legitimacy of UNHCR/Accra's regional resettlement role in
West Africa. End summary.

(U) 2. Regional Refugee Coordinator for Admissions met
with Catherine Hammon and Peter Trotter of UNHCR/Accra's
regional resettlement division to discuss findings from
Hammon's recent mission to Guinea. The purpose of Hammon's
trip was to assess the potential for identifying groups in
the country for third country resettlement. Hammon focused on
Liberian refugees who had been multiply displaced within
Sierra Leone and Guinea. Hammon determined that some 200
were living in Conakry while another 400 resided in Dabola.

(U) 3. The 200 Liberian refugees in Conakry have been
through a registration but the electronic data gathered on
them by UNHCR is minimal. Since UNHCR sees the condition of
quote multiply displaced end quote as the identifier in
recognizing these refugees as a set group it is imperative to
research hard copy files to determine the extent to which
they were displaced.

(U) 4. The 400 Liberian refugees in Dabola have also been
through a registration and once again, the electronic data
gathered is minimal. Hammon believes the actual number of
refugees in this group might be smaller than the commonly
accepted figure of 650, as some may have registered twice in
hopes of getting additional ration cards. As a result,
Hammon has asked the UNHCR officer in Dabola to conduct an
informal information gathering exercise of the Liberians in
the camp to determine actual numbers and history of flight.
Hammon stressed that the exercise was not/not conducted in a
manner that would indicate an interest by UNHCR in eventual
resettlement of the population. While the totals are not in,
Hammon expects the number of 650 to reduce to approximately
400 who would meet the definition of multiply displaced.

(U) 5. Since the UNHCR database for both groups does not
capture the origin of displacement, Hammon feels it would be
necessary to cross-reference hard copy files that are being
stored in Conakry. In addition, she feels that
UNHCR/Freetown could be called upon to assist as well since
it maintains some old documents on this caseload from when it
was in Sierra Leone. Acknowledging that it could be a
tedious task, Hammon nevertheless is optimistic that the
necessary information could be gathered within a couple
months.

(U) 6. Comment: Hammon's assessment mission to Guinea is
the first in hopefully more missions to come from
UNHCR/Accra's regional resettlement office. Indeed, this is
the signal that needs to be sent out indicating a tangible
change in UNHCR thinking on resettlement in the region.
While the population is not necessarily large in comparison
to past P-2 groups, it is important that the USG support this
effort in order to not only assist this needy group but to
further legitimize UNHCR/Accra's role in the region and
capitalize on the momentum set for identifying P-2 groups in

W. Africa. End comment.
YATES