Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN3980
2003-07-01 13:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
SECURITY EVALUATIONS OF REFUGEE PROCESSING SITES
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 011330Z Jul 03
UNCLAS AMMAN 003980
SIPDIS
CAIRO FOR REFCORD
DEPT FOR PRM/A
DHS FOR BCIS
ROME FOR DHS DISTRICT DIRECTOR
ATHENS FOR DHS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF ASEC AMGT JO
SUBJECT: SECURITY EVALUATIONS OF REFUGEE PROCESSING SITES
REF: (A) CAIRO 03592; (B) SECSTATE 202708; (C) AMMAN 5629
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS KEYED TO QUESTIONS IN REFTEL.
INTERVIEW SITE: REFUGEE INTERVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED AT UNHCR,
AMMAN, WHICH IS LOCATED IN A DIPLOMATIC RESIDENTIAL AREA IN
DEIR GHBAR - WEST AMMAN, THEIR NEW LOCATION. THE UNHCR
BUILDING, A TOTAL OF 2,900 SQUARE METERS, CONSISTS OF FIVE
FLOORS, WITH TWO FLATS TO EACH FLOOR THAT OPEN WITH A
SECURITY ACCESS CARD, PLUS A BASEMENT, WHICH IS USED AS THE
REFUGEE WAITING ROOM AND HAS THE REFUGEE INTERVIEW ROOMS.
THE UNHCR BAGHDAD STAFF WILL USE ONE FLOOR TEMPORARILY AS A
TRANSIT OFFICE. A HEAVY WOODEN DOOR, WITH A BUZZER THAT IS
CONNECTED TO A GUARD'S POST, SEPARATES THE REFUGEE WAITING
ROOM FROM THE INTERVIEW ROOMS. A METAL DOOR SEPARATES THE
REFUGEE WAITING ROOM FROM THE STAIRWELL LEADING TO THE
OFFICES UPSTAIRS. EACH OF THE INTERVIEW ROOMS THAT ARE
LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT HAS A METAL DOOR THAT LEADS TO THE
OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING FOR EMERGENCY EGRESS.
UNHCR HIRED A LOCAL SECURITY FIRM WHOSE STAFF IS PRIMARILY
COMPOSED OF RETIRED PERSONNEL FROM THE GOJ MILITARY.
ADDITIONALY, A CLEANING COMPANY IS ALSO USED WITHIN UNHCR
WHOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE HAD BACKGROUND CHECKS CONDUCTED PRIOR
TO EMPLOYMENT. THERE ARE TWO SECURITY GUARDS ON DUTY 7 DAYS
A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY WHO MONITOR THE FACILITY AND SCREEN
ALL THE REFUGEES WHO ENTER THE PREMISES. ADDITIONALY, THERE
ARE TWO SECURITY GUARDS, LOCATED INSIDE THE REFUGEE WAITING
ROOM DURING BUSINESS HOURS, ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE. ALL
REFUGEES ARE SEARCHED UPON ENTERING THE WAITING ROOM. ALL
REFUGEES ARE SEARCHED WITH A METAL DETECTOR AND THEIR BAGS
ARE SEARCHED AND KEPT IN A LOCKED CABINET. ALSO, CELLULAR
PHONES ARE SWITCHED OFF AND KEPT IN A LOCKED CABINET. THERE
IS A STATIC POLICE POST OUTSIDE THE PREMISES. GOJ SECURITY
SERVICES ALSO PATROL THE AREA.
UNCHR REPORTS THAT A HIGH FENCE, WITH BARBED WIRE, WILL BE
INSTALLED AROUND THE BUILDING. THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING
IS SECURED WITH AN ALARM SYSTEM THAT IS CONNECTED TO AN
ALARM MONITORING COMPANY. PANIC ALARMS ARE ALSO LOCATED
WITHIN THE FACILITY. FIRE SPRINKLERS AND SMOKE DETECTORS
WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. FIRE EXITS ARE LOCATED ON THE
GROUND FLOOR AND BASEMENT. EMBASSY REFUGEE PROCESSING STAFF
CONDUCT THEIR DHS PRE SCREEN INTERVIEWS AT UNHCR AND USE
EMBASSY VEHICLES FOR TRAVEL TO UNHCR. THE DHS OFFICER IS
AUTHORIZED TO USE A UNHCR CAR AND DRIVER.
COMMUNICATION: THE FACILITY USES TELEPHONES AND CELL PHONES
FOR ALL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION. THE EQUIVALENT OF 911 IN
JORDAN IS 191 FOR AN EMERGENCY. THE NEAREST HOSPITAL IS
ABOUT 5 MINUTES AWAY, AS IS THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. IN
THE EVENT AN OFFICER IS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
HE/SHE SHOULD CALL POST'S MARINE SECURITY GUARD (POST
ONE)AND/OR THE RSO'S OFFICE. THE MINIMUM RESPONSE TIME TO
AN EMERGENCY WOULD BE ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES.
GNEHM
SIPDIS
CAIRO FOR REFCORD
DEPT FOR PRM/A
DHS FOR BCIS
ROME FOR DHS DISTRICT DIRECTOR
ATHENS FOR DHS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF ASEC AMGT JO
SUBJECT: SECURITY EVALUATIONS OF REFUGEE PROCESSING SITES
REF: (A) CAIRO 03592; (B) SECSTATE 202708; (C) AMMAN 5629
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS KEYED TO QUESTIONS IN REFTEL.
INTERVIEW SITE: REFUGEE INTERVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED AT UNHCR,
AMMAN, WHICH IS LOCATED IN A DIPLOMATIC RESIDENTIAL AREA IN
DEIR GHBAR - WEST AMMAN, THEIR NEW LOCATION. THE UNHCR
BUILDING, A TOTAL OF 2,900 SQUARE METERS, CONSISTS OF FIVE
FLOORS, WITH TWO FLATS TO EACH FLOOR THAT OPEN WITH A
SECURITY ACCESS CARD, PLUS A BASEMENT, WHICH IS USED AS THE
REFUGEE WAITING ROOM AND HAS THE REFUGEE INTERVIEW ROOMS.
THE UNHCR BAGHDAD STAFF WILL USE ONE FLOOR TEMPORARILY AS A
TRANSIT OFFICE. A HEAVY WOODEN DOOR, WITH A BUZZER THAT IS
CONNECTED TO A GUARD'S POST, SEPARATES THE REFUGEE WAITING
ROOM FROM THE INTERVIEW ROOMS. A METAL DOOR SEPARATES THE
REFUGEE WAITING ROOM FROM THE STAIRWELL LEADING TO THE
OFFICES UPSTAIRS. EACH OF THE INTERVIEW ROOMS THAT ARE
LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT HAS A METAL DOOR THAT LEADS TO THE
OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING FOR EMERGENCY EGRESS.
UNHCR HIRED A LOCAL SECURITY FIRM WHOSE STAFF IS PRIMARILY
COMPOSED OF RETIRED PERSONNEL FROM THE GOJ MILITARY.
ADDITIONALY, A CLEANING COMPANY IS ALSO USED WITHIN UNHCR
WHOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE HAD BACKGROUND CHECKS CONDUCTED PRIOR
TO EMPLOYMENT. THERE ARE TWO SECURITY GUARDS ON DUTY 7 DAYS
A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY WHO MONITOR THE FACILITY AND SCREEN
ALL THE REFUGEES WHO ENTER THE PREMISES. ADDITIONALY, THERE
ARE TWO SECURITY GUARDS, LOCATED INSIDE THE REFUGEE WAITING
ROOM DURING BUSINESS HOURS, ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE. ALL
REFUGEES ARE SEARCHED UPON ENTERING THE WAITING ROOM. ALL
REFUGEES ARE SEARCHED WITH A METAL DETECTOR AND THEIR BAGS
ARE SEARCHED AND KEPT IN A LOCKED CABINET. ALSO, CELLULAR
PHONES ARE SWITCHED OFF AND KEPT IN A LOCKED CABINET. THERE
IS A STATIC POLICE POST OUTSIDE THE PREMISES. GOJ SECURITY
SERVICES ALSO PATROL THE AREA.
UNCHR REPORTS THAT A HIGH FENCE, WITH BARBED WIRE, WILL BE
INSTALLED AROUND THE BUILDING. THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING
IS SECURED WITH AN ALARM SYSTEM THAT IS CONNECTED TO AN
ALARM MONITORING COMPANY. PANIC ALARMS ARE ALSO LOCATED
WITHIN THE FACILITY. FIRE SPRINKLERS AND SMOKE DETECTORS
WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. FIRE EXITS ARE LOCATED ON THE
GROUND FLOOR AND BASEMENT. EMBASSY REFUGEE PROCESSING STAFF
CONDUCT THEIR DHS PRE SCREEN INTERVIEWS AT UNHCR AND USE
EMBASSY VEHICLES FOR TRAVEL TO UNHCR. THE DHS OFFICER IS
AUTHORIZED TO USE A UNHCR CAR AND DRIVER.
COMMUNICATION: THE FACILITY USES TELEPHONES AND CELL PHONES
FOR ALL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION. THE EQUIVALENT OF 911 IN
JORDAN IS 191 FOR AN EMERGENCY. THE NEAREST HOSPITAL IS
ABOUT 5 MINUTES AWAY, AS IS THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. IN
THE EVENT AN OFFICER IS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
HE/SHE SHOULD CALL POST'S MARINE SECURITY GUARD (POST
ONE)AND/OR THE RSO'S OFFICE. THE MINIMUM RESPONSE TIME TO
AN EMERGENCY WOULD BE ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES.
GNEHM