KING ABDULLAH HALTS PLAN TO CLOSE RUWEISHED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002042

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM AND NEA
BAGHDAD AND CAIRO FOR REFCOORDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL KPAL IZ JO
SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH HALTS PLAN TO CLOSE RUWEISHED
REFUGEE CAMP

REF: A. AMMAN 297

B. 03 AMMAN 5550

C. 03 AMMAN 7798

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
.


1. (C) SUMMARY: King Abdullah has put a halt to GOJ
planning to transfer refugees from UNHCR's Jordan-Iraq camps
to another site in the "no-man's-land." An additional 53
Iranian Kurds formerly resident at the UNHCR camp near
Ramadi, inside Iraq, arrived at the Jordan-Iraq border last
week, bringing the total population of Iranian refugees
seeking aslyum in Jordan to 190. END SUMMARY.



2. (C) The King has put a halt to a GOJ plan to close
UNHCR's two Iraq refugee border camps. The first is located
at Ruweished, inside Jordan ("Camp A" aka "Ruweished camp")
and the second is between the Jordan and Iraq checkpoints at
the Karama-Trebil crossing (the so-called No-Man's Land
camp). During meetings with UNHCR's Jordan and Iraq
missions, UNHCR Jordan Representative Sten Bronee told
visiting PRM/ANE officers February 24 that he had heard that
the GOJ intended to close Ruweished camp and No-Man's Land
camp, which the international community established in 2003
to assist refugees fleeing Iraq, and move the 879 remaining
refugees to a new camp that Jordan would establish at a more
isolated location within the Iraq-Jordan no-man's-land 72- km
south of the Karama-Trebil crossing. Prince Rashid, who
heads the Jordanian humanitarian organization that provides
camp management and health services for UNHCR at the border,
confirmed the GOJ's intent in separate meetings later that
day. He explained that the implementation plan was the same
one that Jordanian border officials had proposed after
suicide car bombers targeted U.S. and Jordanian security
installations located near the No Man's Land camp in December
(ref A).


3. (C) Rashid conceded that he had failed to persuade the
GOJ to relocate the No Man's Land camp residents to Ruweished
Camp, or to identify an alternative site where UNHCR could
provide the No Man's Land camp residents the same level of
protection and assistance available at the Ruweished camp,
following the December attack. He predicted that Interior
Minister Samir Habashneh would move quickly to consolidate
the Ruweished and No Man's Land camp residents at the new
site on the border, explaining that any action perceived as
creating another long-term refugee population, or setting a
precedent that could encourage additional Palestinians to
enter Jordan, is highly unpopular. COMMENT: Jordan has a
strict policy of local integration of all refugees which is
reflected in its various agreements with UNHCR. Its past
decision to grant nearly all of its Palestinian refugee
population citizenship is tied to its 1948-1967
administration of the West Bank, and is not considered to be
a precedent by the GOJ. This policy has prompted Habashneh
to attempt to close Ruweished repeatedly over the last two
years (refs B-C). END COMMENT.

KING OVERRULES TRANSFER DECISION
--------------


4. (C) However, subsequent USG engagement appears to have
bought a stay for Ruweished camp. In quiet consultations
with Royal Protocol Minister Rifai (strictly protect),Charge
urged Jordan to reconsider its position, noting that
relocating Ruweished residents to locations with clearly
inferior protection conditions within the no-man's-land, or
across the Iraqi border, could amount to a forced return
against international practice that would be damaging to
Jordan's image. He also reminded Rifai that Ruweished was
built with donor funds that are unlikely to be offered to
construct new facilities within the Iraq-Jordan
no-man's-land, and argued that UNHCR and its service
providers should determine whether this location would
provide better protection and assistance conditions for
refugees who are presently at the No Man's Land camp. Rifai
informed the Charge March 7 that he had briefed King Abdullah
of U.S.views, and that the King had instructed the Interior
Minister to halt work on relocating Ruweished camp.


5. (C) COMMENT: Although refcoord's subsequent discussions
with UNHCR Jordan and Hashemite Charitable Organization
patron Prince Rashid suggest the royal decision is being
implemented, pressure to find a solution to the Iraq
war-related caseload could still prompt the GOJ to consider
relocations, particularly as Iranian Kurds formerly resident
in the UNHCR Al Tash camp in Iraq continue to seek entry to
No-Man's-Land camp. UNHCR Jordan believes an additional 53
refugees arrived this week, bringing the total number of
Iranian Kurds living between the Jordan and Iraq border posts
to 190. Moving forward with efforts to secure permanent
settlement solutions will be key to continued GOJ patience.
In order to preserve our influence over the GOJ on these
matters, post requests that reference, even in private, not
be made to a U.S. role in reversing Jordanian plans.


6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.

HALE