LETTER FROM REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SYG ON THE HUMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 002101

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA
USUN FOR EDWARD MALY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF UNHRC
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SYG ON THE HUMAN
RIGHTS OF IDPS REGARDING HURRICANE KATRINA



1. Mission received the following communication from Walter
Kalin, Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human
Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, regarding the
situation in the United States in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina. This communication has been forwarded to IO/SHA
via e-mail and is number 29 on the Geneva 2005
Communications Log.


2. Begin text of letter:

REFERENCE: G/SO 214 (26-14)/PO

2 September 2005

Excellency,

Allow me, both personally and in my capacity as
Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on
the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, to extend
my sincere condolences to your Government for the deaths and
physical destruction suffered in New Orleans and surrounding
areas of Louisiana and Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina.

I take this opportunity further to the mandate entrusted to
me by the Commission on Human Rights in Resolution 2004/55
to engage in advocacy for improving protection and respect
of the human rights of the internally displaced and to
continue and enhance dialogues with Governments, to express
my concern over the current situation in a number of
respects. The displacement of up to half a million persons
and the deaths of thousands would pose vast challenges for
any Government to address; a number of the current
circumstances could not readily have been foreseen and
planned for in advance and emergency responses take time to
be fully geared up.

Bearing these factors in mind, I wish to communicate to you
through this channel my concern in four main areas. Firstly,
particularly in New Orleans, consistent media reports have
indicated an exacerbated situation of physical insecurity
for many thousands of people. Numerous cases of physical
attacks, including rapes, and threats thereof are understood
to have occurred in a situation of lawlessness and hostility
exceeding the powers of law enforcement authorities
currently to control. Persons in states of heightened
vulnerability due to deprivation of food, water and, in some
cases, essential medicine are at heightened risk in these
circumstances. I therefore am sure you will agree that as a
matter of utmost priority the deployment of sufficient law
enforcement personnel is needed to assure the physical
safety of those currently in New Orleans.

Secondly, the slow pace with which essentials of food, water
and basic medicines have reached hurricane-affected
populations, notably in New Orleans, is a matter of concern.
In particular, in situations of mass accommodation such as
the Superdome stadium where the overall numbers of persons
and corresponding needs can be readily ascertained, the
provision of such supplies takes on a critical dimension.

Thirdly, I encourage your Government in framing its response
to the current disaster to take particular account of
vulnerable groups. In the present situation, those have been
shown to be, in particular, the poor, the elderly and those
without medical or property insurance. I trust that the
policies formulated will have as a particular priority a
focus on the human rights and individual needs of persons in
these categories and their corresponding vulnerabilities.

Finally, given the large scale displacement of people to
other parts of the States affected and further afield within
the country, it is important that your Government once
beyond the initial phase of emergency relief develop a
comprehensive plan for the support and return of these
persons to their places of habitual residence as soon as
possible. It is of particular importance that such people,
far from their homes, be kept informed about the efforts
planned and undertaken, and be included in the formulation
of policies affecting both them and their areas of former
residence.

In my visits to numerous countries as Representative of the
Secretary-General, I have found the Guiding Principles on

SIPDIS
Internal Displacement to be a useful tool for Governments at
all levels, federal, State and local, in identifying the
needs of displaced persons and in formulating policies
attuned to the human rights of these people. By way of
offering practical guidance to policymakers and those
executing emergency responses, the Principles have shown
their value in situations of natural disaster as well as
armed conflict. I would therefore also commend them to your
Government in developing the response to the current
situation.

I stand ready to engage further with your Government on
these pressing issues and offer my every support to the
efforts at all levels that are being taken to safeguard the
human rights of those affected by the current catastrophe.

Yours sincerely,

Walter Kalin
Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights
of Internally Displaced Persons

End text of letter.

BIGELOW