UNHCR ASKS EGYPT TO DELAY DEPORTING SUDANESE

UNCLAS CAIRO 000132

SIPDIS

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DEPT FOR PRM/A, PRM/AFR, PRM/ANE, PRM/MCE
ROME PLEASE PASS TO MFO (LAROCCO)
GENEVA FRO RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SU EG KREF UNHCR
SUBJECT: UNHCR ASKS EGYPT TO DELAY DEPORTING SUDANESE
DETAINEES PENDING REFUGEE DETERMINATIONS

REF: A. CAIRO 58


B. CAIRO 82

Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) The GOE has not yet begun deportation of Sudanese
detainees. Interior Ministry contacts advised on January 8
that the 72 hour grace period given to UNHCR to interview
Sudanese detainees (see Refs A and B) had expired, and the
GOE had not yet determined whether to give UNHCR additional
time to make refugee status determinations on the detainees.
MFA contacts also confirmed that the situation remains under
discussion.


2. (SBU) UNHCR's representative in Cairo Saad al Attar
advised Refcoord that the High Commissioner sent a personal
letter to FM Aboul Gheit on January 6 noting that UNHCR had
screened the 631 Sudanese under GOE detention and asking for
additional time to complete the review of the detainees
status. UNHCR said it has placed the detainees in four
categories:
1) 145 individuals who had registered but lost their
documents when evicted from the park
2) 57 individuals from Darfur who should be protected within
the terms of the 1967 OAU convention
3) 99 vulnerable cases (women and children)
4) 326 individuals who either had been screened (years ago)
and rejected (but nonetheless should have their cases
reviewed) or are unregistered.


3. (SBU) According to Al Attar, UNHCR determined that the
Sudanese in categories one, two and three should be released
and permitted to stay. However making due process refugee
status determinations (including screening/interviews, status
determinations, and appeals) on those in category four would
require at least one month (using approximately 9 lawyers
plus support staff). Al Attar said that UNHCR had offered to
allow the GOE to embed its own personnel in the refugee
status determination teams. As of January 8, the MFA had not
responded to UNHCR's request, but Al Attar said he believes
the GOE will agree to allow UNHCR more time to make the
refugee status determinations and will not begin deportations
in the immediate future.

RICCIARDONE