SUDAN REFUGEES: UNHCR MEETS DEADLINE, BUT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000480

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR PRM/A, PRM/AFR, PRM/ANE, PRM/MCE, NEA/ELA, AND AF
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL ASEC CVIS EG SU UNHCR
SUBJECT: SUDAN REFUGEES: UNHCR MEETS DEADLINE, BUT
OVERWHELMED WITH NEW REGISTRANTS


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY

Reference: Cairo 268
Cairo 170
Cairo 132
Cairo 58

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) UNHCR has completed its evaluation of the 183
Sudanese asylum seekers still in detention since they were
forcibly evicted from a sit-in in a downtown park last
December 30 and will present its final report to the GOE
tonight. Since it reopened its offices, UNHCR has been
overwhelmed with asylum seekers - many of them hostile -
seeking to register or to replace lost documents. UNHCR
will tell the GOE that it has concluded that approximately
15 of the detainees have valid refugee claims. In addition
it will say that about 20 of those denied have the right to
appeal and UNHCR will ask for another day or two to conduct
these appeals. UNHCR will also ask that none of the
detainees be deported on humanitarian grounds. UNHCR has
investigated the number of fatalities during the December 30
incident and has found no evidence to suggest that more than
27 were killed. MFA has advised UNHCR that the GOE will
conduct an investigation of the incident. End Summary

-------------- --------------
UNHCR will Meet its Deadline But Overwhelmed by Newcomers
-------------- --------------

2 (SBU) UNHCR Cairo's Deputy Representative, Damtew
Dessalegne briefed RefCoord January 26 about the status of
the 183 Sudanese asylum seekers still in detention following
the violent eviction of 2,100 asylum seekers from Mustafa
Mahmoud Park last December 30 following a 14-week sit-in.
UNHCR had been given a deadline of today to carry out
Refugee Status Determinations (RSDs) of these individuals -
all males. Dessalegne reported that since it reopened its
office (which had been closed during the demonstration
leading up to the December 30 incident) it has been
overwhelmed with up to 800 asylum seekers every day seeking
to register as new arrivals or applying for replacement
documents for those lost during the sit-in. Many of the
Sudanese coming to UNHCR are angry and hostile.

-------------- --------------
Only a Few Have Valid Claims - UNHCR Needs Time for Appeals
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Dessalegne reported that UNHCR has completed its
evaluation of all of the detainees and is now analyzing its
findings, which it will convey to the GOE later tonight.
Of the 183 cases reviewed, 130 were "closed files" - those
who had been evaluated and denied some time ago, and about
50 were asylums seekers who had not previously registered
with UNHCR. UNHCR will report to the GOE that among the
first group of old cases it found about four who have valid
refugee claims based on new evidence presented to UNHCR
caseworkers in the last few weeks. Among the second group
of new cases (not previously registered) UNHCR found 10-12
valid claims. Approximately 40 new claims were denied but
have the right to appeal the UNHCR decision. Dessalegne
says UNHCR will ask the GOE for more time (a day or two) to
conduct these appeals.


4. (SBU) UNHCR will also request that none of those
currently in detention be deported on humanitarian grounds -
because of the trauma suffered following the police action
on December 30 and the subsequent detention. Comment:
Since the incident, the GOE has been flexible regarding
deadlines and will probably give UNHCR the additional time
it needs to hear appeals. However, UNHCR's request that no
detainees be deported is a different matter, and it is
difficult to say how the GOE will respond. End comment.

--------------
No Evidence of Additional Fatalities
--------------


5. (SBU). UNHCR has investigated the number of fatalities
during the December 30 incident and has found no evidence to
suggest that more than 27 were killed. MFA has advised
UNHCR that the GOE will conduct an investigation of the
incident.

Ricciardone