Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1002
2006-04-26 15:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

Response to Humanitarian Access Demarche

Tags:  PGOV EAID SOCI UN SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5481
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1002/01 1161548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261548Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2512
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001002 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSIIVE

DEPT FOR AF/SPG
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID SOCI UN SU
SUBJECT: Response to Humanitarian Access Demarche

Ref: a) State 59821, b) Khartoum 00949

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001002

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSIIVE

DEPT FOR AF/SPG
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID SOCI UN SU
SUBJECT: Response to Humanitarian Access Demarche

Ref: a) State 59821, b) Khartoum 00949


1. (SBU) Summary: The GNU maintains that UN agencies in
country continue to operate under their individual
agreements, and do not automatically benefit from UNMIS
status of forces agreement (SOFA) provisions. On the
Voluntary and Humanitarian Work Law, the Government
believes it enforces coordination with Government plans
and ensures that beneficiaries use funds properly.
Regarding the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC),the
Government decided not to renew its appointment as Kalma
Camp Coordinator as it was not meeting its
responsibilities, was carrying out improper information
gathering and political activities, held meetings without
Government involvement, failed to address Government
queries, prevented Government visits to the camp, sided
with partisan elements of the community, provided
unfavorable publicity about rape and human rights abuses
to the media, and was aware that arms and ammunition were
concealed in the camp, but did not report it. End
summary.


2. (SBU) Following sharing Ref A demarche with Minister
of Foreign Affairs Lam Akol, MFA Deputy Director for the
Americas Abd Elghani Elkarim Elnaim, and Humanitarian Aid
Commissioner Hassabo (Ref B),Pol/Econ Chief also
presented it to MFA Deputy Director for Peace and
Humanitarian Affairs Jamal Al-Sher on April 23.

-------------- --------------
Al-Sher: SOFA TBD, Work Law Useful, NRC Role Over
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Having received our talking points in advance,
Amb. Al-Sher made the following points:


A. SOFA: The GNU understands the unified approach under
UNMIS, but maintains that UNSCR 1590 does not cancel
traditional role of country agreements for individual UN
agencies. They are already in place, and UNSCR 1590 does
not cancel these previous agreements. UNMIS serves as UN
coordinator in Sudan; nonetheless, it is to notify the
Sudanese Government and gain its written consent for
changing the identity of UN employees under a unified
identification card scheme. UNMIS is in a temporary role
and it is different; Sudan already granted it immunities.


B. Voluntary and Humanitarian Work Law: this helps both
sides. If the Sudanese Government knows about projects,
it can follow up, and help to implement them. The law
prevents the misuse and illegal use of funds - by
beneficiaries, not by donors. Although Sudan does not
want to interfere, it nonetheless should be involved, at
least to ensure that projects are on course with the
government's plans.


C. NRC: The Government has reviewed the performance of
the NRC, and found that it was not managing Kalma camp
for internally displaced persons (IDPs) well. It held
meetings without inviting the Government's Camp
Administrator, and failed to address inquiries the
government made. Furthermore, it engaged in "gathering
information," with 85 individuals doing so throughout the
camp. The NRC sided with some community leaders over
others, raising tensions. It became a "course of
political information," and prevented officials from
visiting the camp, including the Deputy Wali (governor),
the State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, and the
Director of the Organizations Department of the Ministry
of Humanitarian Affairs. Ammunition and arms were
concealed on the camp "under cover" of the NRC. The NRC
circulated information about rapes and human rights
abuses to the international media to "harm the image of
the Government." The Government had warned the NRC
several times about its activities, and even renewed its
role. Now, at the end of the second renewal, the
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has decided not to renew
it again. Out of 198 NGOs active in Darfur, the NRC
"stands out singularly" as the only one that has problems
that are not solvable.

--------------
Comment
--------------


4. (SBU) This iteration makes it clear the GNU had its
talking points prepared, and would keep repeating them
without considering positively the merits of the issues
raised by the international community.

KHARTOUM 00001002 002 OF 002



STEINFELD