Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1115
2006-05-11 14:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

UN U/SG EGELAND: HUMANITARIAN SECURITY, ACCESS,

Tags:  PREL KPKO PREF EAID AU UN SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1463
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1115/01 1311430
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111430Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2738
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 001115 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/SPG, AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO PREF EAID AU UN SU
SUBJECT: UN U/SG EGELAND: HUMANITARIAN SECURITY, ACCESS,
AND RESOURCES AT RISK

REF: A. KHARTOUM 00840


B. KHARTOUM 00825

Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 001115

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/SPG, AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO PREF EAID AU UN SU
SUBJECT: UN U/SG EGELAND: HUMANITARIAN SECURITY, ACCESS,
AND RESOURCES AT RISK

REF: A. KHARTOUM 00840


B. KHARTOUM 00825

Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: During a May 9 briefing of the diplomatic
community, UN U/SG for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland said
that his visit to Darfur had demonstrated the importance of
addressing the challenges that threaten the well being of its
people: restrictions on humanitarian access, worsening
security conditions, and dwindling resources. He said that
he would continue to appeal for additional resources, and
would target those who had so far not participated: China,
Russia, and the Middle East. Diplomats challenged the UN to
acknowledge their considerable contributions, and to provide
specific information that would aid in obtaining further aid
commitments. They also argued that the Sudanese Government
needed to be brought to task for rendering assistance in
Darfur so difficult. Charge Hume noted President Bush's
personal interest in Darfur, and the dispatch of four vessels
of additional food for Darfur. He also pointed out that the
USG's primary interest in Sudan was humanitarian concern.
End summary.

-------------- --------------
UN U/SG Egeland: Post-Abuja Year Crucial for Sudan
-------------- --------------


2. (C) In a briefing with the diplomatic community on May 9,
UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan
Egeland said the coming year would be crucial for Sudan in
the post-Abuja peace talks time frame. Unlike his ill-fated
attempt to visit Darfur in early April (reftels),he said
that this visit had gone well, with visits to both Geraida
and Nyala in South Darfur. Egeland said he had met with
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Kosti Manibe, NGOs, and UN
offices, and planned to see Vice President Taha later the
same day.

--------------
Geraida: Attacks Spark Massive Displacements
--------------


3. (C) Geraida is marked by massive displacements, Egeland
said, and is full of spontaneous settlements encompassing

perhaps 90,000 ) 100,000 people. More than one-half of them
are new; he said he had spoken to several recent arrivals and
found their accounts of militia attacks with helicopter
gunships and Antanov aircraft, with bombings in Joghana, to
be consistent and unrehearsed.

-------------- --------------
Security Concerns: Humanitarian Access Decreasing
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Egeland said that he was concerned about the growing
problem of humanitarian access; alluding to the growing
number of areas of no access. OXFAM, IRC, and others are
doing good work, he noted, although the basic services
offered an inadequate for the population. Although there is
not malnutrition or rampant disease, the spiraling security
crisis could easily lead to a humanitarian crisis. Darfur
does not present a neutral scenario; it is bad and getting
worse. There is less unity of command and control of forces,
with a lack of clarity as to who is instigating attacks )
bandits, splinter groups, etc. Both the number of areas with
no access or intermittent access is increasing. NGOs are
retreating, as many parts of Darfur are potentially "free
fire" zones, which may force them to leave. Darfur, however,
does not present alternative coping mechanisms, and cannot
provide for the needs of its people in the absence of the
NGOS.

-------------- --------------
Kalma IDP Camp: Protests Lead to Violence, Death
-------------- --------------


5. (C) The previous day's riots, which resulted in the death
of an African Union interpreter, injuries to several AU
civilian police, and extensive AU property damage, were
examples of how dangerous and difficult it is to work in
Darfur, Egeland said. He noted the signs of protesters,
which said "Welcome UN, U.S.," "No to AMIS," "No to Abuja
Peace Agreement," and We Demand Compensation." He said that
there was no sign of a clash until he left after meeting with
NGO and sheikhs. The OXFAM Director asked what the people
were shouting. The interpreter apparently said the crowd was
yelling things against the government and President Bashir,
but the crowd seemed to hear the opposite in his translation.
One screamed that the interpreter was a jinjaweed, where

KHARTOUM 00001115 002 OF 003


they beat him with sticks. He was dragged into the CNN
vehicle. By this time, however, Egeland had left the area,
and learned that the mob subsequently went to the AU civilian
police station and destroyed it, stealing the contents. He
said the crowd had beaten to death the interpreter for no
reason. He added that a spontaneous follow-up event
similarly occurred in Zalingei. The African Union Mission in
Sudan (AMIS) is in a crisis, and needs to work to restore
security and safety. Joint patrols to include AMIS, police,
and the local populace would be helpful.

--------------
Egeland to Share His Ideas with VP Taha
--------------


6. (C) Egeland said he had several ideas that he planned to
share later that day with Vice President Taha:

-- Humanitarian services are on the brink of being lost due
to poor security. In El Geneina area alone, eight of last
month's 25 security incidents were considered serious. The
UN cannot carry out its functions without NGOs. The Sudanese
Government has no excuse; its responsibility includes
providing basic security. The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)
must provide it in its areas of control. His message to the
SLA was to stop hijacking UN and NGO vehicles; to do so makes
the SLA as bad as the jinjaweed.

-- Humanitarian access suffers due to bureaucracy. Egeland
described the current situation as a return to the conditions
of 2004. NGOs find it hard to bet visas; furthermore, stay
permits are valid for a mere three months. The moratorium on
NGO restrictions will last only until the end of January

2007.

-- Kalma IDP Camp needs a competent coordinator. He said
that he had had a difficult meeting with the deputy wali of
South Darfur, even though he had tried to point out the
symbolic importance of having a camp coordinator in place.
If the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) could be kicked out,
any other NGO could be. Their presence "might" have helped
prevent the May 8 riots. He encouraged donors to ask the UN
to restore the NRC. He said it was possible that the NRC
might be reinstated with less authority. AMIS, the sheikhs,
and the police must, however, ensure camp security.

-- Humanitarian resources are at risk. Food rations are now
cut in half, and will be until October. The Sudanese
Government should be encouraged to release stored food from
strategic reserves. He commended the "positive signal" sent
by President Bush in announcing that five food-laden ships
were en route to Sudan. The food dilemma will not be
resolved immediately; it will raise tensions. Egeland said
that he would tap into the $20 million Central Emergency
response Fund to address displacements in Darfur. This fund,
for new, sudden emergencies,


7. (C) Egeland reiterated that his message for Vice President
Taha would be that his primary concerns in Darfur were
humanitarian restrictions, access, security, and resources.
He added that he hoped "diplomatic efforts would widen," and
that China, Russia, and the Middle East would contribute as
the nations represented at the briefing, saying, "You are our
main proponents."
--------------
Egeland Takes Questions: Donors Sound Off
--------------


8. (C) The British Ambassador noted that Egeland had
mentioned the importance of a partnership with the UN. He
said that reduced humanitarian space was threatened by the
NRC expulsion order, with hundreds of thousands of IDPs
bearing the consequences. He said that the current
government has a different structure than it did in 2004, and
that the Humanitarian Aid Commission had many National
Intelligence and Security Services officials working in it,
and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, an SPLM member, was
weak. It is important to stop problems as they "come down
the track," to cut through the bureaucracy and get to the
heart of difficulties ) the National Congress Party, which
leads the government. The donors will work with the UN, he
said, but the UN must work with the donors.


9. (C) The Dutch Ambassador said that the UN needed to build
up support for further donations. The need is "abstract" to
many, and donors remain ready to intervene. Although donors
need to meet their pledges, the UN seemed to accuse the
donors of being at fault. The UN should be precise, and
provide specific advice on that is needed and how food gaps
can be met. Many donors, particularly those present, have

KHARTOUM 00001115 003 OF 003


contributed much. Their efforts should be recognized, and
those who have not come forward should be targeted to provide
assistance by the UN.


10. (C) The French Ambassador agreed that a "closer
partnership was needed." She said that EU donors had
recently met with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to
discuss the impact of the new Voluntary and Humanitarian Work
on NGO operations. She noted that a study of the cost of
money going to the Humanitarian Aid Coordinator through visas
and various permits would illustrate what a considerable sum
of money is being diverted from services.

11. (C) Charge Hume said that President Bush had taken a
personal interest in Darfur, and had ensured that four
vessels were dispatched to transport more food to Sudan. He
recalled that in meetings with Vice President Taha, he would
consistently note that the U.S. Government's primary interest
in Sudan was humanitarian concern. Visa problems and
harassment of NGOs are detrimental to that objective.
Although we are better off with a peace agreement in hand
than without one, it in of itself will not make the conflict
go away. The two rebel groups that had so far not agreed to
sign the peace agreement were not benefiting from strong
leadership. During his eight weeks in Abuja at the peace
talks, no one asked about the security situation on the
ground in Darfur; yet all wanted guarantees of peace.
Despite their rhetoric, they were not focused on what actual
steps it would take to create a climate of security.


12. (C) USAID Mission Director Ahlmquist noted that there was
vegetable oil coming to Sudan from Dubai, with an additional
1,000 metric tons of sorghum coming in June. WFP/Rome is
conducting an analysis of the effectiveness of the food
pipeline, which should help streamline the complex process.



13. (C) A participant asked about the earnestness of the
Sudanese Government, as noted by the Humanitarian Aid
Coordinator's absence at three meetings. He also noted the
Government's growing fund reserves, wondering why the
Government did not purchase food commercially to meet the
needs of its citizenry. More pressure is needed on the
Sudanese Government, he concluded.

14. (C) The Japanese Ambassador asked about the Darfur-Darfur
Dialogue process, as detailed in the Darfur Peace Agreement.
Egeland said he long for a "piece of paper that would bring
peace on the ground." He said UN Special Representative Jan
Pronk was in Darfur working on the means to implement the
accord. Anchoring peace is a long process, he added, with
the alternative "one hundred times worse."


15. (C) Egeland closed with an admission that the concerns he
raised were well known to the diplomatic community; at the
same time, he argued that it was in his "job description" to
appeal continuously for resources. He said he would keep
pushing for "energy" among donors as well as ongoing
contributions.
HUME