Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM2643
2006-11-08 16:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

DARFUR: NRC TO CLOSE PROGRAM IN SOUTH

Tags:  PREF PGOV PHUM PREL SU UN NO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2643/01 3121625
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O 081625Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5170
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002643 

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DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG AND AF/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL SU UN NO
SUBJECT: DARFUR: NRC TO CLOSE PROGRAM IN SOUTH


Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002643

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DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG AND AF/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL SU UN NO
SUBJECT: DARFUR: NRC TO CLOSE PROGRAM IN SOUTH


Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) will publicly
announce the closure of its operations in South Darfur on
November 8. In a meeting with Embassy staff prior to the
announcement, NRC Country Director Lotte Grauballe said that
operations have been suspended five times in the last two
years after the Sudanese government had barred access to
camps without explanation. NRC coordinates basic services
for approximately 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs)
in several camps in South Darfur in addition to monitoring
the human rights situation, work that Grauballe asserted is
not being done effectively by the United Nations Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The NRC
will lay-off 185 staff members as part of the closure,
including 170 Sudanese nationals. Grauballe said that the
NRC would not resume operations unless the Sudanese
government agreed to specific written conditions that would
allow the organization to fulfill its mandate.


2. (C) The NRC hopes its closure in South Darfur will draw
greater attention to the Sudanese government's increasing
efforts to limit international access to IDP camps in the
region. "We are conceding defeat now but not conceding the
war," said Grauballe. She added that international
organizations were "scared and tired" as a result of
government harassment, and she doubted that they would
express any solidarity with NRC's position. Grauballe also
warned that the Sudanese government may use ongoing janjaweed
attacks as a pretext to construct permanent housing units in
Otash camp near Nyala, in effect resettling the IDPs from
their original areas.


3. (SBU) On November 6, NRC Secretary General Tomas Colin
Archer sent an impassioned letter to Minister of Humanitarian
Affairs Kosti Manibe, which detailed Sudanese obstructionism
and announced the NRC's closure. The text of the letter is
as follows:

(Begin text)

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs

Hon. Kosti Manibe
Khartoum
Sudan

c.c. Humanitarian Special Representative of the Secretary
General, Mr. Manuel Aranda Da Silva
Ambassador of Norway, Mr. Fridtjov Thorkildsen

Oslo, 6th November 2006

Re: NRC's presence in South Darfur

Dear Sir,

As you are well aware, the humanitarian work of the Norwegian
Refugee Council (NRC) in South Darfur has been suspended
since 3rd September 2006.

Since NRC started its humanitarian programme in South Darfur
in mid 2004, our activities have been suspended by the
authorities no less than five times. In total, NRC's
humanitarian work has been suspended for 210 days during this
period. No explanation has been provided by the authorities,
clarifying why NRC is suspended.

On each occasion, NRC has sought a dialogue with the
responsible authorities, both in Nyala and in Khartoum. We
have also reiterated our commitment to carry on with the
humanitarian work in the State. Recognising that NRC works
in South Darfur at the invitation of the Government of Sudan,
NRC have done all in our power to maintain the best of
relations with the Sudanese authorities.

On 19th and 21st October, 2006, respectively, I held meetings
with the Deputy Governor of South Darfur, his Excellency the
State Minister for Khartoum, and the Commissioner of HAC.
These meetings were cordial and fruitful.

The main outcome of the meetings was that NRC was promised a
clear communication from the Sudanese authorities regarding
the future status of NRC's humanitarian work in South Darfur
no later than one week after Eid.

However, since my return to Norway, there has been no
reciprocation by the authorities at any level to my request
for dialogue concerning the underlying reasons for the
continuous suspension of NRC activities. Today, more than
one week has passed since Eid, and despite the reassurances

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from the State Minister for Khartoum, I have not received the
expected communication regarding NRC's future status in South
Darfur.

What has been brought to my attention since my departure from
Khartoum is the fact that NRC has now also been denied access
to Otash camp near Nyala, despite having been invited by the
authorities to respond to the pressing humanitarian needs in
this camp.

The current working conditions accorded to NRC in South
Darfur are not conducive. The frequent disruption of our
humanitarian work, resulting in important resources lying
idle for months on end, will force NRC to pull out of South
Darfur.

In the absence of clear communication from the Sudanese
authorities, I have instructed our country Director in Sudan
to start preparations for the closure of NRC's programme in
South Darfur.

Having repeatedly stressed that NRC is prepared to enter into
dialogue with the Sudanese authorities regarding the
resumption of our humanitarian work in South Darfur, this
decision has been the most difficult I have had to make as
Secretary General of NRC because we are all aware that the

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humanitarian needs are greater than ever in South Darfur.

Your sincerely,
Norwegian Refugee Council
Tomas Colin Archer
Secretary General

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(End text)
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