Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM2894
2006-12-22 13:34:00
SECRET
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

DARFUR: NGO PRESENCE UNDER THREAT - CORRECTED COPY

Tags:  EAID PGOV PREF PHUM PREL KCRM ICRC UN SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2638
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2894/01 3561334
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 221334Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5636
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 002894 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND PRM
DEPT PLS PASS TO USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM AND AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND USAID/REDSO
GENEVA FOR N KYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR MARCHAM, MAGAN, AND SHORTLEY
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
USUN FOR MALY
BRUSSELS FOR LERNER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREF PHUM PREL KCRM ICRC UN SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR: NGO PRESENCE UNDER THREAT - CORRECTED COPY

REF: A. KHARTOUM 02876

B. KHARTOUM 02877

C. KHARTOUM 02813 (NOTAL)

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

(Note: Corrected copy to reflect proper classification)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 002894

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND PRM
DEPT PLS PASS TO USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM AND AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND USAID/REDSO
GENEVA FOR N KYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR MARCHAM, MAGAN, AND SHORTLEY
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
USUN FOR MALY
BRUSSELS FOR LERNER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREF PHUM PREL KCRM ICRC UN SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR: NGO PRESENCE UNDER THREAT - CORRECTED COPY

REF: A. KHARTOUM 02876

B. KHARTOUM 02877

C. KHARTOUM 02813 (NOTAL)

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

(Note: Corrected copy to reflect proper classification)


1. (U) This is an action request: see para 11.

2. (C) Summary: Humanitarian conditions have declined
markedly in the past few months, with several recent events,
particularly in the Gereida area, representing a new
threshold in what appears to be a concerted effort to chase
NGOs out of Darfur. Incidents include a rape, car-jackings,
theft of communications and computer equipment,
interrogations, and forced relocations; this combination
spells disaster for the hundreds of thousand of Darfurians
who depend upon the humanitarian community for essential
services and goods. End summary.

-------------- --------------
NGOs Operating Under Increasingly Harsh Conditions
-------------- --------------


3. (C) A variety of occurrences over the past three months
underscores the tenuous security environment faced by
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Darfur.
The nature of the events and their severity are increasing;
the potential for further deterioration during the holiday
season put NGOs at increased risk. This is particularly true
in the Gereida area of South Darfur, a town along the
strategic Nyala ) Buram road that has seen ongoing conflict
for more than two years between tribal militias, rebel
groups, Sudan Armed Forces, Popular Defense Forces (PDF),and
Janjaweed.


4. (C) Several recent events reflect this trend (Refs A and
B):


-- The rape, apparently designed to send a brutal warning to
international humanitarian workers, of an Action Contre la
Faim (ACF) expatriate worker;

-- The rising pace of vehicles car-jackings ) with 20
vehicles being stolen during the past month;

-- The selective theft of communications equipment and
computers (Ref A),which impedes the ability of NGOs to
conduct their normal activities, report on conditions, and
communicate with outsiders;

-- The interrogation of CARE International workers, including
regarding their private e-mail messages (Ref B);

-- The withdrawal of NGOs from Darfur and relocation of 400
humanitarian assistance workers so far in the month of
December alone (Ref C); and

-- The decreased overall ability of the international
community to deliver essential services and commodities for
internally displaced persons (IDPS) in Darfur.

-------------- --------------
MFA: NGOs are Politically Manipulated, Need Courage
-------------- --------------


5. (C) During a December 21 meeting with State Minister of
Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali Karti, Charge Hume underscored the
gravity of recent security events in Darfur, particularly in
the Gereida area. The theft of a dozen vehicles, withdrawal
of Oxfam and ACF, and sexual assault of a humanitarian worker
jeopardized essential services and goods for 100,000 IDPs.
Karti accused NGO workers of over-reacting, and not having
the courage to remain in environments they knew to involve
risk. Irritated, he stated they knew of Darfur's problems
and were paid to do their work despite poor security. There
is no perfume or roses in Darfur, he added, and NGO workers
should refrain from reporting every wrong they encounter.
The Sudanese Government cannot help them; they should return
when there is stability. Finally, he accused NGO workers of
"trying to play politics," and being manipulated to send a

KHARTOUM 00002894 002 OF 003


"political message."

--------------
UN: Humanitarian Assistance on the Brink
--------------


6. (C) During a December 21 meeting with Charge Hume, Deputy
Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG) for
the United Nations (UN) in Sudan Manuel d,Silva and Deputy
Director for Sudan of the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Michael McDonagh discussed the
significant impact of recent insecurity in Gereida, South
Darfur, and humanitarian operations across Darfur (covered in
more detail in septel). UN officials hold Sudan Liberation
Army (SLA) leader Minni Minawi responsible for the attack on
NGO compounds (Ref B). The rape of an ACF employee during
the raid crossed a new threshold in the targeting of
humanitarian workers. The UN believes that the current
situation in Gereida is untenable. In one to two months, the
Gereida food supply will be exhausted.


7. (C) DSRSG holds the Sudanese Government responsible for
the security situation in West Darfur, where on December 19
an USAID-partner humanitarian worker traveling in an
ambulance was wounded during an attack on the police escorts
around her vehicle. The UN is reflecting on its tripwires.
If the situation has not changed in the next three months,
the UN is considering pulling out with everyone. Should such
a decision be taken, both DSRSG and UNOCHA agreed that
cohesion among all international humanitarian agencies would
be critical. In the DSRSG,s opinion, the Sudanese
Government would not be able to survive any &next steps8
the international community might take and that the Sudanese
should accept the offer on the table as the best deal they
can get. Additionally, the Sudanese Government at the
highest level should cease sending mixed messages and
indicate to the international humanitarian community that it
would like them to stay.

--------------
ICRC: Security Incidents Escalating
--------------


8. (C) At a December 21 meeting with Charge Hume, the ICRC
Head of Delegation recounted the significant escalation in
security incidents it has experienced since 2005. In 2005,
two events occurred; 2006 saw 60. The nature of the
incidents has changed from irritation and harassment to
car-jackings at gunpoint and violent attacks at a residence.
ICRC says it has much less humanitarian space to operate in
now and has lost capacity to provide services. Despite this
escalation, the ICRC will defer a decision until after the
holidays regarding the possibility of posting only volunteers
in Darfur.


9. (C) The ICRC is discussing with WFP the possibility of
using UNHAS helicopters to transport its autonomous surgical
team to needed locations. Currently, ICRC operates only from
bases in government-held areas, requiring negotiations each
time rebel lines are crossed. The ICRC is thus considering
the establishment of operational bases in rebel-held areas.
The recent attack of an ICRC residence in Kutum locality is
linked to the displeasure of the government over the
line-crossings the ICRC has been negotiating.


10. (C) In response to Charge Hume's description of the slow
progress of the political process, the Head of Delegation
mused that in the absence of a political process, the
Sudanese Government would push the military option forward,
resulting in more frequent and more serious incidents for the
humanitarian actors delivering basic services to the
displaced people in Darfur.

--------------
Targeting Darfur War Criminals
--------------


11. (S) Action requested: Department is requested to advise
regarding Ref C's request to add a select list of Sudanese
officials directly responsible for war crimes in Darfur for
targeted financial sanctions. In light of the above

KHARTOUM 00002894 003 OF 003


incidents, the proposed listing of Ahmed Mohamed Haroun,
State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, is particularly
important.


12. (U) Note: Given the gravity of these circumstances, post
is issuing a warden message advisory to highlight worsening
security conditions in Darfur and Southern Sudan. End note.
HUME