UNHCR WILL DEPLOY STAFF TO NORTH AND CENTRAL

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000638 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREF PGOV CG SUBJECT: UNHCR WILL DEPLOY STAFF TO NORTH AND CENTRAL KATANGA TO BEGIN REGISTRATION OF IDPS REF: A. KINSHASA 509 ¶B. KINSHASA 584 ¶1. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plans to begin deploying staff for long- term assignment to the North and Central Katanga villages of Mitwaba and Dubie on April 22. UNHCR, in cooperation with Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF),will begin registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mitwaba on April 24. This follows frequent short-term deployment of humanitarian staff since UNHCR conducted an assessment mission March 14-16 (reftel A). ¶2. UNHCR's deployment to IDP camps in North and Central Katanga begins "protection through presence" with long- term relief missions, continuing short-term international staff visits, and negotiation and advocacy on behalf of IDPs with the GDRC. UNHCR also plans to increase cooperation with the World Food Program (WFP) (reftel B), in providing support in northern Katanga. Other planned UNHCR programs will address vulnerable members of the society, victims of sexual and gender-based violence, and other humanitarian aid gaps as the security situation allows. ¶3. New displacements, continued harassment of the population by military and Mai Mai groups, and lack of adequate food and non-food assistance complicate the mission. As reported in reftels, humanitarian workers face constant challenges in accessing IDP groups in remote areas. The only way to reach the main IDP centers is by air, and there is no regular humanitarian air service based in Lubumbashi (apart from MSF, who have their own planes, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),who cannot transport UN personnel). Logistical and security issues have already delayed initial deployment to the area by one week. These constraints immensely increase the operational costs for both humanitarian NGOs and UN agencies. DOUGHERTY