Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NDJAMENA1183
2006-10-02 16:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:  

UNHCR'S SECURITY CONCERNS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREF ASEC CD SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6957
RR RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHNJ #1183/01 2751631
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021631Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4411
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 001183 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, D, DRL, PRM; LONDON AND PARIS FOR
AFRICAWATCHERS; GENEVA FOR CAMPBELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF ASEC CD SU
SUBJECT: UNHCR'S SECURITY CONCERNS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 001183

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, D, DRL, PRM; LONDON AND PARIS FOR
AFRICAWATCHERS; GENEVA FOR CAMPBELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF ASEC CD SU
SUBJECT: UNHCR'S SECURITY CONCERNS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UNHCR still remains concerned that it will
not have the capacity to cope with a refugee influx, and new
IDP movements should violence in eastern Chad escalate after
the end of the rainy season. Chadian government
representatives are absent from a number of areas where UNHCR
operates, and these areas are extremely insecure, making
humanitarian access difficult. UNHCR still suspects
recruiting in refugee camps is taking place with the
knowledge of Chadian authorities. END SUMMARY.

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CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR POTENTIAL REFUGEES AND IDPS
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2. (SBU) Economic/Consular officer traveled to Abeche on
September 29 to meet with Claire Bourgeois, Deputy Head of
Operations for the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees in eastern Chad, to discuss UNHCR's current
contingency planning efforts and operations after the
September 19 clashes between GOC forces and Chadian rebels in
the East. Bourgeois stated that UNHCR was already planning
the movement of refugee camps further west should an
increased number of refugees enter eastern Chad with renewed
fighting in Darfur. The current camps would act as transit
centers for the refugees coming in, who would then be moved
to areas that were deemed viable camp sites (i.e., with
adequate water supplies, being accessible, and where the
refugees were ethnically compatible with the host
population). The Ouri Cassoni camp would probably move to an
area close to the northern Chadian town of Faya. The Am
Nabak camp would move closer to the Chadian town of Biltine.
At the same time, new camp sites would open closer to the
Gaga camp.


3. (SBU) Bourgeois admitted that, even with the movement of
camps, and indications from refugee leaders that new refugees
would be welcomed by the existing refugee populations, UNHCR
was not sure if it had the absorptive capacity to offer
sustained assistance for the projected number of 50,000
refugees. She added that the capabilities of the
organization would be severely tested should renewed violence

in eastern Chad create IDPs in the region. Bourgeois noted
that during a meeting with the Governors of the Ouddai and
Wadi Fira provinces, the GOC authorities admitted that the
Government did not know how the country would handle IDP
movements to areas that were already burdened by refugee
populations. She said that UNHCR would obviously do what it
could to assist any new IDPs, but was pessimistic about the
organization's ability to assist all IDPs.

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POCKETS OF INSECURITY
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4. (SBU) With respect to the attacks in Hadjer Marfaine that
occured the previous week, Bourgeois said that she was not
particularly concerned that the violence would affect the
security of refugee camps and humanitarian workers operating
in the camps. The Chadian national army, according to her,
had standing orders to ensure that refugee camps and
humanitarian workers would be off-limits in military
engagements. At the same time, Chadian rebels were normally
focused to combating the Chadian national army, and only
targeted humanitarian activities for vehicles (although she
admitted that vehicle thefts directly put the safety of
humanitarian workers at risk).


5. (SBU) The greater problem with increased insecurity was
access to assist potential IDPs. The towns of Guereda and
Iriba lacked an effective GOC authority figure. Bourgeois
pointed out that a vehicle for the International Committee
for the Red Cross was stolen by a group of armed unidentified
men in military fatigues on September 27. She also noted
that near the southern part of the Chad-Sudan border,
Janjaweed incursions, along with a minimal Chadian military
presence, had forced the local population to create local
militias, referred to as the Toroboro. The GOC was trying to
develop a plan to disarm the Toroboro, but, as Bourgeois
indicated, the continued presence of armed militias would
impact UNHCR's decision to send humanitarian workers in that
area to assist any IDPs.

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CONTINUED INDICATIONS OF RECRUITMENT
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6. (SBU) During a subsequent meeting, Claude Vadeboncoeur,
Senior Refugee Security Liaison Officer, told
Economic/Consular officer that UNHCR was still very concerned

NDJAMENA 00001183 002 OF 002


by the presence of Sudanese rebel movements loyal to the
Justice and Equality Movement and National Redemption Front.
While higher-level Chadian authorities had told UNHCR that
Sudanese rebels were no longer permitted to remain in Chad as
part of the July 26 agreement between Chad and Sudan,
lower-level authorities (particularly in Guereda, Iriba, and
Bahai) were permitting the free movement of Sudanese rebels.
Vadeboncoeur said that while forced recruitment was probably
not taking place, Sudanese rebels were reported to be
"encouraging" refugees to join the Sudanese rebel movements
in Darfur. Vadeboncoeur also said that some of these rebel
leaders were accompanied by Chadian officials, who were
traveling with official travel documents signed by the
Chadian Minister of Territorial Administration.


7. (U) Tripoli Minimize Considered.
WALL