CHAD GOVERNMENT SETS UP IDP FUND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 001419 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM CD SU SUBJECT: CHAD GOVERNMENT SETS UP IDP FUND ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Concerned that escalating violence in eastern Chad has reduced the capacity, if not the commitment, of the international humanitarian community to respond to the needs of newly internally displaced persons (IDPs),the Government of Chad (GOC) seeks foreign donor contributions for a USD 17 million emergency fund to be managed by the GOC Ministry of Solidarity and Microfinance and implemented by Chadian NGO's. The GOC announced its own contribution of USD 9 million to the fund. Ambassador Wall reviewed ongoing USG refugee/IDP funding with Minister of Solidarity and Microfinance Miriam Ali Moussa December 12. Instead of a GOC-managed emergency fund, he pointed to the need for a coordinated response among international donors and the GOC. Surprised by the GOC action, the UN and humanitarian community have sought to reassure the GOC that the international community has not, in fact abandoned Chadian IDPs and will collaborate closely with the GOC on IDP relief. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a plea to international donors December 8 soliciting contributions to a USD 17 million emergency fund for persons newly displaced by recent fighting in eastern Chad, particularly around Goz Beida and Kou Kou - Angarana. The GOC will make a first contribution of approximately USD 9 million to the fund. Donors were informed that the Ministry of Solidarity and Microcredit headed by Miriam Ali Moussa would manage the fund. Local Chadian NGO's, including the Association of Women Jurists, and the Association of Traditional Leaders are to implement the assistance. Ambassador Wall called on Minister Ali Moussa December 12 to review existing direct and indirect USG assistance to refugees and IDPs in Chad and to assure the Minister that the needs of the newly displaced would continue to be addressed in coordination with the relevant GOC ministries and UN, NGO and other humanitarian organizations. ¶3. (SBU) Ali Moussa noted that the departure ("withdrawal") of humanitarian aid workers due to increased violence in the east had reduced aid to pre- existing refugee and IDP populations. She claimed that virtually no help was being provided to new IDPs and that the diminishing international capacity justified the creation of an emergency fund under her ministry's management to deal with the critical situation of some 65,000 newly displaced persons. Minister Ali Moussa agreed that an international presence in eastern Chad had a role to play in addressing the current IDP situation and insisted that the GOC fully supported its deployment. ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Wall acknowledged that the deteriorating security situation in the East was indeed a challenge for the USG, the GOC and others engaged in addressing the plight of refugees and IDPs in the East. However, rather than endorse the GOC's apparent initiative to seek donor funding of a GOC-managed response, he emphasized the need for consultation and coordinated action. He concluded by assuring the minister that, for its part, the USG would work closely with the GOC and its donor partners in developing an effective response to the humanitarian needs of both existing and new IDPs in the East. ¶5. (SBU) Heads of UN agencies and the UNDP Resident Representative met with the Prime Minister on December 12 to discuss the GOC's proposed IDP actions. UN representatives stressed that IDP's had not been abandoned. In fact, according to UNDP ResRep Kingsley Amaning, unlike the refugee camps in northern Chad, which are operating on "auto-pilot," the UN has left almost the majority of its staff in the field in the Goz Beida area (where the largest amount of IDP's have congregated.) The UN stressed its desire to work with the GOC on IDP's and pledged to collaborate with the local NGO's charged with IDP welfare. The UN is completing a study on IDP needs and will be meeting with donors in the coming week to announce current needs and launch a new appeal. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The GOC announcement took donors by surprise. Perplexed at the accusation that the IDPs have been abandoned, donors are also quite skeptical that any of the national NGO's named by the Chadian government have the capacity to deliver assistance to IDPs in the east. NDJAMENA 00001419 002 OF 002 ¶7. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. Wall