FALSE HOPE AND TOUGH TALK; REFUGEE UPDATE FROM

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000637

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

KAMPALA FOR GEORGE FREDERICK; NAIROBI FOR BILL LEHMBERG;
PRM FOR WENDY HENNING; AF/E FOR BARBARA YODER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM TZ
SUBJECT: FALSE HOPE AND TOUGH TALK; REFUGEE UPDATE FROM
TANZANIA



1. (U) SUMMARY: As the UNHCR consolidates and closes
refugee camps in western Tanzania, requests for assistance in
host areas and in closed camps are increasing. Repatriation
to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is on the upswing,
while repatriation to Burundi has come to a halt, with
perceived political insecurity the leading cause. The
process for resettling a pre-identified group of Burundians
continues and is on schedule despite construction delays;
other refugees continue to hope they also can be resettled in
the United States. END SUMMARY


2. (U) Poloff participated in a UNHCR-organized mission to
Kigoma, Kasulu and Kibondo April 18-21, 2007, to review
repatriation and resettlement activities and camp
consolidation in western Tanzania. Poloff also consulted
with implementing partners and Government of Tanzania (GOT)
officials in the region. Led by Ambassadors Wolfgang Ringe
of Germany and German Zurita De Navarrete of Spain, the
mission also included: Reid Sirrs, Head of Development
Cooperation, Canadian High Commission; Theo Kaspers,
Governance Advisor, European Commission; and host Yaccoub El
Hillo, Representative, UNHCR.

Camp Infrastructure and Requests for Assistance: Brace for
Impact


3. (SBU) The GOT is learning to "be careful what you ask
for" as refugees return, camps close, and international
assistance in the area decreases. Accordingly, local
goverment and community requests for donor assistance with
projects in refugee host areas, and now also in closed camps,
are on the rise. Said R. Bwanamdogo, District Commissioner
of Kasulu, presented the mission with a plan of how to
utilize the structures which will be left in Muyovosi camp,
and corresponding requests for assistance to improve them.
The plan to use the inherited structures as education
institutions, a health center and a police post included
requests for construction of housing for teachers, hospital
staff and police officers, as well as laboratories and
student dormitories.

Resettlement: False Hope Continues


4. (U) Processing is underway for the approximately 9,000
refugees eligible for group resettlement to the United
States--Burundians who fled in 1972 to either Rwanda or
Zaire, and then to Tanzania in either 1994 or 1996-1998 due
to conflict in those countries. The resettlement facility in
Kanembwa camp is operating, but not at full capacity due to
construction delays. The construction contract called for
completion on April 17, but has been extended to the end of
May. The x-ray machine for medical clearances is installed,
in use and needed repairs were completed successfully on
April 20. Projected departures to the US remain 400 refugees
in June, 900 in July, 800 in August and 500 in September, for
a total of 2,600 in FY07.


5. (U) Refugees not in the group recommended for
resettlement to the United States continue to maintain false
hope their turn will come. When addressing refugee leaders
in Muyovosi camp in Kasulu, the GOT regional immigration
officer concluded his remarks by saying that the USG is
resettling Burundian refugees but did not clarify this is
only for a limited, closed group. Following the applause and
cheers of the refugee leaders at this news, Poloff explained
the process for, and limitations of, group resettlement and
clearly stating the USG is not planning additional group
resettlements of Burundian refugees, silencing the crowd of
approximately 200.

Repatriation to DRC: Tough Talk from UNHCR


6. (U) UNHCR Representative Yaccoub El Hillo spoke frankly
to refugee leaders in the Congolese Lugufu camp, indicating
UNHCR's shift from facilitated to promoted return in
everything but name: "Staying in Lugufu your whole life is
not possible; resources were cut in 2007 and will be cut
again next year; the solution is in Congo; going home is the
best thing." In response to refugee leaders requests for
increased food distribution, shoes, school uniforms, medical
treatment and non-food items, El Hillo said the people who
came to Tanzania for protection should not stay for

assistance; otherwise, they become economic immigrants. El
Hillo cautioned against falling into the trap of depending on
assistance, stating "you can't be a refugee forever," and
appealed to the refugee leaders to be advisors and examples.

Repatriation to Burundi: Politics Trump Food Insecurity


7. (U) Burundian repatriation has come to a halt, despite
urgings from the GOT and the international community. At a
gathering with Muyovosi refugee leaders, mission participants
repeated that Burundian refugees should return home and El
Hillo cited a survey of recently-returned refugees to
alleviate fears of insecurity and scarce land. The survey,
released April 19, reveals that 93% of the returned refugees
surveyed said the security situation was "very good," 89%
owned their house, 82% owned their land, and 97% were "very
happy" they returned home. Time will tell if these numbers
convince more refugees, including the high school student who
told Poloff he is not considering returning to Burundi
because he "knows in his heart there is no peace there."

The 1972 Caseload: Work Remains


8. (U) GOT officials continue to request, and some
officials expect, international assistance for the 1972
Burundians living in settlements, not camps. Mr. Steven
Daniel, MHA regional representative in western Tanzania
insisted that the international community must assist the GOT
regarding this "1972 caseload." When Poloff asked the basis
for this position Daniel replied "because they are not
Tanzanian."


9. (U) UNHCR "hopes to develop a comprehensive solutions
strategy" for the 1972 caseload as part of the end-game for
Burundian refugees in Tanzania, according to UNCHR Deputy
Representative Steven Corliss. UNHCR hopes this strategy
will include an opportunity for local integration, but the
GOT has yet to commit to such an approach.
COMMENT


10. (SBU) To encourage repatriation and avoid contributing
to the false hope that more refugees may qualify for group
resettlement, the fact that the USG in not considering
additional groups of Burundians for resettlement to the US
needs to be communicated clearly by USG officials. Post also
recommends the USG nudge, not urge, the GOT to consider local
integration for the 1972 caseload.


11. (SBU) While the GOT's plans to make use of inherited
structures is a step forward, we need to encourage local
government officials to move forward with their plans to
utilize inherited infrastructure in the closed camps without
delay. The structures can be used as they are, and waiting
for assistance or the next GOT budget cycle will only result
in lack of maintenance and possible destruction of the
structures, most of which are temporary or semi-permanent.
END COMMENT
RETZER