SUDAN - UN/DONOR PRINCIPALS MEETING RESUMES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001659 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/ECARO, USAID/SFO, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI UN SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - UN/DONOR PRINCIPALS MEETING RESUMES KHARTOUM 00001659 001.2 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. On October 21, the UN reinstated the UN high-level donor coordination meeting in Khartoum. The UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in Sudan (D/SRSG) and the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) in Sudan, Ameerah Haq, chaired the meeting. At this first session, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) briefed the donors on the current situation in Kalma internally displaced person (IDP) camp in South Darfur, the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) summarized environmental priorities in Sudan, and the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) updated donors on the return and reintegration of IDPs and refugees. End summary. ¶2. USAID's Acting Mission Director attended the October 21 meeting, which was well attended by senior officials from the donor community. Absent, however, were the invitees from China, India, and Malaysia. The D/SRSG reiterated her desire to include the non-traditional donors in this forum. There was general support from around the table to resume the UN donor principals meetings, most likely to be set on a monthly basis. -------------- Kalma IDP Camp -------------- ¶3. The D/SRSG and OCHA reported they had met with the Government of National Unity's (GNU) Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) regarding the situation at Kalma IDP camp, which has the potential to trigger additional insecurity, both in Nyala and beyond. (Note: Septel with more details on the Kalma IDP camp situation is forthcoming. End note). Due to the recent, sharp rise in tensions and fighting within the camp, HAC and the Wali of South Darfur have laid out plans to close Kalma camp and have identified other sites for Kalma IDPs to reside. The donors expressed extreme concern that this could be considered a form of forced relocation, in direct violation of international humanitarian principles that stipulate only voluntary IDP movement. Several of the sites identified for relocation are the same ones the Sudanese government had presented to the international community as areas of return earlier in 2007. As a result of the violence, burning of houses and buildings, and unknown number of killings, IDPs have already begun moving out of Kalma into Nyala town as well as to other camps in the vicinity. ¶4. At the meeting, it was unclear how the government plans to proceed or whether the international community will have any influence on decisions taken. The UN response currently is dual track: UNMIS Civil Affairs, along with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS),will take the lead on security negotiations and reconciliation efforts and the UN humanitarian agencies will emphasize that humanitarian principles must be adhered to in addressing and responding to the situation. ¶5. CDA Fernandez raised the situation at Kalma camp with MFA Under-Secretary Mutriff Siddiq on October 25. Siddiq was clear that the government has no intention of undertaking any such forced relocation. He added that the Sudanese government adheres to the principle of voluntary returns in Darfur and can only establish new or substitute camps with the active support of the international community, "we have no money to do this ourselves." He noted that there had been similar international distrust when Zam Zam camp was established in North Darfur when Abu Shouk camp was full, "but the international community eventually saw that we were right." He added that they are ready to explain the situation in Kalma camp to the U.S., noting that it was political/ethnic infighting among IDPs, mainly Zaghawa belonging to the SLM-Minni Minawi faction having trouble with other groups. -------------- Environmental Debrief -------------- ¶6. The UNEP representative briefed the donors on the post-conflict environmental assessment report on Sudan, which was released earlier this year. A key theme in the report was the large-scale, and seemingly unchecked, environmental degradation underway in many parts of the country. In addition, the report describes how environmental degradation is one of the major drivers of conflict in Darfur. KHARTOUM 00001659 002.2 OF 002 -------------- Returns and Reintegration -------------- ¶7. The UNMIS Returns, Reintegration, and Recovery Unit (UNMIS RRR) briefed the donors on the latest returns figures for 2007 and plans for 2008. Under the joint GNU-UN-IOM-GOSS plan nearly 90,000 IDPs and refugees were fully supported by the UN and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to return to their areas of origin in 2007. Of the 90,000 returnees, half are refugees and half are IDPs. In addition, government authorities, mostly at the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) state level, have assisted more than 26,000 returnees; these efforts have generally not been coordinated with the UN and IOM. UNMIS RRR is hoping to work with the states to improve upon coordination and planning this year. ¶8. Out of the 4.6 million Sudanese IDPs and refugees, and estimated 1.2 million have returned since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed. Of the 1.2 million returnees 160,000 were refugees from neighboring countries, 70,000 of whom were assisted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNMIS RRR estimates that 90 percent of all returnees are spontaneous, and generally do not receive much, if any, support from the UN agencies and NGOs. An estimated 1.2 million people are expected to settle in their areas of displacement and not return home. ¶9. According to the UN, livelihoods and particularly urban livelihoods must be addressed more proactively, while recognizing that basic social service needs still exist. The joint returns plan for 2008 has still not been agreed to by the GNU and GOSS. The UN is planning for approximately the same level of returns support as in 2007 -- 100,000 refugees, 100,000 IDPs, and 40,000 returns supported by the GNU and the GOSS in collaboration with UN agencies and IOM. FERNANDEZ