DARFUR - HAC PROPOSES TO DIVIDE IDP CAMPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001669 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO 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: DARFUR - HAC PROPOSES TO DIVIDE IDP CAMPS REF: A) KHARTOUM 1659 B) KHARTOUM 1661 KHARTOUM 00001669 001.4 OF 002 ///ZFR /// ZFR /// ZFR /// ZFR ///PLS CANCEL KHARTOUM 1669 AND DELETE ALL ASSOCIATED SECTIONS. KHARTOUM 00001669 002.2 OF 002 -------------- ¶7. On October 20, a 10-vehicle convoy of armed Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) surrounded Hamadiya IDP camp, shooting guns and assaulting IDPs. This incident was triggered by the murder of a military person in the camp earlier that day. Arab militias surrounded the upper part of the camp. Unconfirmed reports indicate that four IDPs were killed and four SAF were also killed in the fighting. On October 21, the camp was reportedly calm, but youth had mobilized to patrol the camp. ¶8. On October 23, the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Zalingei locality issued a letter forbidding all NGO activities in Hamadiya camp. The letter also forbids all humanitarian activities, except for water and health services, in other Zalingei-area camps. In subsequent meetings, the HAC indicated plans to move IDPs from Hamadiya into smaller camps in other locations. -------------- Part of a Larger Trend? -------------- ¶10. With back to back incidents in Haskanita, Muhajeria, Kalma, and Zalingei, many within the humanitarian community are wondering if we are seeing the implemtation of a larger strategy on the part of the government to break up the IDP camps in Darfur. In October, civilian casualties are markedly higher than in previous months, according to the UN, and displaced populations in Kalma, Muhajeria, and Haskanita have dispersed due to attacks. The recent attacks led 30,000 people to leave the Haskanita area and at least 15,000 to leave Muhajeria. The violence in Kalma has also displaced at least 30,000 people. While new displacement has been a steady trend throughout 2007, the recent escalated violence could be related to broader changes on Darfur's political horizon. ¶11. One can only speculate what the causes of the recent upsurge in violence are linked to -- the upcoming peace talks in Libya, the deployment of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),the upcoming census, or the Sudanese government's desire to strengthen their control over humanitarian operations. The implications of what we are seeing on the ground with the recent attacks, require further analysis to determine which groups are being displaced and for what reason. -------------- Comments -------------- ¶12. It is critical that the humanitarian community stress to the government the need for IDPs to be allowed to freely choose whether or not to move to the proposed new locations. Any new proposed sites for IDPs must meet all international humanitarian standards and any transition must not further expose IDPs to violence, exploitation, or health risks. ¶13. On October 25, CDA Fernandez raised these issues with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials (REF B). In the meeting, the MFA registered surprise and doubt that these incidents were part of a government policy and proposed forming a committee with the HAC to discuss the events unfolding in Darfur. FERNANDEZ