Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KHARTOUM1669
2007-10-29 07:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:
DARFUR - HAC PROPOSES TO DIVIDE IDP CAMPS
how-toVZCZCXRO1941 PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV DE RUEHKH #1669/01 3020749 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 290749Z OCT 07 ZFR ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8951 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
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
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