DARFUR - JOINT COMMUNIQUE - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000764 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SU SUBJECT: DARFUR - JOINT COMMUNIQUE - WHERE ARE WE NOW? REF: KHARTOUM 0510 KHARTOUM 00000764 001.2 OF 002 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- (U) During a six-day visit to Darfur and Khartoum, aid agencies briefed USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) Director following the Government of National Unity (GNU) Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) meetings in each of the three Darfur states and expressed renewed concern that the agreements made in the Joint Communique would not be implemented. Of all the Darfur states, the HAC-led meeting in South Darfur was the most disconcerting to aid agencies and donors. The signing of the March 28 Joint Communique on the facilitation of humanitarian affairs in Darfur created optimism among UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Darfur. It is clear that while the Joint Communique is a positive step, achieving implementation of the agreement requires strategic approaches and coordination among all humanitarian actors. End Summary. -------------- -------------- OFDA DIRECTOR MEETS WITH HC/RC AND NGOS ON COMMUNIQUE -------------- -------------- ¶1. (U) On April 21, USAID/OFDA Director Ky Luu met with the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator (HC/RC) Manuel Aranda da Silva in Khartoum to discuss the March 28 Joint Communique on the facilitation of humanitarian affairs (REFTEL). The HC/RC expressed optimism that the Joint Communique will improve the humanitarian environment in Darfur. The HC/RC thanked USAID/OFDA for its stable funding and noted that two thirds of funding for Darfur is provided by USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/DCHA) and the European Commission. The HC/RC credited Ambassador Hume for his sustained diplomatic efforts in negotiating the signing of the Joint Communique, which has resulted in a much needed boost to NGO staff morale. ¶2. (U) The USAID/OFDA Director also met with the NGO Steering Committee in Khartoum on April 22. The Steering Committee urged USAID to encourage the HAC to fully implement the Joint Communique. �00A;Referring to the current issue of transfer of NGO assets upon project closure, committee members stated that the HAC may try to divert attention from the "spirit of the Communique" by raising new bureaucratic impediments such as the transfer of assets issue. The Steering Committee members encouraged donors to stay focused on the issues in the Communique that currently affect all NGOs instead of focusing on those issues that fall outside of the Communique. -------------- -------------- HAC MEETS WITH AID COMMUNITY IN ALL THREE DARFUR STATES -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) From April 18 to 25, a team of Khartoum-based officials from the HAC, Ministry of Interior, Customs Department, and National Security traveled to all three Darfur state capitals to discuss the Joint Communique with humanitarian actors. USAID staff originally understood that the purpose of this trip was to increase awareness among state-level authorities on the principles agreed to in the Joint Communique and ensure that all states implemented the Joint Communique uniformly. ¶4. (U) The USAID/OFDA Director had the opportunity to meet with NGOs and UN agencies following the HAC meetings in the state capitals and reported that in each state the meetings had different tones. By all accounts, the meeting in South Darfur was particularly contentious in tone and content. In the South Darfur meeting, HAC officials intimidated the NGOs, dismissed NGO claims that there were problems with travel permits and visa extensions, and stated that donors had no role in the discussion of transfer of assets. However, aid agencies in West and North Darfur states reported that the HAC meetings had a less intimidating tone and acknowledged that there had been problems in the past but that through implementing the Joint Communique these problems could be resolved. ¶5. (U) The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) explained to USAID staff that in South Darfur the HAC team had revised its presentation of the Joint Communique to reflect the state officials' interpretation of the document. After the South Darfur meeting, the HC/RC expressed less optimism that implementation of the Joint Communique would be smooth and indicated that the first high-level meeting would be tougher than originally KHARTOUM 00000764 002.2 OF 002 anticipated. -------------- FIRST OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING -------------- ¶6. (U) The first meeting of the oversight committee established to monitor implementation of the principles agreed to in the Joint Communique met in Khartoum on May 2. Prior to the meeting, donors agreed that the donor observer to the high-level meeting would be represented by an Ambassador and the United Kingdom (UK),the European Commission (EC),and the United States would rotate the responsibility. On May 2, the EC Ambassador attended the meeting, representing the three major donors. At the May 2 meeting, the Sudanese government representative stated that the six-month no entry notation that had been stamped into aid workers' passports when given final exit visas was a mistake and this policy only applies to commercial workers and should not have been stamped into aid workers' passports. Also during the meeting, it was decided that donors will now be a part of the Joint Technical Group and will be able to take part in the discussions and not merely observe the proceedings. It was decided that labor issues and issues pertaining to visas and customs would be taken up at next meeting. Overall, the HC/RC felt the meeting was positive. Despite not having reached agreement on all issues, several issues were resolved at the May 2 meeting. -------------- COMMENTS -------------- ¶7. (U) Through its staff in Darfur and Khartoum, USAID/OFDA will continue to monitor the implementation of the Joint Communique. USAID/OFDA is concerned that differing interpretations of the agreement in each state may diminish NGOs ability to advocate for adherence to the Joint Communique with a unified voice. ¶8. (U) During his visit to Darfur and Khartoum, USAID/OFDA Director encouraged NGOs to collaborate and approach the bureaucratic impediments jointly. The USAID/OFDA Director remains optimistic that the Joint Communique will have a positive impact on bureaucratic impediments that hinder humanitarian work in Darfur. However, donors, NGOs, and UN agencies need to continue to coordinate efforts, share information, and strategically approach solutions that benefit the collective humanitarian community. POWERS