UNSC: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SUDAN, CHAD AND CAR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000269 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO, PRM AND AF; USAID FOR DCHA AND AFR; NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN AND TSHORTLEY; ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU; GENEVA FOR NKYLOH; USEU FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SU CD CT UNSC SUBJECT: UNSC: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SUDAN, CHAD AND CAR USUN NEW Y 00000269 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. On April 4 Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes briefed the Security Council on his recent mission to Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic (CAR). Despite the wide agenda topic, "Situation in Africa," Holmes' presentation focused on the three countries visited and continuing humanitarian needs. In response to interventions from some members, Holmes stressed the need for enhanced peacekeeping efforts in Darfur, eastern Chad and northeastern CAR to address the urgent protection crisis and allow for the effective delivery of aid. ¶2. (U) Security Council members welcomed Holmes to his first appearance in the Security Council since taking office in March. None expressed disagreement with his analysis of the situation and some made explicit calls for the immediate deployment of the UN-African Union (AU) hybrid force to Darfur to bolster peacekeeping efforts and provide protection to civilians. UK, as Security Council President, expressed the Council's gratitude and support for the work being done by UN and other humanitarian agencies in Darfur. END SUMMARY. -------------- Limited response in CAR -------------- ¶3. (U) Holmes briefly described the current crisis in northeastern CAR, including difficulty in reaching displaced populations that are scattered in the forest and traumatized by recent violence. Holmes reported that the government currently provides no services in the area and that international response to date has been insufficient. He called for additional resources, noting that the CAR humanitarian appeal is only 18 per cent funded, and made a plea for additional partners to work with the UN in addressing humanitarian needs in CAR. (Note: Holmes reported the following day to the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group that the CAR appeal is actually 28 per cent funded. End note.) -------------- Increasing displacement in Chad -------------- ¶4. (U) Holmes emphasized that the protection concerns raised during the Security Council visit to Chad in June 2006 remain largely unaddressed. The security situation has deteriorated significantly in the past year and displacement of both Sudanese refugees and Chadian IDPs in the eastern region continues to rise. Holmes expressed concern about the growing militarization of refugee camps and IDP locations in eastern Chad, stressing that international peacekeeping is essential to preventing a further deterioration and providing minimum protection to civilians. In response to a question, Holmes noted the imminent release of a UN 90-day humanitarian plan of action for Chad. -------------- Darfur "increasingly fragile" -------------- ¶5. (U) Holmes opened his discussion on Sudan by reminding that former-U/SYG Jan Egeland first briefed the Security Council three years ago on the situation in Darfur. Those affected by the conflict in 2004 are still displaced, and the impact on civilian populations has grown worse. An additional 250,000 people were displaced in the three states of Darfur in the last six months, many of whom have settled in camps that were already at full capacity. ¶6. (U) Holmes praised international efforts since 2004 that helped stabilize the humanitarian situation. However, he stressed that access to populations in need is increasingly limited by insecurity, creating a growing number of people out of reach to the international aid effort. ¶7. (U) Holmes contrasted the success in addressing humanitarian needs to the fundamental failure to protect USUN NEW Y 00000269 002.2 OF 003 civilian populations in Darfur from violence. Holmes noted that all parties in the conflict are responsible for the current protection crisis, but he emphasized that the Government of Sudan (GOS) has the primary responsibility for the protection of its people and that it is "accountable for the proper investigation and prosecution of those accused of committing crimes." ¶8. (U) Holmes expressed strong concern over the targeting and abuse of aid workers in Darfur. He reported that he had pressed the GOS to drop all charges in the Nyala incident, but recent news of court summons suggests the legal case is proceeding. During his visit Holmes also stressed to the GOS that it is within the mandate of humanitarian NGOs to speak out about violations of humanitarian law, stating that he expects the "insidious pressure" on humanitarian agencies to cease. -------------- Support and skepticism on Joint Communiqu -------------- ¶9. (U) Searching for a positive note on Darfur, Holmes praised the March 28 Joint Communiqu between the GOS and the UN to alleviate bureaucratic restrictions on humanitarian operations. He highlighted the role of the high-level oversight committee, expected to meet monthly in Khartoum, in tracking the implementation of the agreement. ¶10. Despite the unanimous welcome of the communiqu by Security Council members, many expressed skepticism that it will be fully implemented. Holmes reiterated his call for strong participation in the oversight committee by Security Council members through representatives in Khartoum, noting the useful work done by donors on the margins of the Sudan Consortium in March to set the groundwork for the agreement. -------------- Southern Sudan focus on recovery -------------- ¶11. (U) In Juba Holmes met with Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) officials and reviewed the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). He called on the Security Council to ensure that the Darfur does not distract for the fundamental importance of the CPA and the rehabilitation of the South. ¶12. (U) Holmes reported that due to lessening acute humanitarian needs in southern Sudan, OCHA will "centralize" its operations in Juba and reduce the number of field offices in southern Sudan. He called on UN development actors to "step to the plate" for longer-term recovery and development requirements. ¶13. (U) Holmes praised efforts by Special Envoy Chissano to restart negotiations between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in conjunction with the UN Department of Political Affairs, will continue to support these efforts through the Juba Initiative Project. (Note: Holmes' predecessor, Jan Egeland, was personally involved in this reconciliation process, but it remains to be seen if Holmes will be as directly engaged. End note.) -------------- Limited agreement on next steps -------------- ¶14. (U) Ambassador Sanders stressed USG concerns over worsening humanitarian indicators in Darfur and increasing levels of violence, including the targeting of civilians and relief workers. Sanders called for the UN to finalize with the Government of Chad modalities on a peacekeeping force in eastern Chad. Welcoming the recent conversations between the SYG and President Bashir affirming the GOS' commitment to the consensus reached on November 16, 2006 in Addis Ababa, USUN NEW Y 00000269 003.2 OF 003 Ambassador Sanders called on the GOS to honor its commitments and facilitate the implementation of the agreed upon framework, including the deployment of a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force to Darfur. Sanders also reiterated USG support for recovery and development in southern Sudan, recognizing the vital role of international organizations in facilitating the large-scale return of refugees and internally displaced persons to and within the South. ¶15. (U) Security Council members expressed general agreement on Holmes' depiction of the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Chad and CAR, as well as recognition that the crises are interconnected. Many members stressed the need for enhanced peacekeeping efforts in the region. Belgium, Slovakia, Russia, France, the US, and the UK called explicitly for a UN force in Darfur to augment AU efforts. ¶16. (U) Qatar and Indonesia highlighted the recent "positive" meeting between President Bashir and SYG Ban on the margins of the Arab League Summit in Riyadh and stressed that the responsibility to protect civilians lay fundamentally with the states involved. France reiterated that the Security Council is awaiting confirmation that the GOS will implement the commitments made in Addis Ababa in November 2006. (Note: The SYG briefed the Security Council on April 5 on his meeting with President Bashir in Riyadh, to be reported septel. End note.) ¶17. (U) Many members expressed support for UN and AU mediation efforts for Darfur. In response to a question about his opinion on the political initiative of the UN and AU special envoys, Holmes noted that it is clear that the search for a political solution to the crisis in Darfur must proceed in parallel to strengthened peacekeeping and continuing humanitarian efforts. WOLFF