IOM CONCERNED ABOUT REFUGEE REPATRIATION AND LOCAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000675

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ELA, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREF IO SY
SUBJECT: IOM CONCERNED ABOUT REFUGEE REPATRIATION AND LOCAL
STAFFING

REF: DAMASCUS 630

Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) Summary: During an introductory call on IOM Chief of
Mission Maria Rumman, Rumman relayed to Charge recent
conversations between IOM staff and representatives of the
Iraqi government which principally focused on how the GOI
could best repatriate its citizens that have sought refuge in
Syria. Additionally, Rumman passed her concerns regarding
IOM staff hiring and retention, a situation that is becoming
increasingly acute as IOM seeks to expand operations to meet
the significantly larger USG Iraqi refugee resettlement
quota. End Summary.


2. (C) Charge paid an introductory call on September 17 on
Maria Rumman, Chief of Mission for the Damascus office of the
International Organization for Migration(IOM). Rumman
discussed the August 30 visit of Iraqi Minister for Migration
and Displacement Abdul Samed Sultan (reftel) and her
September 16 meeting with Khalid al-Jubory, General Director
for the Office of the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister. Rumman
said al-Jubory discussed GOI efforts to assist Iraqi refugees
in Syria, including direct monetary assistance and lobbying
the SARG to grant refugees work permits. Rumman noted to
al-Jubory that many Iraqi refugees currently work in Syria's
"informal" sector, and said she did not think that the SARG
would be receptive to granting them official work
authorization. Al-Jubory also raised the issue of
repatriation with the possible assistance of IOM Damascus,
but Rumman cautioned against a mass repatriation initiative
before Iraq was fully prepared to receive large numbers of
returnees. Rumman also informed al-Jubory that repatriation
was not within IOM's current mandate.


3. (C) Separately, Rumman also discussed IOM's staffing
concerns. IOM is again preparing to expand its staff in
conjunction with the expanding presence of DHS/USCIS
personnel in Damascus in an effort to meet USG resettlement
goals. At the same time, Rumman said her immediate concern
was retaining her current, trained local staff given
increasing domestic economic pressure. Rumman reported that
several of her staff members were working well above their
pay grades and feared these staffers would leave IOM for
greener pastures rather than continuing to wait for
promotions. (Note: In a separate conversation, IOM staffers
told us that they indeed were considering employment with the
higher-paying UNHCR, which is also expanding operations in
Damascus). Charge said that Post would look into the issue,
but reminded Rumman that this is an internal IOM matter.


4. (C) Comment: Post is keenly aware that the persistent
staffing problems at IOM may critically affect our
resettlement goals for FY09 and will continue to monitor
IOM's efforts to address this issue. With respect to GOI
efforts to repatriate Iraqis residing in Syria, the Iraqi
Embassy here appears increasingly engaged on this issue. Few
details have emerged, however, as to how the repatriation
process will move forward, such as what assistance will be
offered in advance of -- and after -- a refugee returns, and
the extent to which Iraqis are interested in returning at
this time. The UN continues to monitor this situation but
has expressed skepticism about the success of a return
program that does not provide an expansive safety net of
services for returnees.
CONNELLY