UNHCR AND IOM ON EGYPTIAN DEPORTATIONS OF ERITREANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000628

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PRM/AFR AND PRM/MCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018
TAGS: PREF PGOV EG
SUBJECT: UNHCR AND IOM ON EGYPTIAN DEPORTATIONS OF ERITREANS

REF: (C) SECSTATE 74872

Classified By: Acting RMA Counselor David Reimer. Reason 1.4 b and d


1. (C) SUMMARY: Per reftel request, RMA Officials discussed
Egyptian deportations of Eritreans with UNHCR and IOM.
UNHCR,s Middle East and North Africa Bureau (MENA) Director,
Radhouane Nouicer, acknowledged that UNHCR is having
difficulties obtaining access to detained Eritreans, noting
that the Government of Egypt (GOE) is becoming more hard line
in its stance towards the Eritreans. UNHCR is still waiting
for Egypt to respond to UNHCR,s July 2 report which
identifies 179 Eritreans asylum seekers in a detention
facility in Aswan and UNHCR,s request for access to this
group. UNHCR also requested access to another 372 Eritrean
asylum seekers in detention facilities around the country.
Nouicer surmised that Israel was putting pressure on Egypt to
prevent Eritreans from transiting Egypt on their way to
Israel. He encouraged the USG to discuss the situation
directly with the Government of Israel. An IOM official
agreed with UNHCR,s assessment that at the core this was a
political issue and it would be necessary to involve the
Government of Israel. Although not actively engaged now, IOM
was willing to work with UNHCR and Egypt and could provide
assistance on anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling, or
possibly on boarder security. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Acting RMA Counselor and Refugee Officer met with
the Director of UNHCR,s Middle East and North Africa Bureau
(MENA),Radhouane Nouicer, July 25, to discuss the recent
deportations of Eritreans by the Government of Egypt.
Nouicer gravely acknowledged that UNHCR is having
difficulties obtaining access to detained Eritreans in Egypt,
noting that the GOE is becoming more hard line in its stance
towards the Eritreans. He thanked the United States for its
statement at UNHCR,s Standing Committee in June, calling on
Egypt not to return Eritrean asylum seekers, and Embassy
Cairo,s attempts to engage the government on this issue. He
reported that UNHCR is still waiting for the GOE to respond
to UNHCR,s July 2 report which identifies 179 Eritreans
asylum seekers in a detention facility in Aswan and UNHCR,s
request for access to this group. UNHCR also requested
access to 372 Eritrean asylum seekers in detention facilities
around the country but again has not received a response from
the Egyptian government.


3. (SBU) Acting RMA Counselor asked Nouicer the reason
behind Egypt,s reluctance to accept Eritrean asylum seekers,
particularly since Egypt appears more tolerant of Sudanese
and other groups who are seeking asylum. Nouicer responded
that many of the Eritreans use Egypt as a transit country to
go to Israel; in 2007 Israel received 5000 Eritreans.
Nouicer surmised that because of the large numbers, Israel is
putting pressure on Egypt to prevent Eritreans from going
through Egypt to Israel. Nouicer added that Israel is
re-drafting its 1954 Anti-Infiltration law which will make it
more difficult for asylum seekers. UNHCR has increased the
number of staff it has in Jerusalem and is working closely
with the government to train 30 Ministry of Migration staff
to set up a strong refugee status determination system.


4. (SBU) In response to Acting RMA Counselor,s question
regarding next steps, Nouicer said that the offer from the
United States to resettle refugees/asylum seekers to share
the burden with Egypt is the key; UNHCR is willing to set-up
a resettlement structure in Egypt. However, he confirmed
that Egypt will most likely not accept this offer anytime in
the near future as the GOE believes this would be a magnet
for more asylum seekers. In a separate meeting, George
Okoth-Obo, the Director of the Division of International
Protection Services at UNHCR, also confirmed that the
Anti-Infiltration law will make it more difficult for
asylum-seekers to remain in Israel.


5. (SBU) On July 25, Acting RMA Counselor spoke to the
International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Regional
Advisor for North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf,
Redhoaune Saadi, who reported that IOM currently had no
programs in place to assist Eritreans in Egypt. He agreed
with UNHCR's assessment that at the core this was a political
issue and it would be necessary to involve the Government of
Israel. However, IOM was willing to work with UNHCR and
would also contact the Government of Egypt and offer IOM's
assistance. He noted that IOM would only assist on returns
if they were voluntary. In a follow-up conversation on July
29, Saadi said that IOM would be willing to provide
assistance on anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling, or

possibly on boarder security to assist the Egyptians.

TICHENOR