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