REMAINDER OF CHINESE ENGINEERING CONTINGENT ARRIVES IN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001085 DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SPG, S/CRS, SE WILLIAMSON, NSC FOR BPITTMAN AND CHUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: REMAINDER OF CHINESE ENGINEERING CONTINGENT ARRIVES IN DARFUR REF: (A) KHARTOUM 992 (B) KHARTOUM 986 (C) KHARTOUM 965 (D) BEIJING 2529 (E) 07 KHARTOUM 1735 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Completing a slow process which began in mid-November 2007, the remainder of the 315-troop Chinese engineering unit arrived as anticipated on July 17 for their deployment in Nyala. The Chinese Embassy reported that UNAMID continues to experience logistical problems in delivering materials for construction of the Chinese contingent accommodations. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) According to UNAMID contacts, UN-AU JSR Rudolphe Adada and UNAMID Force Commander Martin Luther Agwai flew to Nyala on July 17 to greet 175 Chinese engineers, whose arrival brings the total Chinese contingent to their full 315-troop strength. Chinese Defense Attache Dong Jian Dong told poloff on July 8 about his continued frustrations in preparing for the arrival of the Chinese troops. For example, he said that UNMIS in Khartoum no longer coordinates air clearances for UNAMID flights, nor provides lodging assistance for those in transit to Darfur. (Note: He seemed dissatisfied with the UNAMID logistical office in Khartoum, but our observation has been that the mere presence of the office has improved traditionally bad coordination somewhat. End note.) ¶3. (SBU) Asked if the Nyala super-camp facilities would be ready for the 175 additional Chinese troops, Dong said that some of the materials for their accommodations have not yet arrived in Nyala. He said it took four months to move 140 containers from Khartoum to El-Obeid, and now they await transportation to Nyala. He said that UNAMID is considering moving the 140 containers by air but UNAMID does not have planes with sufficient lift capacity for 100 of the 140 containers, some of which can weigh as much as 22 tons. He said that some of the containers will have to be re-packed but this would be time-consuming and might damage the materials. ¶4. (SBU) Dong said that overland transport from El-Obeid to Nyala is a preferred option were it not for the Darfur-border choke point where convoys wait, sometimes for many weeks, until military/police escorts are arranged. UN Joint Logistics Operations Center (JLOC) Chief David Pittfield said that there is no single solution to the problem of transporting cargo to Nyala. He said that a number of issues ranging from insufficient trucking capacity resulting from the rampant hijacking of truck to overly bureaucratic customs regulations which prevents the smooth flow of materiel to Darfur. ¶5. (SBU) Dong claimed the Government of China approved the temporary redeployment of 95 UNMIS Chinese engineers based in Wau (in South Sudan) to Nyala for one month, but that UMMIS was reluctant to redeploy these troops. He also said UNAMID had not been able to arrange transportation to move the engineers and their equipment from their base in Wau to Nyala. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: The arrival of the Chinese engineers in spite of UNAMID's security concerns is a positive sign that Adada and Agwai plan to push for continued deployment (or perhaps that it was too late to delay their arrival plans). Huge logistical challenges continue to plague UNAMID, as many of the containers required for camp construction still have not arrived. UNAMID should coordinate more closely with WFP, which, despite the considerable obstacles, has been able to maintain a flow of containers into Darfur. The two organizations have met and conferred, but UNAMID does not have anywhere near the logistical savvy of WFP. FERNANDEZ