TALKING POINTS FOR U/SYG HOLMES BRIEFING ON KENYA

UNCLAS STATE 018211

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM KE XA XY
SUBJECT: TALKING POINTS FOR U/SYG HOLMES BRIEFING ON KENYA



1. USUN is instructed to draw from the following talking
points for the February 25 briefing on Kenya to the Security
Council by Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs
John Holmes.

Begin points:

-- We would like to thank Under Secretary General Holmes for
this briefing today on his recent trip to Kenya.

-- The United States is deeply concerned about the
humanitarian crisis that continues in Kenya. Although the
violence has subsided in recent weeks, we continue to call on
all parties to urge their supporters to remain calm and
refrain from violence.

-- The United States reiterates its support for former
Secretary General Kofi Annan and his Panel of Eminent

SIPDIS
African Personalities in their efforts to mediate a political
solution to the crisis. We call on both sides
to continue to negotiate with a constructive and flexible
attitude. As Secretary Rice said in her recent trip to
Kenya, it is important that any political solution contain
real powersharing, not just the illusion of powersharing.
Compromise by both sides will be essential for the greater
good of Kenya and the Kenyan people.

-- The United States has been pleased with the international
community's response to the Kenyan
humanitarian crisis and hopes that governments will continue
to give generously to respond to the evolving
situation.

-- The United States also commends the humanitarian response
by the Kenyan people themselves, through the
tireless work of the Kenyan Red Cross and numerous civil
society organizations. We applaud the Government of
Kenya's cooperation on humanitarian issues, including
addressing the problem of new internally displaced persons
and
refugees from neighboring countries, and call on the
government to intensify such cooperation.

-- Shortly after the violence began, the U.S. Government
deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Kenya to
coordinate our humanitarian response. Our immediate
priorities were protection of IDPs, water, sanitation, and
health
assistance, including shelter and camp management for IDPs,
and assistance to affected host communities in
Kenya. Since January 3, the United States has provided more
than $4.7 million for emergency humanitarian response
activities.

-- Additionally, the United States has pledged FY 2008
support to UNHCR and the International Committee of the
Red Cross to address refugee needs across Africa, including
the initial emergency response to the
refugee/IDP situation in Kenya and Uganda. These
contributions to the ICRC and UNHCR for the response to
the refugee/IDP situation in Kenya and Uganda will be made as
soon as funds are formally available.

Questions for U/SYG Holmes:

-- Longer-term economic recovery and livelihood support is
evolving as a priority. How well positioned is UNDP
to lead early recovery efforts for those affected by
post-election violence in Kenya?

-- The cluster mechanism for a coordinated, inter-agency
response by sectoral needs to new humanitarian emergencies
has been activated for the Kenya crisis, and has begun to
assist vulnerable populations. Do you feel that there are
sufficient coordination linkages between sectoral cluster
leads and the Kenyan Red Cross and GOK disaster response
entities? We are concerned that the UN Cluster system often
appears to be operating a parallel network and there is a
need for stronger linkages between clusters and KRS/GOK at
the national and field level. How can UNOCHA strengthen
and support this?
RICE