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