Cameroon-based UN Assessment of the Refugee Situation in

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000126 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: n/a TAGS: PREF CM CD SUBJECT: Cameroon-based UN Assessment of the Refugee Situation in Kousseri ¶1. (U) Summary: On February 8, Poloff attended a UNDP-organized meeting of UN agencies, the ICRC, and diplomats to discuss ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts to refugees from Chad currently in Kousseri. According to those at the meeting, the 30,000 refugees in the area lack adequate shelter, food and water. The first installment of WFP food aid will arrive February 9. There is little security at the border with Chad, they said, while agreeing that the GRC response has been very supportive. End summary. The Humanitarian Situation -------------- ¶2. (U) According to UN presenters at the February 8 meeting, there are now an estimated 30,000 refugees needing assistance in Kousseri, down from a peak of around 50,000. The situation in Kousseri is chaotic and providing shelter is a major challenge. Some refugees have been welcomed into the homes of local Cameroonians. For those needing UN assistance, the UNHCR plans at the end of next week to gather them together in Madana (about 30 km outside of Kousseri) in a 120 hectare space used during a previous crisis in Chad. ¶3. (U) The refugees received their first supply of water from the UN on February 7. The GRC is trying to create a water pipeline to bring water to the refugees. The first distribution of food (maize, sugar and oil) is programmed for February 9 by the World Food Program (WFP). UN agencies are planning for assistance to up to 50,000 refugees. ¶4. (U) There are currently three UN offices in Kousseri. UNHCR is trying to place staff back into Ndjamena. UNICEF is working with unaccompanied minors and planning to provide trauma counseling. They also plan to provide 5,000 kg of therapeutic food and vaccinating 36,000 children for polio, rubella and meningitis. They will also investigate a suspected polio case in Kousseri. Security -------------- ¶5. (U) According to the UN briefing, there is a steady flow of refugees in and out of Kousseri, with people going to Chad to secure items and then returning back to Cameroon for safety. Cameroonian security at the borders is weak and unable to prevent people from bringing in weapons. Due to the heavy fighting near the border, there is unexploded ordinance (UXO) around Kousseri. The Government Response -------------- ¶6. (U) Minister of Territorial Administration Hamidou Yaya Marafa is in Kousseri to bring some food for local Cameroonians and to evaluate the situation. According to UN contacts, the GRC has been extremely cooperative, opening air space from Yaounde to Garoua, transporting water, and respecting refugee norms. Comment -------------- ¶7. (U) In meetings with GRC officials this week, they have expressed concern about the refugee situation in Kousseri; however, we have not been able to get a good readout of the situation from the government (probably because they are still assessing things themselves). The UN organizations here, led by UNHCR, appear well organized and are beginning to get supplies to Kousseri. In the February 8 meeting, the UN contacts did not make appeals for assistance, but noted that their headquarters offices would be doing so. GARVEY