Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YAOUNDE126
2008-02-08 15:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
Cameroon-based UN Assessment of the Refugee Situation in
how-toVZCZCXRO3360 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHYD #0126 0391511 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 081511Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8556 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE 0083 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0213 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0392 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1701 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2003
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
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
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