ERITREA TIGHTENS VICE ON ICRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000225 DEPARTENT FOR AF/EX AND AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2019 TAGS: EAID PHUM PREF PGOV ER SUBJECT: ERITREA TIGHTENS VICE ON ICRC Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) ONCE FAVORED, NOW UNWANTED -------------- The Isaias regime has greatly restricted the operations of the once-favored International Committee of the Red Cross, according to the ICRC Head of Delegation Gherardo Pontrandolfi (strictly protect). The operational environment is growing so bad that ICRC will in August announce a substantial scaling back of its core activities in Eritrea. ¶2. (C) THE VICE TIGHTENS -------------- The ICRC, with 16 expatriate staff, has long undertaken successful and substantial humanitarian and development programs in Eritrea. However, in 2008 the government refused to allow ICRC to purchase diesel fuel. The ICRC then imported gasoline vehicles, one of which was temporarily seized by local authorities, only to see the government refuse to license many of the others. The ICRC sent back most of its new vehicles and now has a fleet of just four cars. Asmara-based staff have not received regime permission to travel outside the capital since April. The ICRC repatriation program for Ethiopians and Eritreans was canceled by the government of Eritrea in March. Since then Eritrea has conducted three unilateral "repatriations" of Ethiopians that border on forced expulsion. Eritrea has not only refused ICRC permission to visit Djibouti POWs, it denies holding any. The regime has not allowed ICRC to deliver messages to the families of the Eritrean POWs held by Djibouti. Unlike many resident foreigners and Eritrean citizens, ICRC staff receive no government ration allotment for scarce staples like flour and cooking oil. Two weeks ago ICRC was notified that its employees could no longer patronize the two hard-currency stores in Asmara where some Western consumer goods are available. ¶3. (C) PARANOID REGIME -------------- Pontrandolfi told the ambassador July 13 that ICRC has decided to reduce its scope and range of activities in Eritrea as a result of stepped-up regime pressure. He said senior regime authorities have accused him and the ICRC of being tools of "powerful countries" set on destroying Eritrea. The officials specifically alleged that the ICRC is in cahoots with unnamed countries seeking to sanction Eritrea via the UN Security Council. To help mollify these paranoid officials, Pontrandolfi promised to hold off any public announcement of the ICRC cut-backs until August, after the UNSC debate on Eritrea sanctions. MCMULLEN