Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA437
2009-12-21 12:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
SOON JUST TWO NGOS LEFT IN ERITREA?
how-toVZCZCXRO1920 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0437 3551207 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 211207Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0647 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000437
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
GEORGIANNA PLATT FOR USAID
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2019
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: SOON JUST TWO NGOS LEFT IN ERITREA?
REF: 08 ASMARA 429
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000437
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
GEORGIANNA PLATT FOR USAID
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2019
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: SOON JUST TWO NGOS LEFT IN ERITREA?
REF: 08 ASMARA 429
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) New Eritrean government (GSE) policies could force two
of the remaining four international NGOs to leave Eritrea,
according to Ayman Omer, director of Oxfam. According to
Omer, the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare (MLHW) will now
require international NGOs to have an operating budget of at
least $2 million. Omer is not certain when or how the new
policy will go into effect. Oxfam and Norwegian Church Aid
(NCA),with annual budgets of about $4 million and $3 million
respectively, will easily meet the new requirements.
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Catholic Relief Service
(CRS) have budgets well below the required amount. Moreover,
neither LWF nor CRS has a director in country at the moment.
Although LWF advertised for a new director, and reportedly
has selected a candidate, the organization's local staff
would not say when the person will arrive. The CRS regional
office recalled the previous director and has not advertised
the position since.
3. (C) COMMENT: International NGOs have found it increasingly
difficult to function normally in Eritrea since the 2005 NGO
proclamation that restricted them to working directly with
the GSE. Local staff are harassed (reftel),the NGOs are not
given fuel to visit project sites, and expat staff are
rarely, if ever, afforded travel permits. Although each of
the four remaining NGOs has expressed a desire to remain in
country, it is obvious they are just one or two restrictions
away from having to pack up and leave.
McMullen
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
GEORGIANNA PLATT FOR USAID
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2019
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: SOON JUST TWO NGOS LEFT IN ERITREA?
REF: 08 ASMARA 429
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) New Eritrean government (GSE) policies could force two
of the remaining four international NGOs to leave Eritrea,
according to Ayman Omer, director of Oxfam. According to
Omer, the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare (MLHW) will now
require international NGOs to have an operating budget of at
least $2 million. Omer is not certain when or how the new
policy will go into effect. Oxfam and Norwegian Church Aid
(NCA),with annual budgets of about $4 million and $3 million
respectively, will easily meet the new requirements.
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Catholic Relief Service
(CRS) have budgets well below the required amount. Moreover,
neither LWF nor CRS has a director in country at the moment.
Although LWF advertised for a new director, and reportedly
has selected a candidate, the organization's local staff
would not say when the person will arrive. The CRS regional
office recalled the previous director and has not advertised
the position since.
3. (C) COMMENT: International NGOs have found it increasingly
difficult to function normally in Eritrea since the 2005 NGO
proclamation that restricted them to working directly with
the GSE. Local staff are harassed (reftel),the NGOs are not
given fuel to visit project sites, and expat staff are
rarely, if ever, afforded travel permits. Although each of
the four remaining NGOs has expressed a desire to remain in
country, it is obvious they are just one or two restrictions
away from having to pack up and leave.
McMullen