MEETING WITH UN U/SG JOHN HOLMES: AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 001568 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2019 TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM EAID PGOV PTER PK SUBJECT: MEETING WITH UN U/SG JOHN HOLMES: AMBASSADOR PUSHES UN ON EARLY RECOVERY ASSISTANCE Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a July 10 meeting with UN Under Secretary John Holmes, Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Mogwanja and UN staff, the Ambassador stressed the importance of getting UN humanitarian assistance into Buner and Swat as soon as possible, the need for the UN to undertake donor coordination, and concern over UN public exaggerations of the severity of the current IDP situation. Holmes and Mogwanja said that the UN had food and non-food items prepositioned in Buner, that needs assessments would take place there and possibly in the lower union councils of Swat in the coming week, and that the UN will support return of the displaced and early recovery so long as the GOP maintains a commitment to voluntary return. The humanitarian assistance community planned to meet with Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) authorities on July 11 to establish a framework for returns. Holmes, who had visited Buner, found destruction minimal and life returning to normal. He expected a much worse situation in Swat and expected the military to be clearing resistance there well into autumn. Holmes looked for a donor partner to engage in donor coordination, although the Ambassador noted that the U.S. and the U.K. are not well placed to serve in this role. However, the U.S., with the Friends of Pakistan, will coordinate the reconstruction assistance effort. Holmes said that the global financial response to this humanitarian crisis is "not what it should be" while the U.S. contribution is greater than it should have to be. Holmes will seek to ensure that UN security is an enabler not a blocker of humanitarian assistance. He noted that, despite GOP opposition, the UN will at some point have to "talk to the other side" (i.e. the militants) to ensure security of operations. End summary. Returns to Buner; Need for UN Recovery Assistance -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador, DCM, USAID Mission Director, DART team lead, and Refcoord met July 10 with UN Under Secretary John Holmes, Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Mogwanja and UN staff. Holmes had arrived in Pakistan on July 7 and had visited Buner District as well as an IDP camp and hosting communities and schools. Holmes found destruction was minimal, IDPs were returning to Buner, and life was returning to normal despite the fact that five union councils had yet to be fully militarily cleared. He concurred with recent assessment findings that most of the damage was confined to public facilities, including police stations, schools and power grids. Holmes noted that he didn't think that the situation he saw in Buner was at all indicative of what could be expected in Swat where the UN as yet has no independent information. The Ambassador stressed the importance of the humanitarian assistance community's getting into both Buner and Swat as soon as possible. UN Stresses Importance of Voluntary Return -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In discussion of the Prime Minister's announcement that government-facilitated IDP returns would begin July 13, Holmes and Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Mogwanja stressed the importance that the GOP remain committed to the principles of voluntary return, particularly as it implements its phased operational plan which includes the return of 30,000 people to Buner in nineteen days. The humanitarian assistance community planned to meet with NWFP authorities on July 11 to establish a framework for returns. With regard to transportation of the IDPs, Mogwanja said UNHCR will make a contribution in cash, not in kind, and may need additional funds to support return. Need UN to Undertake Donor Coordination -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed to Holmes the need for the UN to undertake donor coordination, which the Pakistani government is unable and the World Bank unwilling to do. Holmes mentioned the need for a donor counterpart in this coordination, and the Ambassador noted that neither the U.S. ISLAMABAD 00001568 002 OF 003 nor the U.K. is well placed to perform this role. The USAID Mission Director explained that donors need a strategic plan and organizational staff to focus their relief and recovery efforts and ensure that there is no overlap or redundancy in those efforts. The DCM noted that the U.S., with the Friends of Pakistan, will coordinate assistance for reconstruction with the GOP. Security Must Enable, Not Block Assistance -------------- ¶5. (C) While mindful of the UN's loss of personnel in the Peshawar Pearl Continental Hotel bombing, the Ambassador urged that security concerns not constrain a timely UN humanitarian response on returns. Holmes concurred on the need to ensure that UN security is "an enabler, not a blocker" of assistance. He said the UN lacked the analysis and support to ensure provision of assistance in a safe manner; UN security was insufficiently funded. He added the UN is aware its staff, while not protected, are not a target of terrorism. Holmes ventured that the UN will, at some point, have to "talk to the other side" (i.e. the militants) despite the GOP's opposition and government arguments that such contact confers recognition and equates the government with the enemy. Continued GOP-UN Disagreement on Terminology -------------- ¶6. (C) Asked about the GOP's complaints regarding the UN's categorization of the conflict in Pakistan, Holmes said the UN and the GOP would have to agree to disagree. The UN will continue to use the term "conflict" and will not, for example, describe the military's operations against militants as law enforcement operations against "miscreants," as the government would like. However, the UN will seek not to be provocative in its use of language. UN Waziristan Concerns -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador and the UN Under Secretary General discussed government estimates of 50,000 displaced from Waziristan with the anticipation of another 30,000. Holmes and Mogwanja expressed concern that the encircling of Mehsud territory could trap those legitimately fleeing the conflict and seeking humanitarian assistance. Exaggeration of Humanitarian Concerns -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Ambassador expressed concern that the UN in New York and Geneva was exaggerating the gravity of the humanitarian situation and putting a more dire cast on it than was justified. Holmes noted that the humanitarian assistance community (both international organizations and NGOs) is prone to exaggeration and that this tendency is linked to money. He acknowledged the importance of presenting a balanced picture but also noted that despite the appreciated U.S. generosity, the global financial response to this humanitarian crisis is "not what it should be." The U.S. part in this response is greater than it should have to be, he added, and the crisis is not getting the media attention it deserves. In comparison with three weeks ago, however, UN agencies are now "more relaxed" about the situation although the NGOs continue to complain about funding levels. USAID/OFDA DART leader commented that UN-provided figures on the percentage response to the UN appeal do not do justice to the US bilateral contribution. UN Plans for Early Recovery -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The UN's Mogwanja emphasized the UN does have a strategy for early recovery and will start next week with a needs assessment in Buner and possibly the lower union councils in Swat. USAID Mission Director reemphasized that UN specification of the needs would be very helpful in formulation of our assistance plans. Holmes said that, ISLAMABAD 00001568 003 OF 003 thanks to the U.S. and the EU, the World Food Program had ample food, but funding was needed particularly for health, early recovery, and education. Mogwanga said that while the UN will respond to early recovery needs, he anticipated that the military will still be clearing pockets of resistance in Swat well beyond September. The DCM noted that many people in Swat tolerated a year of violence but fled when jobs disappeared and they could no longer support themselves; similarly they will look at economic conditions, as well as security, before they return. ¶10. (SBU) Holmes commented that when he questioned IDPs who were not going back, some said they were waiting for distribution of the government-promised PKR 25,000 ($310) debit cards while others did not believe that their home areas were safe. Mogwanja noted that Lt. General Nadeem, the GOP's lead on the IDP crisis, reported 250,000 families will have the debit cards by the third week in July; approximately 95,000 have been distributed so far. All agreed on the importance of a serious GOP plan for reconstruction. Pakistani capacity, however, is lacking. An important sign of seriousness will be return of the police force. Pressed on the importance of getting assistance up to Buner, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) head Manuel Bessler said food and non-food items had been prepositioned in Daggar. The UN is planning for a maximum of six months of early recovery assistance while "One UN" efforts will last three to five years. The DCM noted that where early recovery ends, the efforts of the Friends of Pakistan will begin on reconstruction. PATTERSON