Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU946
2009-10-14 12:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
BHUTAN REFUGEE FOOD SUPPLIES INTERRUPTED
how-toVZCZCXRO9681 OO RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #0946 2871218 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 141218Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0902 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7155 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7492 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2828 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 5533 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6639 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3285 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4797 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2433 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3686 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000946
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA AND PRM
USEU FOR BTHOMAS
GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF EAID NP
SUBJECT: BHUTAN REFUGEE FOOD SUPPLIES INTERRUPTED
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000946
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA AND PRM
USEU FOR BTHOMAS
GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF EAID NP
SUBJECT: BHUTAN REFUGEE FOOD SUPPLIES INTERRUPTED
1. (U) Summary. World Food Program (WFP) food supplies for
Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal are insufficient,
so WFP will soon provide half rations for about one month.
Meanwhile, UNHCR reports that security in Bhutanese refugee
camps is good and fraud is relatively low in refugee
resettlement cases. End Summary.
2. (U) WFP Deputy Representative Dominique Hyde briefed
representatives of the U.S., Denmark, Australia, Canada, the
Netherlands and UNHCR on an upcoming food pipeline break for
the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal. WFP will start half
rations of rice next week and expects the cut to last for
about one month until Food for Peace assistance en route
arrives. This is the first cut ever for the camps and both
WFP and UNHCR expect some unrest in the camps. The U.S.
assistance en route will provide food until mid-January, but
there are no pledges of food after that. ECHO, which was the
second largest funder in past years, has said it will provide
no food this year.
3. (U) UNHCR Acting Representative Diane Goodman provided an
update on the security situation in the camps. She said the
situation is stable, despite another murder in September.
UNHCR is working with local authorities to investigate, but
there are no clear motives at this time. She noted that
media reports about the event were exaggerated.
4. (U) Goodman also shared details on the one documented
fraud case so far. This case involves a camp secretary who
pressured a Bhutanese refugee to list a Nepali as her son.
The case was discovered when her real son returned from
India. There have been 26 other cases reported and an expert
will be coming out shortly to investigate the cases according
to Goodman. UNHCR believes that fraud is still relatively
low, but will be conducting extra training at the end of the
month as a precaution.
5. (U) Goodman confirmed that Stephane Jacquemet has been
named the new UNHCR Representative for Nepal. UNHCR is
waiting for agrement from the GON. Jacquemet is currently
serving in Lebanon.
6. (SBU) Comment. While the food pipeline break next week is
expected to be short, the lack of funding for 2010 is
troubling. Meeting participants, including the Danish
Ambassador, agreed that the EU position on cutting funding
was unhelpful. The ECHO Director of Operations will be in
Nepal on November 10-11, and will be asked about this issue.
End Comment.
MOON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA AND PRM
USEU FOR BTHOMAS
GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF EAID NP
SUBJECT: BHUTAN REFUGEE FOOD SUPPLIES INTERRUPTED
1. (U) Summary. World Food Program (WFP) food supplies for
Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal are insufficient,
so WFP will soon provide half rations for about one month.
Meanwhile, UNHCR reports that security in Bhutanese refugee
camps is good and fraud is relatively low in refugee
resettlement cases. End Summary.
2. (U) WFP Deputy Representative Dominique Hyde briefed
representatives of the U.S., Denmark, Australia, Canada, the
Netherlands and UNHCR on an upcoming food pipeline break for
the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal. WFP will start half
rations of rice next week and expects the cut to last for
about one month until Food for Peace assistance en route
arrives. This is the first cut ever for the camps and both
WFP and UNHCR expect some unrest in the camps. The U.S.
assistance en route will provide food until mid-January, but
there are no pledges of food after that. ECHO, which was the
second largest funder in past years, has said it will provide
no food this year.
3. (U) UNHCR Acting Representative Diane Goodman provided an
update on the security situation in the camps. She said the
situation is stable, despite another murder in September.
UNHCR is working with local authorities to investigate, but
there are no clear motives at this time. She noted that
media reports about the event were exaggerated.
4. (U) Goodman also shared details on the one documented
fraud case so far. This case involves a camp secretary who
pressured a Bhutanese refugee to list a Nepali as her son.
The case was discovered when her real son returned from
India. There have been 26 other cases reported and an expert
will be coming out shortly to investigate the cases according
to Goodman. UNHCR believes that fraud is still relatively
low, but will be conducting extra training at the end of the
month as a precaution.
5. (U) Goodman confirmed that Stephane Jacquemet has been
named the new UNHCR Representative for Nepal. UNHCR is
waiting for agrement from the GON. Jacquemet is currently
serving in Lebanon.
6. (SBU) Comment. While the food pipeline break next week is
expected to be short, the lack of funding for 2010 is
troubling. Meeting participants, including the Danish
Ambassador, agreed that the EU position on cutting funding
was unhelpful. The ECHO Director of Operations will be in
Nepal on November 10-11, and will be asked about this issue.
End Comment.
MOON