SUDAN - DONORS MEET WITH UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GERNERAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 000631 DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARSON, AF/C NSC FOR MGAVIN DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN GENEVA FOR NKYLOH UN ROME FOR HSPANOS NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF EAID KPKO SOCI ASEC AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - DONORS MEET WITH UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GERNERAL HOLMES REF: A) KHARTOUM 613 B) KHARTOUM 593 C) KHARTOUM 589 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On May 10, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes met with international donors, including U.S. Embassy and USAID/Sudan staff, to discuss the humanitarian situation in northern Sudan following the early March expulsion of non-governmental organizations (NGO). Participants also discussed recent displacement in Southern Sudan resulting from insecurity and inter-ethnic conflict. According to Holmes, the government has taken significant steps to improve the operating environment in Darfur due largely to the U.S. Special Envoy's early April framework. Since April, the government has completed the majority of technical agreements (TAs),issued multiple re-entry visas, and discussed allowing new NGO registration. However, Holmes noted challenges to addressing gaps in northern Sudan and responding to new displacement in Southern Sudan, including resource issues, insecurity, and access difficulties. Despite continuing doubts regarding the Sudanese government's intent to follow through on agreements, Holmes urged donors to continue to focus on humanitarian needs and support programs to address gaps. END SUMMARY -------------- NGO Expulsions and Gap Filling -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Since the early March NGO expulsions, the UN has pursued a three track approach in discussions with the Government of National Unity (GNU),consisting of advocating a reversal of the expulsions; addressing short-term, life-saving gaps in assistance through remaining organizations; and improving the operating environment. According to Holmes, over the past month, the Sudanese government has taken positive steps towards ensuring a more positive operating environment, mainly due to the early April negotiations between U.S. Special Envoy J. Scott Gration and the National Congress Party. ¶3. (SBU) Among the positive initiatives, Holmes noted that the GNU has issued multiple re-entry visas and ministerial decrees easing bureaucratic impediments, completed the majority of Technical Agreements (TAs),and reaffirmed its commitment to the 2007 Joint Communique. In addition, Holmes stated that the GNU is reviewing the possibility of allowing new NGOs to register in Sudan with new names and logos to address gaps in assistance. Holmes mentioned that the government clarified that all NGOs have the option to register as new organizations, not only those associated with the Special Envoy's negotiations. Holmes expressed appreciation for the government's more accommodating attitude and his hope that recent agreements will establish a more positive operating environment than existed prior to the March expulsions. Holmes noted that the GNU's recent positive language in both private and public on addressing gaps, avoiding a crisis, and encouraging new NGO registrations differs from the government's previous rancorous stance towards NGOs. ¶4. (SBU) However, Holmes and other donors cautioned that recent agreements require full implementation in order to achieve concrete results. The Canadian Charge d'Affaires noted concerns about encouraging new NGOs to register in Sudan under new names and logos, questioning how the international community could ensure that the government would not expel the agencies again. Holmes emphasized that the decision on whether to register and return to Sudan ultimately rests with the individual NGOs, and GNU actions to date appear to demonstrate its willingness to comply with agreements. ¶5. (SBU) In addition, Holmes noted challenges in implementing federal ministerial decrees in the Darfur states. According to Holmes, a significant change in rhetoric has occurred in South Darfur state with regard to humanitarian operations; however, changes have been slow to advance at the field-level. (Note: In late April, NGOs reported that South Darfur authorities would not permit NGOs to travel to the state capital of Nyala using only a passport and GNU Humanitarian Aid Commission identification card, in KHARTOUM 00000631 002 OF 003 clear contravention to the April 16 ministerial decree. End Note.) To encourage actual change within Darfur states, Holmes emphasized that the High-Level Committee (HLC),which meets monthly to discuss bureaucratic impediments to program implementation, needs to be replicated within the Darfur states. Holmes reported that this process has already begun through Tripartite Joint Technical Committees, which have been established in Darfur state capitals and Khartoum. ¶6. (SBU) Holmes also noted discrepancies between government and UN reporting, with the government asserting that the UN has exaggerated needs estimates in Darfur and the UN stating that the government should not minimize needs. (Note: The UN estimates that the Darfur conflict has affected 4.7 million people and killed approximately 300,000; however, the Sudanese government claims that the conflict has killed "only" 10,000 people. End Note.) Holmes also highlighted reporting limitations in the field, which have hampered the humanitarian community's ability to assess assistance gaps following the expulsions. To resolve discrepancies, the UN, donors and the GNU agreed at the May 7 HLC meeting to develop joint assessment teams to monitor and evaluate commitments, needs, and programs in the three Darfur states (ref. A). ¶7. (SBU) Holmes reported that insecurity remains a challenge to improving the operating environment and addressing gaps in Darfur. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),assaults, carjackings, and humanitarian staff abductions have impeded humanitarian service delivery in all three Darfur states. Since March 11, armed groups have abducted at least nine aid workers in Darfur, including the recent abduction of four international staff, who were later released unharmed. As a result, some NGOs have relocated staff from Darfur to Khartoum, and the GNU has increased its security presence in high-risk areas. In eastern Sudan, Holmes noted that while the government seeks increased international assistance to this area, it has made traveling to the location extremely difficult. ¶8. (SBU) According to Holmes, while the GNU, the UN, and remaining NGOs have covered the most critical, life-saving assistance gaps, significant gaps remain in northern Sudan. Holmes noted education and protection as particular areas of concern. The GNU continues to assert that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees does not have a mandate to provide assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) (ref A). Holmes said that the international community needs to continue to push the government to accept that humanitarian work also includes protection activities. ¶9. (SBU) Holmes noted ongoing gaps in assistance in rural areas and Zam Zam IDP camp in North Darfur. (Note: Since January 2009, nearly 50,000 IDPs have arrived at Zam Zam camp due to conflict and insecurity in South Darfur, according to Holmes. (Note: Zam Zam was designed to accommodate 65,000 individuals, but according to estimates by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) the camp currently holds between 95,000 and 100,000 people, straining limited camp resources. End Note.) Although Zam Zam is beyond its capacity, the Sudanese government has not yet identified a site for a new Zam Zam camp IDPs despite repeated requests to do so. -------------- The Three Areas -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Holmes anticipates that the GNU and the UN will release the joint assessment on the Three Areas (Abyei, Southern Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan) in the coming days, pending results from Southern Kordofan state. Based on preliminary results, Holmes reported that the expulsions have left considerable gaps in the Three Areas, which will be more difficult to fill, since fewer organizations operate there. According to Holmes, individuals in the Three Areas feel strongly that peacebuilding and governance programs will be at-risk if organizations are not allowed to return. Holmes reported that the UN, in accordance with the Special Envoy's framework, already has proposed creating a separate Joint Communique on the Three Areas to resolve challenges to program implementation, similar to the 2007 Joint Communique for Darfur. According to Holmes, the plan has received a positive response from Sudan People's Liberation Movement representatives. KHARTOUM 00000631 003 OF 003 -------------- Southern Sudan -------------- ¶11. (SBU) On May 8, Holmes visited southern Sudan to monitor recent displacements due to interethnic violence and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attacks. Since January 2009, inter-ethnic violence and LRA attacks have killed up to 1,000 people and displaced more than 100,000 others in southern Sudan, according to OCHA. In Akobo County, Jonglei State, inter-ethnic violence between the Murle and Nuer tribal groups has killed hundreds of people and displaced more than 22,000 individuals since March, according to the UN. Holmes reported that displaced individuals are in need of shelter, additional food aid, and emergency relief supplies. However, access remains a significant constraint to relief operations, as the area is difficult to reach by road. While noting that security conditions have improved recently, Holmes reported that conflict continues. Reconciliation efforts are underway, but both groups remain heavily armed, contributing to the tense security environment. Holmes appealed for a peaceful resolution of problems through dialogue and a process of voluntary disarmament. ¶12. (SBU) In Juba, Holmes met with Government of Southern Sudan Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar to discuss customs issues, LRA attacks, and how to mitigate ethnic conflicts. According to Holmes, ongoing violence threatens development initiatives in the south and has forced some agencies to suspend plans to transfer health programs to the government. Holmes noted that agencies also are concerned about lack of resources in 2009 to meet increased needs. According to OCHA, agencies estimate that the number of at-risk individuals will increase by 20 to 30 percent in Southern Sudan during the second half of 2009. Holmes noted the importance of acknowledging challenges in southern Sudan, stating, "it is not in our interest to see that it (southern Sudan) turns into a failed state." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Closing the meeting, Holmes reiterated that whatever doubts donors have about the GNU, "the needs of the people in Darfur have not changed." To move forward, Holmes noted that there would be resource challenges in addressing gaps, as well as to respond to new displacements in southern Sudan. To address gaps in northern Sudan, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) is working with partners to expand programs and areas of operations. In southern Sudan, USAID/OFDA supports IOM's distribution of emergency relief supplies and its provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to individuals affected by LRA attacks. In the coming months, USAID/OFDA anticipates funding new NGO activities in LRA-affected areas of Western Equatoria State. FERNANDEZ