HAC OFFERS JOINT VERIFICATION MECHANISM TO HIGH-LEVEL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 000927 DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARSON, AF/C NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM 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: EAID PGOV PREL SOCI UN SU SUBJECT: HAC OFFERS JOINT VERIFICATION MECHANISM TO HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE REF: KHARTOUM 908 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On August 5, the High-Level Committee (HLC) met in Khartoum, the third such meeting since the U.S. Special Envoy and the Government of National Unity (GNU) agreed to empower the HLC to focus on urgent humanitarian issues in Darfur, and to expand it to include important GNU line ministries. GNU Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) Chief Hassabo proposed a joint verification committee to include IOM and UNHCR, as well as WHO, UNICEF, WFP and other NGOs. The offer appears to mark a significant step forward in cooperation. Inclusion of line ministries in the HLC meeting led to more robust discussion of needs and how to meet them than had occurred in the past. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On August 5, the HLC met in Khartoum, the third such meeting pursuant to the April agreement between the U.S. Special Envoy and the GNU to empower the HLC to focus on urgent humanitarian issues in Darfur, and to expand it to include important GNU ministries. The GNU Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Haroun Lual Ruun, and Acting UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator (HC),Kenro Oshidari, co-chaired the meeting, with participation of GNU ministries, the United States Government (USG),the United Kingdom (UK),the European Commission (EC),China, Russia, the African Union (AU),the League of Arab States (LAS),non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives, and UN sector leads. Charge d'Affaires and USAID Mission Director represented the USG. ¶3. (U) Acting UN Deputy HC noted progress since the June HLC meeting, including three international NGOs commencing work in Kalma Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camp, and thanked the South Darfur Wali for hosting the HLC delegation visit to South Darfur (Ref). Participants offered the following sector updates: -- Food Assistance: Food assistance partners reported that between January and June 2009, food aid beneficiaries increased from 2,207,000 to 2,398,000; areas covered increased from 201 to 251; and quantity provided increased from 25,665 metric tons (MTs) to 30,352 MTs. In addition, the UN World Food Program (WFP) has secured and pre-positioned adequate food stocks to ensure timely distribution through December 2009. Gaps are currently filled, but existing NGO capacity is strained and there is a need for more information sharing between WFP and the GNU Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) to allow food to reach returnees. -- Health and Nutrition: The GNU Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that the health service coverage gap decreased from 78,000 to 33,500 individuals and health centers in Labado, Kalma, and Kubum resumed operations as of mid-July. In addition, health partners conducted vaccination campaigns serving nearly 75,000 individuals in West Darfur and 284,000 individuals in North Darfur. The GNU has provided health funds through August 2009; however, there is a need to ensure adequate funding for the remainder of the year as well as for flood-related diseases, environmental health services and community health services in several areas of Darfur, including El Fasher, Feina, Kebkabiya, Tawang, Gabyei, Gemaiza, and Hagar Bagar. -- According to the MoH, nutrition partners have re-established 34 of 35 outpatient therapeutic feeding centers and 15 of 15 supplementary feeding centers, and the centers have supplies to operate through October 2009. Since June, NGOs and the MoH have commenced acute malnutrition trainings. Key remaining gaps and issues include Hissa Hissa IDP camp in Zeleingei area of West Darfur, which remains without nutrition services; long-term strategic efforts; technical support; increased community outreach; and a financial shortage of USD 250,000 per month to provide services. -- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported progress in the WASH sector, including regular water service, water monitoring, and soap distributions to all 38 gap locations. In addition, all motorized water pumps throughout Darfur remain chlorinated, and partners have established monitoring tools. Although the GNU has contributed USD 2.86 million and UNICEF has provided USD 1.97 million to support WASH programs, the KHARTOUM 00000927 002 OF 003 long-term strategy remains absent and partners experience challenges concerning the access to expelled NGO supplies, as well as inadequate NGO capacity. -- Monitoring and Evaluation: The UN World Health Organization (WHO) told the group that, despite improvements in coverage, significant gaps remain in monitoring and evaluation. ¶5. (U) GNU HAC Commissioner Hassabo noted displeasure with the health statistics. With adequate staff, funds, and supplies, Hassabo said he believed that the problem must lie with the management of the programs. In response to a question from the Department for International Development (DFID),Hassabo said the GNU will support all sectors beyond August 31, but will make an additional request for assistance from international donors. -------------- -- Updates on New Sectors: Education, Livelihoods -------------- -- ¶6. (U) In June, the HLC agreed to expand monitoring to include the education, and food security and livelihoods sectors, for which updates were also provided. The GNU asked that presentation of a third sector, the protection sector, be delayed until the next HLC meeting to allow relevant GNU ministries to participate in a joint assessment. -- Education: UNICEF said that a shortage of more than 9,000 teachers is exacerbated by a Ministry of Finance embargo against employing new teachers. Other problems include lack of a system for integrating into the government system volunteer teachers trained by NGOs; poor conditions of 70 percent of classrooms; and 122 schools and 87,386 students that remain affected by lost services from the six expelled NGOs. Additional gaps include 27 localities with partial or no education services; a funding shortfall of USD 9.5 million to fill the gap left by the expelled NGOs; low levels of government funding for education; and limited capacity for monitoring and coordination. -- Food Security and Livelihoods: Based on a limited assessment, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that 600,000 vulnerable households were present in Darfur, with between 50 to 65 percent of the households targeted to receive production support and assistance. Since March, the GNU, FAO, and NGOs have provided coverage for 35 to 50 percent of the gap left by expelled NGOs. Key priorities include efforts to increase local production of seeds; combat pests; increase winter crop production and off-season income-generating activities; ensure animal vaccination coverage; and enhance natural resources protection. -------------- Joint Verification Mechanism Proposed -------------- ¶7. (U) The EC representative noted that, while in Darfur, the delegation witnessed several types of population movements, including seasonal returns and possible permanent returns. The GNU HAC invited the establishment of a joint verification mechanism on returns in South Darfur, to include the GNU, IOM, and UNHCR. (NOTE: The IOM has been prohibited from traveling to South Darfur since February 2009. END NOTE.) This mechanism would provide the basis for a dialogue between the Government, UN, and donor partners on the appropriate balance of support between emergency humanitarian assistance and transitional support to returnees, and was welcomed by participants at the HLC meeting. Participants stressed that they are unable to provide assistance unless international organizations confirm that the returns are voluntary; the IOM and UNHCR have the expertise to make such determinations. In addition, security for aid workers is a prerequisite for the international community to support returns. The kidnapping of international staff and the more than 100 break-ins of NGO facilities since January 2009 have not yet been resolved. ¶8. (U) Hassabo proposed; however, that the joint verification KHARTOUM 00000927 003 OF 003 committee also include representatives from WHO, UNICEF, WFP, the GNU, and NGOs, noting that IOM and UNHCR do not have technical expertise to determine humanitarian needs including food and health, and, therefore, should not be solely responsible to verify returns. He noted that 46 villages are currently sheltering 22,651 returned households in South Darfur, and asked the international community to speed up response to their needs. ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT. With the participation of several new line ministries, such as Health and Water/Sanitation, in the meeting, the representative of GNU HAC had confirmation from the government's own officials of facts that he might otherwise have been able to dismiss. This led to a more robust discussion of needs and how to meet them than had been possible in the past. In light of the urgent need to verify the volunteer status of returnees as a prerequisite to providing assistance, the HAC's offer to organize a joint verification committee that includes IOM and UNHCR is a significant step forward in cooperation. END COMMENT. WHITEHEAD