EMBASSY N'DJAMENA'S EAC CHANGES POST POLICY ON

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000040

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/CC, DS/TIA/ITA, AF/EX, AND PRM
USAID FOR OFDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC EAID PREF CD UN
SUBJECT: EMBASSY N'DJAMENA'S EAC CHANGES POST POLICY ON
TRAVEL TO EASTERN CHAD


1. (SBU) Embassy N'Djamena's Emergency Action Committee (EAC)
met on Thursday, February 5 in order to discuss the
deteriorating security situation in Abeche, the regional
capital of eastern Chad.


2. (SBU) RSO presented a briefing on the current security
situation in eastern Chad. He emphasized that, according to
UN Division of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and other
reporting reporting, criminal acts against UN staff and
humanitarian workers had risen by an estimated 80% since July

2008. RSO further noted that, in January 2009 alone, UNDSS
reported thirteen (13) criminal incidents involving
UN/humanitarian personnel. In ten (10) of these incidents the
assailant or assailants were armed with a firearm. All of
these incidents occurred after dark.


3. (SBU) In light of this situation the EAC recommended to
the Chief of Mission and he has approved, a revised Post
policy for travel to eastern Chad, including Abeche town. The
main elements of the revised policy are:


A. No USG personnel subject to Chief of Mission (COM)
authority will be permitted to overnight in Abeche, because
secure lodging for visiting USG personnel is unavailable.


B. USG personnel subject to COM authority are permitted to
make day trips to Abeche. (Note: Travel time limits the
operational usefulness of day trips to Abeche).


C. USG personnel subject to COM authority may still use
Abeche as a transfer point to an onward destination.


D. USG personnel subject to COM authority may overnight in
other designated locations in eastern Chad, subject to COM
approval on a case-by-case basis.


4. (SBU) The EAC noted that the two facilities in Abeche that
are considered to be secure, the main EUFOR base and the
French military installation (both located near the Abeche
airport),are not currently available for use by USG
personnel.


5. (SBU) The EUFOR facility will be handed over to MINURCAT,
the UN PeaceKeeping Operation in eastern Chad, on March 15,
2009 and may become a viable lodging option for USG personnel
at that time. If the USG decides to explore lodging options
at the MINUIRCAT base after March 15, it should consider
making demarches to that end in New York.


6. (SBU) The EAC will continue monitoring the security
situation in eastern Chad in general and in Abeche in
particular. Should the security environment change the EAC
will consider modifying the current policy as appropriate.

NIGRO