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