COMBATTING ECUADOR'S INCREASING REFUGEE POPULATION

UNCLAS QUITO 000322

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL SMIG EC

SUBJECT: COMBATTING ECUADOR'S INCREASING REFUGEE POPULATION


1. SUMMARY: This cable summarizes a review of the World Food
Program's (WFP) assistance to Colombian refugees (defined in this
cable as persons of concern) in northern Ecuador. The review was
conducted by Barry Burnett, USAID/DCHA/FFP, over the period April 6
- April 10, 2009 and included field trips to Ibarra, Tulcan, and San
Lorenzo in northern Ecuador. Mr. Burnett also interviewed
representatives of WFP, UNHCR, USAID/Ecuador, IOM, Hebrew Immigrant
Aid Society (HIAS),and Colombian refugees. Findings indicate that
Colombian refugee levels are increasing, both along the northern
border with Colombia and elsewhere in the country. UN agencies and
their implementing partners are providing critically needed
assistance to this growing refugee population. However, it is
estimated that the scope of current operations will need to be
expanded to meet the rising needs.

MORE COLOMBIANS FLEEING THE CONFLICT AT THE BORDER

2. The long-standing conflict between Government of Colombia forces
and illegal armed groups has resulted in the displacement of up to
4.4 million Colombians, with tens of thousands seeking refuge in
Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama. UNHCR estimates that Ecuador is
hosting at least 135,000 persons of concern, of which 22,000 have
been granted refugee status and another 72,000 have pending asylum
applications with the GOE. One of WFP's key implementing partners,
HIAS, is responsible for making initial contact with refugees and
providing guidance, orientation and emergency assistance, including
food aid and counseling. HIAS reported that the refugee level was
30 percent higher in the period November 2008 to March 2009 than the
refugee level recorded in the previous ten months, January 2008 to
October 2008.

WFP ASSISTING 11,000 WITH FOOD AID AND TRAINING

3. WFP's food assistance program is currently reaching nearly 11,000
of the most food-insecure refugees and other highly vulnerable
people in host communities. Total WFP beneficiaries are projected
to increase as the level of refugees continues to rise. WFP is
increasing the provision of food-for-training and food-for-work as
it seeks to accelerate recovery operations in 2009 and beyond.


4. Site visits indicated, for example, that WFP food distributions
supplement provisions from small family plots for a group of elderly
refugees and food-insecure elders in the host-community. WFP
complements food distributions with lessons about health and
nutrition delivered to beneficiaries in biweekly meetings. WFP also
trains women in a variety of handicrafts and businesses (e.g. fish
marketing) to improve their livelihoods. In certain communities,
WFP distributes food aid to refugee children being attended to by
state-funded baby-sitters so their mothers can go to work.


5. During a high-profile ceremony in Ibarra in northern Ecuador
commemorating the distribution of Title II-funded fortified wheat
flour for which U.S. Ambassador Heather Hodges was the
guest-of-honor, senior GOE officials made clear their appreciation
for the assistance but urged that other countries recognize the
severity of the growing refugee problem and lend assistance.
According to UNHCR sources, the GOE has provided some $40 million in
support of health care, education and registration for Colombian
refugees.

NEW GOE/UN PROGRAM REGISTERS REFUGEES IN ONE DAY

6. Prior to being officially recognized as a refugee, asylum seekers
are not allowed to seek employment, forcing a greater dependence on
basic services, including food aid. Recently, with UNHCR support,
the GOE agreed to an accelerated registration process that cuts down
the time required to obtain refugee identification cards from nine
months to one day. About 1,300 Colombians were granted refugee
status in the first two weeks of the initiative (March 23-April 3,
2009). UNHCR expects it will take some time to fully
institutionalize the accelerated registration process, but it is a
promising start.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS


7. A. The flow of Colombian refugees across Ecuador's northern
border shows no sign of abating; quite the opposite, NGO contacts
indicated that this flow appears to have increased in recent
months.


B. UN institutions, in particular WFP and UNHCR, are rendering
critically important emergency services to Colombian refugees,
including food aid, counseling, orientation, and training, to
facilitate their transition from Colombia to Ecuador. The
challenges facing the UN and other institutions seeking to improve
refugee conditions are complicated by the presence of illegal armed
groups, the flow of drugs from Colombia across sections of the
border to the Pacific Ocean and on to foreign markets, and Ecuador's
high rate of unemployment and underemployment (8.5 and 53 percent
respectively as of February 2009).


C. The Ecuadorian military patrols the northern border region and
protects against armed incursions, as well as the illegal flow of
drugs, weapons and other contraband. The GOE is also seeking to
coordinate assistance efforts aimed at strengthening economic
conditions along the northern border. In this context, WFP and
UNHCR should use its strong presence in the region to continue to
assist the GOE in coordinating relief efforts in northern Ecuador.


D. WFP will undertake an assessment of its food aid program later
this year and will likely recommend a larger program, with greater
attention to rehabilitation efforts. Such an approach would appear
consistent with the conditions observed and outlined above.

Hodges