UNHCR CONFIRMS SAG'S FIVE-STAR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001538

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP JHARRIS AND JBERNDT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF SA YM
SUBJECT: UNHCR CONFIRMS SAG'S FIVE-STAR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS

REF: A. 09 RIYADH 1525

B. 09 RIYADH 1494

C. 09 SANAA 2030

RIYADH 00001538 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador James B. SMith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Acting UNHCR Regional Representative Dr. Hamdi
Bukhari confirmed on November 17 that Saudi Civil Defense was
effectively managing the humanitarian situation along the
southern Saudi Arabian border. Returning from a two day trip
to Yemen, Bukhari reported that UNHCR Camp Muzruk had reached
full-capacity but had enough humanitarian supplies, whereas
the IDPs in the Alp/Mandaba region, only 2km from the Saudi
border, were in desperate need of additional humanitarian
aid. Due to a positive border security assessment completed
this week, UNHCR cross-border humanitarian efforts are
currently underway again, and will provide relief to
approximately 200 families in the Alp/Mandaba region. End
Summary.


FIVE-STAR HUMANITARIAN AID
--------------


2. (C) Acting UNHCR Regional Representative Dr. Hamdi
Bukhari (Strictly Protect) confirmed previous reporting by
Post (reftel A) in a meeting with Poloff on November 17 that
Saudi Civil Defense was effectively providing for Saudi
internally displaced persons (IDPs) along the Saudi-Yemen
border. Referring to Saudi humanitarian aid as "five-star"
quality, Bukhari stated that although UNHCR has not yet been
inside a Saudi IDP camp, everything he has seen and heard
from IDPs outside of these camps, indicate that the SAG is
successfully managing this humanitarian situation.


YEMENI IDPS ON SAUDI SOIL
--------------


3. (C) Bukhari did voice concern over the treatment of
Yemeni IDPs, highlighting the SAG's systematic forced return
of Yemeni IDPs found on Saudi soil. Bukhari discussed how
prior to the November 3 Saudi-Yemen border conflict, there
were many Yemeni IDPs living inside the Saudi border -
tolerated because they were living with their fellow
tribesmen peacefully. After November 3, however, the SAG
began systematically returning all Yemeni IDPs (both old and
new) to Yemen. These IDPs are being offered two choices by
the SAG. They can be bused to Camp Muzruk with very few
personal belongings, or they can return to Yemen with their
belongings and cattle, but on their own, and most likely back
into a conflict zone. UNHCR believes that the Saudis need to
do more to protect the vulnerable IDPs seeking asylum or
temporary protection from Yemen conflict zones, and have
taken this issue up with the SAG in Riyadh and through UNHCR
headquarters in Geneva.


4. (C) Related to the issue of forcible return is the extra
burden these returned IDPs are putting on Camp Muzruk, which
is now at full-capacity providing aid to 10,000 IDPs.
According to Bukhari, there are another 10,000 IDPs outside
of Camp Muzruk in the surrounding areas. During his recent
trip to Yemen, Bukhari said he saw buses full of Yemeni IDPs
being returned from Saudi Arabia to Camp Muzruk hourly.
UNHCR is currently trying to open a second camp due to the
overflow of IDPs at Camp Muzruk, but is encountering
difficulties securing land which belongs to different sheiks
and tribes.


NEW SECURITY ASSESSMENT
GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT
--------------


5. According to Bukhari, a new security assessment of the
Saudi border was completed this week by UNHCR officials and
the results were "very positive." The UN Security Advisor
gave UNHCR the green light to resume its cross-border
humanitarian convoys which were halted due to the escalating
border conflict (reftel B). Bukhari informed Poloff that the
second humanitarian convoy crossed the Alp border crossing
November 17 in order to deliver aid to 200 families in the
Alp/Mandaba border region. He stressed that aid coming from
Saudi Arabia was critical since no internal humanitarian aid
can reach this northern region of Sa'ada safely (reftel C),

RIYADH 00001538 002.2 OF 002


but noted that the SAG has been cooperative in facilitating
UNHCR's cross-border relief efforts.
SMITH