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| Identifier: | 02ROME5454 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 02ROME5454 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Rome |
| Created: | 2002-11-07 14:35:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EU, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN, EU EAID, WFP, UN
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
ROME 5421
---------
SUMMARY
---------
1. USAID STAFF FROM THE U.S. MISSION IN ROME AND
FOOD FOR PEACE/WASHINGTON TRAVELED TO GUINEA,
LIBERIA, AND SENEGAL SEPTEMBER 29 THROUGH OCTOBER 9
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 01 OF 10 071545Z
TO REVIEW THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION FOR REFUGEES,
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS), AND RESIDENTS
WHOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY INFLUXES OF
EITHER GROUP. THIS REPORT FOCUSES ON GUINEA SOLELY.
LIBERIA WAS REPORTED VIA REF TEL.
2. KOUANKAN CAMP, LOCATED IN N'ZEREKORE PREFECTURE
OF THE FOREST REGION OF GUINEA AND BUILT TO
ACCOMMODATE 20,000 PERSONS, HAS NOW SWELLED TO A
POPULATION OF 34,000. SERIOUS SECURITY CONCERNS
SURROUND THE SIZE OF THIS CAMP AND THE U.N. AGENCIES
HAVE AGREED THAT ITS INHABITANTS SHOULD BE
TRANSFERRED FURTHER NORTH TO THE ALBADARIAH REGION.
LACK OF GUINEAN GOVERNMENT WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION AND
THE U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES'S (UNHCR)
EXTRAORDINARY PRICE TAG FOR THE TRANSFER HAVE SLOWED
THE PROCESS. WFP SAYS IT WILL STOP FOOD
DISTRIBUTIONS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, IF THE TRANSFER
IS NOT UNDERWAY.
3. THE NEW LAINE CAMP, BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE
GROWING NUMBER OF LIBERIAN REFUGEES, IS ALREADY FULL.
41,000 SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEES REMAIN IN THE
ALBADARIAH CAMPS, BUT MORE THAN HALF PLAN ON
RETURNING AFTER THE HARVEST. UNTIL THE END OF THE
YEAR, UNHCR/GUINEA HAS HALTED THE ORGANIZED
REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES DUE TO THE UNHCR/SIERRA
LEONE FUNDING CRISIS. REFUGEES WERE GIVEN LAND,
SEEDS, AND TOOLS FOR PLANTING AND THE HARVEST LOOKS
TO BE QUITE PROMISING. THE EMERGENCY UNIT OF THE
U.N. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION (FAO/TCE) IS
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 01 OF 10 071545Z
TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS WORK HERE. POST-DISTRIBUTION
MONITORING OF WFP FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS IS WORKING WELL
IN THE ALBADARIAH CAMPS AND SERIOUSLY OFF-TRACK IN
N'ZEREKORE AND SEMBAKOUNYA. DUE TO A VARIETY OF
FACTORS, WFP'S WORK IN ASSESSING FOOD SECURITY OF THE
REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) HAS
BEEN SLOW IN GETTING UNDERWAY. THIS WORK WILL SERVE
AS THE BASIS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-RELIANCE
STRATEGIES AND MAY CALL FOR A REDUCTION IN THE RATION
SIZE OR A CHANGE IN PROGRAMMING. WFP'S WEST AFRICA
PASSENGER AIRCRAFT HAS EXPANDED THE SERVICE TO
INCLUDE COTE D'IVOIRE, BUT FUNDING SHORTFALLS MAY
REQUIRE IT TO SHUT DOWN IN DECEMBER. SEE PARA 43 FOR
RECOMMENDATIONS. END SUMMARY
I CANNOT GET RID OF THIS STUPID LINE. CAN YOU??
-------------
BACKGROUND
-------------
4. SEPTEMBER 29 THROUGH OCTOBER 9, SENIOR EMERGENCY
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6717
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 02 OF 10 071546Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 SEC-01 TEST-00 FMP-00
R-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /004W
------------------050349 071742Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6829
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2408
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY
BAMAKO 0186
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2937
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 02 OF 10 071546Z
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
COORDINATOR (SEC) IN THE U.S. MISSION/ROME R. DAVIS
AND B. KRAHAM, USAID/DCHA/FOOD FOR PEACE OFFICER
(FFPO), TRAVELED TO LIBERIA AND GUINEA TO REVIEW THE
FOOD SECURITY SITUATION FOR REFUGEES, INTERNALLY
DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS), AND RESIDENTS WHOSE
COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY INFLUXES OF EITHER
GROUP. THE TEAM ALSO VISITED WFP'S WEST AFRICA
REGIONAL OFFICE IN DAKAR TO REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS.
FOR THE TRAVEL TO THE FOREST REGION, THE TEAM WAS
JOINED BY SHARON ISRALOW FROM USAID/AFR/SD AND BY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 02 OF 10 071546Z
PATRICIA RAINEY, USAID/GUINEA.
5. IN GUINEA SEPTEMBER 30 AND OCTOBER 4-8, TH
E TEAM
MET WITH WFP AND OTHER U.N. AGENCIES, THE EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY HUMANITARIAN OFFICE (ECHO), NON-
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), AND VISITED
LIBERIAN AND SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEE CAMPS AND
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA (GRG) OFFICIALS
IN N'ZEREKORE AND KISSIDOUGOU PREFECTURES.
--------------------------------------
THE EXPANDING KOUANKAN REFUGEE CAMP
--------------------------------------
6. THE KOUANKAN REFUGEE CAMP, LOCATED IN N'ZEREKORE
PREFECTURE, WAS CREATED FOR 20,000 PERSONS AND IS
CURRENTLY EXCEEDING ITS CAPACITY BY 14,000. THE
POPULATION SIZE BEGAN EXPANDING FROM 13,500 LAST
SPRING WHEN LIBERIANS STARTED CROSSING THE GUINEA
BORDER IN LARGE NUMBERS. IN AUGUST, UNEASE MOUNTED
ABOUT THE COMPOSITION OF THE REFUGEES, WITH STRONG
SUSPICIONS THAT INCREASING NUMBERS OF THE REBEL
MOVEMENT LIBERIA UNITED FOR RECONCILIATION AND
DEMOCRACY (LURD) WERE PRESENT IN THE CAMP. WFP
RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, AS IT WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN
THAT LURD OR AT A MINIMUM, LURD FAMILIES, WERE
RECEIVING WFP FOOD. ON AUGUST 22, THE U.N.
HUMANITARIAN CONTACT GROUP MET IN CONAKRY TO DISCUSS
MANAGEMENT OF THE NEW INFLUX INTO KOUANKAN, AS WELL
AS THE REFUGEES' SECURITY. THE GROUP DECIDED THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 02 OF 10 071546Z
REFUGEES SHOULD BE RELOCATED FURTHER FROM THE BORDER
TO THE ALBADARIAH AREA. SINCE MANY OF THE SIERRA
LEONEAN REFUGEES HAVE LEFT THE CAMPS IN ALBADARIAH,
THE TRANSFERRED LIBERIAN REFUGEES COULD GO INTO THE
SPACES VACATED BY THE SIERRA LEONEANS.
7. THE TRANSFER WOULD ALSO SERVE TO SEPARATE OUT THE
COMBATANTS, AS IT IS UNLIKELY THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO
MOVE FAR FROM THE BORDER WITH LIBERIA, ALTHOUGH
SECURITY CONCERNS SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED. ANY
REFUGEES CHOOSING NOT TO MOVE WOULD NO LONGER QUALIFY
FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
8. EVEN THOUGH THIS DECISION WAS TAKEN ON AUGUST 22,
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION HAS BEEN SLOW-
GOING. UNHCR HAS DISTRIBUTED A TIMELINE FOR THE
TRANSFER THAT BEGINS MID-NOVEMBER, BUT ITS
IMPLEMENTATION IS DEPENDENT UPON FUNDING, WHICH UNHCR
CALCULATES TO BE 5.6 MILLION USD. (COMMENT: A PRICE
TAG OF 5.6 MILLION USD IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR THE PROPOSED
OPERATION AND DONORS SHOULD BE VOCAL ABOUT SAYING SO.
THE TRANSFER CAN BE DONE EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY FOR
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6716
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 03 OF 10 071546Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------050350 071742Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6830
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2409
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2938
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 03 OF 10 071546Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
MUCH LESS. END COMMENT.)
9. THE OTHER STICKING POINT IS THAT THE GRG HAS NOT
YET PROVIDED ITS WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FOR THE
TRANSFER, EVEN THOUGH VERBALLY IT HAS SIGNED OFF. IN
THE MEANTIME, MANY ARE WORRIED THAT WITH THE START OF
THE DRY SEASON, FIGHTING WILL RESUME IN LIBERIA AND
THE LURD PRESENCE IN KOUANKAN MAY INCREASE.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 03 OF 10 071546Z
10. NGOS AND ECHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT
RELOCATION MODALITIES AS DEVELOPED BY UNHCR. WFP
PREFERS TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY WITH A SIMPLE LOW-KEY
RELOCATION OF THE REFUGEES WHO ARRIVED SINCE APRIL
(ABOU
T 15,000). THEY ARE OF A DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUP
AND ARE REPORTEDLY OFTEN ABUSED AND HARASSED BY THE
OLDER CASELOAD. SUCH AN INITIAL TRANSFER WOULD
IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY AT KOUANKAN CAMP.
THE NGOS AND ECHO SUPPORT THIS APPROACH. ONCE THE
FIRST PHASE IS COMPLETED, KOUANKAN COULD BE
REASSESSED AND THE SECOND PHASE, I.E. RELOCATION OF
THE OLD CASELOAD, COULD PROCEED WITH THE AIM OF
STOPPING ASSISTANCE BY END OF MARCH IN KOUANKAN. WFP
INTENDS TO PRESENT THIS OPTION AGAIN TO THE U.N.
HUMANITARIAN CONTACT GROUP IN THE COMING DAYS.
11. MEANWHILE, THE WFP COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE, GEMMO
LODESANI, HAS PRELIMINARILY SAID THAT WFP WILL STOP
DISTRIBUTING FOOD IN KOUANKAN AS OF JANUARY 1, 2003,
IF THE TRANSFER IS NOT UNDERWAY. WFP FEELS THE
TRANSFER IS URGENT, AS IT FEARS THAT VIOLENCE COULD
SOON BREAK OUT IN THE CAMP.
--------------------
VERIFYING NUMBERS
--------------------
12. UNHCR CONDUCTED A VERIFICATION EXERCISE IN
AUGUST TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN
KOUANKAN, AS THE FIGURE OF CAMP INHABITANTS HAD RISEN
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 03 OF 10 071546Z
TO 33,532. WHEN UNHCR ANNOUNCED IT WAS GOING TO
CONDUCT A VERIFICATION EXERCISE, THE REFUGEES
COMPLAINED AND SAID THEY NEEDED TEN DAY'S TIME TO
PREPARE, AS SOME REFUGEES WERE ABSENT FROM THE CAMP
ON VACATION. UNHCR WAITED THE REQUESTED TIME AND
CONDUCTED THE VERIFICATION AT THE END OF AUGUST,
APPLYING PLASTIC WRIST BANDS TO THE HEADS OF
HOUSEHOLD, BUT FAMILY MEMBERS WERE NOT REQUIRED TO
APPEAR. THIS EXERCISE YIELDED A NEW COUNT OF 28,715.
13. BECAUSE UNHCR REALIZED THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS
WITH THE VERIFICATION, IT DECIDED TO REPEAT THE
VERIFICATION. THE RE-VERIFICATION, WHICH ULTIMATELY
TOOK OVER TWO WEEKS TO COMPLETE, WAS ONGOING DURING
THE USAID TEAM'S VISIT ON OCTOBER 5. THE RE-
VERIFICATION REQUIRED THOSE WITH BRACELETS TO PRESENT
ALL FAMILY MEMBERS. EVEN SO, THERE WERE REPORTS OF
FAMILIES RENTING CHILDREN. THE RE-VERIFICATION
YIELDED A REFUGEE POPULATION OF 34,000, WHICH CALLS
INTO QUESTION THE ACCURACY OF THE RE-VERIFICATION.
14. THE ORIGINAL PART OF KOUANKAN (WHICH CONSISTS OF
13,500 PERSONS) IS 90 PERCENT MANDINGO ETHNIC GROUP.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6719
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 04 OF 10 071547Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------050358 071742Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6831
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2410
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2939
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 04 OF 10 071547Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AN
D KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
TO ACCOMMODATE THE RECENT GROWTH TO THE CAMP, THREE
ADDITIONAL "ANNEXES" HAVE BEEN ADDED, THE NEWEST
BEING ZONE 12 OR MEDINA, ERECTED BY MEDECINS SANS
FRONTIERES (MSF). ZONE 12 IS COMPOSED OF PRIMARILY
THE TOMA ETHNIC GROUP.
15. MSF ESTIMATES THERE ARE ABOUT 6,000 REALLY
VULNERABLE AMONG THE ENTIRE KOUANKAN POPULATION AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 04 OF 10 071547Z
ABOUT 5,000-10,000 WHO WOULD HAPPILY MOVE, AS THEY
FEEL UNDER THREAT.
16. IT WAS CLEAR TO THE USAID TEAM ON OCTOBER 5 THAT
THE MORE RECENT ARRIVALS WERE THE LAST TO BE RE-
VERIFIED AND RECEIVE THE PERMANENT RATION CARD WHEN
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE PRIORITY SINCE THEY ARE THE
MOST VULNERABLE. THE TEAM HEARD NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF
REFUGEES BEING PULLED OUT OF THE RE-VERIFICATION LINE
BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO BRIBE THEIR WAY TO THE
FRONT OF THE LINE. OTHERS TOLD HOW THEY HAD GONE
EVERY DAY TO STAND IN LINE, AND MORE THAN TEN DAYS
LATER STILL HAD NOT REACHED THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
(NOTE: THE TEAM WAS ALSO TOLD VERY CLEARLY BY
REFUGEES THAT LURD ELEMENTS ARE DRIVING INTO THE CAMP
AND FORCEFULLY RECRUITING MEN FROM THE CAMP. END
NOTE.)
17. THE UNHCR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OFFICER HAD
BEEN EVACUATED FOR MEDICAL REASONS ONE WEEK BEFORE
THE TEAM'S VISIT AND WAS DUE BACK IN A FEW DAYS. THE
NATIONAL PROTECTION OFFICER WAS LEFT IN CHARGE. A
UNHCR REGISTRATION OFFICER FROM UNHCR HEADQUARTERS
ARRIVED IN AUGUST FOR THE INITIAL EXERCISE AND STAYED
FOR THE RE-VERIFICATION, BUT THE NUMBER OF UNHCR
OFFICIALS OVERSEEING THE PROCESS WAS INADEQUATE. IN
ADDITION, A MIXED TEAM OF GENDARMES, POLICE AND
VOLUNTEERS (UNPAID MILITARY STAFF, GREATLY LACKING
PROFESSIONALISM), TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 30, OVERSAW
THE RE-VERIFICATION PROCESS AND PROVIDES SECURITY TO
THE CAMP.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 04 OF 10 071547Z
-----------------------------------------
THE PICTURESQUE NEW LAINE REFUGEE CAMP
-----------------------------------------
18. IT WAS CLEAR LAST SPRING THAT ANOTHER CAMP WAS
NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF
LIBERIAN REFUGEES. UNHCR RECEIVED AUTHORIZATION TO
OPEN A NEW CAMP IN MAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE
CREATION OF LAINE CAMP WAS THREE MONTHS IN THE
MAKING. LOCATED ABOUT 100 KILOMETERS NORTH OF YOMOU
IN N'ZEREKORE PREFECTURE, THE CAMP FINALLY OPENED IN
SEPTEMBER, WITH A CAPACITY FOR 6,000. UNHCR BEGAN
TRANSFERRING REFUGEES FROM THE NONAH TRANSIT CENTER
(POPULATION OF 5,276 AS OF LATE AUGUST) IN LATE
SEPTEMBER AND ALSO STARTED MOVING REFUGEES FROM THE
BORDER TOWNS OF SIDEMAI, DOPOMAI, OREMAI, DIEKE,
BOSSOU, AND OTHERS TO LAINE. ALREADY THE CAMP IS
NEARING ITS CAPACITY, BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF
ENLARGING IT.
19. WHEN THE REFUGEES ARRIVE, WFP, THROUGH ITS
PARTNER OCPH, (ORGANIZATION CATHOLIQUE POUR LA
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6721
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 05 OF 10 071547Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------05035D 071743Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6832
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2411
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2940
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 05 OF 10 071547Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
PROMOTION HUMAINE) PROVIDES HOT MEALS FOR THE FIRST
TWO DAYS IN THE CAMP. THE REFUGEES ARE THEN PROVIDED
DRY RATIONS (2,100 KILO-CALORIES) FROM WFP AND OCPH.
MSF MAINTAINS A SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING CENTER (SFC) IN
THE CAMP FOR MODERATELY MALNOURISHED CHILDREN. ANY
SEVERE CASES OF MALNUTRITION ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE
HOSPITAL IN N'ZEREKORE.
20. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT THE FUTURE OF NONAH
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 05 OF 10 071547Z
TRANSIT CENTER IS UNCLEAR. THERE ARE RUMORS THAT THE
GRG WANTS TO CLOSE THE TRANSIT CENTER. THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE GRG TO
ENSURE THAT NONAH REMAINS OPEN AS A TRANSIT POINT FOR
INCOMING REFUGEES. IT IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED WITH
ALL THE NECESSARY STRUCTURES-AND THE NEED FOR IT
PERSISTS AS LIBERIANS CONTINUE TO CROSS INTO GUINEA.
--------------------------
A STREAM RUNS THROUGH IT
--------------------------
21. THE USAID TEAM WAS TRULY IMPRESSED WITH THE
PICTURESQUE PASTORAL SETTING OF LAINE. WHEN CAMPS
ARE BUILT, THE LAND IS USUALLY CLEARED OF ALMOST ALL
TREES. BY CONTRAST, THE STRUCTURES OF LAINE HAVE
BEEN BUILT AMONG THE MANY TREES AND THERE IS EVEN A
LOVELY WOODEN BRIDGE THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED OVER A
STREAM THAT RUNS THROUGH THE CAMP. LAUNDRY
FACILITIES WERE BUILT AT THE STREAM. RE-FORESTATION
EFFORTS WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY, EVEN THOUGH THE
REFUGEES WERE STILL LIVING IN 50-PERSON HANGERS. GTZ
WAS WAITING REGISTRATION LISTS FROM UNHCR BEFORE
PROVIDING SHELTER KITS TO THE REFUGEES. ABSENT THE
PLASTIC SHEETING, THE CAMP COULD HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN
FOR A GAME PARK RESORT.
22. THE GOVERNOR OF N'ZEREKORE TOLD THE USAID TEAM
THAT THE LOCAL POPULATION AROUND LAINE WAS FRIENDLY
TOWARDS THE REFUGEES.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 05 OF 10 071547Z
-----------------------------------------
OTHER OUTSTANDING ISSUES IN N'ZEREKORE
-----------------------------------------
23. IN ADDITION TO THE NEED TO TRANSFER THE REFUGEES
FROM KOUANKAN TO ALBADARIAH, TWO OTHER ISSUES THAT
NEED ATTENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A. FOR THOSE REFUGEES WHO CHOOSE NOT TO MOVE FROM
THE BORDER AREAS, UNHCR AND THE GRG NEED TO MAKE A
POLICY DECISION ABOUT HOW THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE
TREATED.
B. A THIRD RECEPTION CENTER IN THE EASTERN PART OF
N'ZEREKORE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED. NONAH (SOUTH) AND
TEKOULO (WEST) SERVE AS RECEPTION AREAS IN N'ZEREKORE
AND KISSIDOUGOU, RESPECTIVELY. HOWEVER, FOR THOSE
CROSSING FROM LIBERIA OR COTE D'IVOIRE INTO EASTERN
PARTS OF N'ZEREKORE, THERE IS NO CENTER.
--------------------------------------------- ---
THE ALBADARIAH CAMPS IN KISSIDOUGOU PREFECTURE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6723
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 06 OF 10 071547Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------050367 071743Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6833
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2412
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2941
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 06 OF 10 071547Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 06 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
--------------------------------------------- ---
24. AFTER THE RE-LOCATION OF THE SIERRA LEONEAN
REFUGEES FROM THE PARROT'S BEAK (THE LANGUETTE) IN
THE SPRING OF 2001, THE REFUGEE POPULATION TOTALED
APPROXIMATELY 51,000. UNHCR REPORTS THAT ABOUT
19,000 HAVE RETURNED TO SIERRA LEONE, AND THE CURRENT
POPULATION IN THE THREE CAMPS OF ALBADARIAH (BOREAH,
KOUNTAYA, TELIKORO)IS AROUND 41,000, WITH ABOUT 92
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 06 OF 10 071547Z
PERCENT SIERRA LEONEAN AND 8 PERCENT LIBERIAN.
APPROXIMATELY 1,800 LIBERIAN REFUGEES ARE LIVING IN
ONE OF THE THREE CAMPS.
25. USAID TEAM VISITED BOREAH CAMP (ABOUT 10,500
REFUGEES) ON OCTOBER 6, AND WFP HAD JUST COMPLETED
ITS MONTHLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION (SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER
5). REFUGEES RECEIVE A DAILY FOOD RATION OF 2,100
KC. PREMIERE URGENCE, A FRENCH NGO, IS WFP'S
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER IN ALBADARIAH. VARIOUS REFUGEES
TOLD THE USAID TEAM THEY HAD IMMEDIATELY SOLD OR
TRADED THEIR RATION OF VEGETABLE OIL FOR KEROSENE OIL
(FOR LAMPS) OR FOR PALM OIL. ONE REFUGEE SAID SHE
GOT 5,000 GUINEAN FRANCS FOR 4 LITERS OF VEGETABLE
OIL AND BOUGHT ONE LITER OF PALM OIL FOR 1,000
GUINEAN FRANCS. (PLEASE SEE PARAS BELOW REGARDING
SELF-RELIANCE.)
26. WFP FEELS A VERIFICATION OF THE REFUGEES IN THE
ALBADARIAH CAMPS IS NEEDED AND IS HOPING THAT UNHCR
WILL SOON AGREE TO CONDUCT SUCH AN EXERCISE. SOME
REPATRIATING REFUGEES ARE SELLING THEIR CARDS TO
LOCALS.
27. THE USAID TEAM ASKED VARIOUS PEOPLE, INCLUDING
REFUGEES, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LIBERIAN REFUGEES TO THE CAMPS
(FROM KOUANKAN). THE CONSISTENT RESPONSE WAS "NO
PROBLEM."
------------------------------
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 06 OF 10 071547Z
RICE, RICE, RICE EVERYWHERE
------------------------------
28. A YEAR AGO STATE/BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEES,
AND MIGRATION (PRM) PROVIDED A GRANT TO THE EMERGENCY
UNIT OF THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE
U.N. (FAO/TCE) TO RE-FOREST THREE OF THE OLD CAMPS
THAT WERE VACATED AFTER THE RELOCATION AND TO PROVIDE
SEEDS AND TOOLS TO THE REFUGEES IN AN EFFORT TO
INCREASE THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY. SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON BOTH FRONTS. FOUR OF THE
OLD CAMPS--BOODOU, NYAEDOU, KAT KAMA AND MASSAKOUDOU-
-HAVE NOW BEEN PARTLY REFORESTED TOTALING 111
HECTARES (HA) AND FAO DISTRIBUTED SEEDS AND TOOLS TO
10,339 HOUSEHOLDS IN CAMPS AND IN SURROUNDING
VILLAGES.
29. THE USAID TEAM IS VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AROUND THE ALBADARIAH
CAMPS IS TRULY REMARKABLE. THE TEAM WITNESSED
BEAUTIFUL GREEN FIELDS OF RICE NEARING THEIR HARVEST.
IN TOTAL, 7,472 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ALBADARIAH CAMPS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6725
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 07 OF 10 071548Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------05036C 071743Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6834
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2413
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2942
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 07 OF 10 071548Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 07 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
AND ENVIRONS WERE GIVEN MAIZE, RICE, AND GROUNDNUT
SEEDS, WITH FAO ASSISTING 5,400 OF THE 7,472. THE
REMAINDER WAS ASSISTED BY THE NGOS: ACTION CONTRE LA
FAIM, CONCERN, AND BMZ. ABOUT 1,900 HA AROUND THE
ALBADARIAH CAMPS WERE PLANTED. IN ADDITION TO THIS,
FAO PROVIDED 3,900 HOUSEHOLDS IN KOLA AND KOUANKAN
CAMPS (LIBER
IAN REFUGEES) AND 1,039 HOUSEHOLDS IN
SEMBAKOUNYA CAMP (SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEES) WITH SEEDS
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 07 OF 10 071548Z
AND TOOLS. IN EACH CASE, THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS
INCLUDES VULNERABLES IN THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES.
30. CRITERIA FOR RECEIPT OF SEEDS WAS ONE OR MORE OF
THE FOLLOWING: WILLINGNESS TO CULTIVATE; EXPERIENCE
IN AGRICULTURE; FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS; VERY LARGE
HOUSEHOLDS (10 PERSONS OR MORE), AND A WILLINGNESS TO
WORK WITH TECHNICAL EXPERTS. FAO SAID IT EXPECTED
THE UPLAND AREAS TO YIELD APPROXIMATELY 650 TO 800
KILOGRAMS (KG) RICE PER HA; THE IRRIGATED AREAS TO
YIELD 1,200 TO 1,500 KG PER HA, AND THE LOWLAND AREAS
TO YIELD 900 TO 1,200 KG PER HA, AS THE LOW AREAS DID
NOT USE FERTILIZERS. THE REFUGEES HAD ALREADY HELD
DISCUSSIONS WITH FAO AND WFP ABOUT SELLING THEM RICE
TO USE AS SEEDS AND FOOD, RESPECTIVELY.
31. IT WAS EXPECTED THAT WELL OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE
SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEES WILL RETURN HOME AFTER THE
HARVEST, HOWEVER UNHCR/GUINEA HAS JUST HALTED THE
ORGANIZED REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES DUE TO THE
UNHCR/SIERRA LEONE FUNDING CRISIS. THIS COULD LOWER
THE RATE OF RETURN. UNHCR/GUINEA TOLD THE USAID TEAM
IT HAD PROMISED TO ASSIST THE REFUGEES IN
TRANSPORTING THEIR HARVEST BACK TO SIERRA LEONE.
(COMMENT: WITH THE CURRENT FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS UNHCR
IS EXPERIENCING, IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER UNHCR/GUINEA
WILL BE ABLE TO FULFILL THIS PROMISE. END COMMENT.)
32. EVEN THOUGH ALL AGREE THAT RICE PRODUCTION WILL
BE QUITE NOTABLE THIS AGRICULTURAL SEASON, FAO/TCE
CAUTIONS THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES MOVING
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 07 OF 10 071548Z
HOME, MOVING TO OTHER CAMPS, AND NEW REFUGEES
ENTERING GUINEA, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO
CONTINUED FUNDING FOR ANOTHER AGRICULTURAL SEASON TO
FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE GREAT STRIDES ALREADY MADE
TOWARDS ACHIEVING SELF-RELIANCE. THE USAID TEAM
AGREES.
-------------------------------------
POST-DISTRIBUTION MONITORING (PDM)
-------------------------------------
33. ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM (ACF) IS CONDUCTING PDM ON
A MONTHLY BASIS IN THE ALBADARIAH CAMPS, AND ISSUING
SUBSTANTIVE REPORTS. THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE
FOLDED INTO THE WORK BEING DONE ON SELF-RELIANCE (SEE
PARAS 35 AND 36 BELOW).
34. THE USAID TEAM LEARNED THAT PDM EFFORTS IN THE
CAMPS IN N'ZEREKORE WERE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS.
ACTION CHURCHES TOGETHER (ACT) IN COLLABORATION WITH
LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION (LWF), WHICH IS THE NGO
ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK, WAS AWARDED THE PDM
RESPONSIBILITY BY UNHCR LAST SUMMER. LWF SAID AT THE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6728
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 08 OF 10 071548Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------050374 071743Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6835
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2414
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2943
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 08 OF 10 071548Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 08 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
TIME OF THE AWARD THAT IT DID NOT HAVE EXPERTISE IN
THIS AREA BUT WAS WILLING TO BE TRAINED. AFTER
READING TWO OF LWF'S REPORTS, THE UNHCR NUTRITIONIST
IS REPORTEDLY UNHAPPY WITH LWF'S WORK, AS IS WFP.
THE TEAM WAS QUITE DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT PDM HAD
NOT YET TRULY BEGUN IN THE N'ZEREKORE CAMPS,
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE PROBLEMS AS OUTLINED ABOVE
IN THESE CAMPS. THE TEAM HAS ASKED UNHCR AND WFP TO
COME TO CLOSURE ON THIS ISSUE. EITHER LWF NEEDS TO
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 08 OF 10 071548Z
BE TRAINED POST-HASTE OR A NEW PARTNER NEEDS TO BE
GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY.
----------------
SELF-RELIANCE
----------------
35. AS A RESULT OF THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION PROBLEMS,
WFP IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNHCR, HAS BEEN WORKING
TOWARDS DEVELOPING SELF-RELIANCE STRATEGIES FOR THE
REFUGEES SO THAT THEY ARE LESS DEPENDENT ON FOOD
DISTRIBUTIONS. SUCH STRATEGIES WOULD INCLUDE FOOD-
FOR-WORK, FOOD-FOR-TRAINING, AND INCOME GENERATING
ACTIVITIES AND WOULD TARGET THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE AMONG THE REFUGEES, AS WELL
AS THE LOCAL POPULATION. WFP/GUINEA ALSO PLANS TO
TARGET A SIMILAR NUMBER OF FOOD INSECURE IDP/RETURNEE
HOUSEHOLDS IN INSECURE AREAS IN THE LANGUETTE AND
MACENTA.
36. TO THIS END, WFP AND FAO WILL SOON BEGIN A FOOD
SECURITY SURVEY (FUNDED BY THE EC) OF THE LIBERIAN
AND SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEE POPULATIONS AND
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO GAIN A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CURRENT COPING MECHANISMS. IT
IS THE USAID TEAM'S HOPE THAT THE RESULTS OF THIS
STUDY WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN THE RATION, AS IT
IS EVIDENT BY THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION THAT AFTER
THE HARVEST CERTAIN REFUGEES WOULD NO LONGER NEED TO
BE SOLELY RELIANT ON THE WFP FOOD RATION.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 08 OF 10 071548Z
37. IT WAS AGREED DURING THE WFP JOINT FOOD NEEDS
MISSION (JNFAM) IN JUNE THAT SCHOOL FEEDING WOULD BE
INTRODUCED IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS, BUT THAT IT WOULD BE
ACCOMPANIED BY A REDUCTION IN THE GENERAL RATION.
SCHOOL FEEDING HAS NOT YET BEGUN, AS WFP CHOSE TO
WAIT FOR THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY, WHICH IT HAD
ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED BEING FINISHED BY NOVEMBER
2002. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS BEEN SLOW GETTING
STARTED AND IS JUST NOW BEGINNING.
------------------------------------------
VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS AND MAPPING (VAM)
------------------------------------------
38. LAST SPRING, USAID/DCHA/OFDA PROVIDED 150,000
USD TO WFP/GUINEA FOR VAM WORK. APPROXIMATELY 82,000
PEOPLE REMAINED DISPLACED IN GUINEA, WITH ABOUT
58,000 LIVING IN AREAS WHERE WFP IS WORKING. WFP'S
VAM WORK IS MEANT TO IDENTIFY MORE ACCURATELY THE
MOST VULNERABLE IDPS AND HOST FAMILIES. WFP FOUND
THERE TO BE A LACK OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AMONG THE
PARTNERS IN CONAKRY, AS MOST NGOS ARE BASED IN THE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6730
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 09 OF 10 071548Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------05037C 071743Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6836
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2415
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2944
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 09 OF 10 071548Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 09 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
FOREST REGION AND ARE MORE FOCUSED ON REFUGEES THAN
THE LOCALS. ALTERING ITS APPROACH, WFP IS HOLDING A
NATIONAL WORKSHOP WITH SELECTED PARTICIPANTS IN
NOVEMBER WHICH WOULD LAY OUT PRELIMINARY ZONING OF
THE COUNTRY BY REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMIES AND
LIVELIHOODS, AND THE ACTUAL VAM WORK WOULD BEGIN IN
JANUARY. AS STATED IN REF TEL, IT IS HOPED BY THE
USAID TEAM THAT THE THREE COUNTRIES UNDER WFP'S PRRO
CAN ADOPT THE SAME METHODOLOGIES SO THAT A REGIONAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 09 OF 10 071548Z
VAM APPROACH FOR WEST AFRICA CAN BE DEVELOPED.
--------------------------------
WFP WEST AFRICA REGIONAL PLANE
--------------------------------
39. LAST FISCAL YEAR, STATE/PRM AND USAID/DCHA/OFDA
EACH PROVIDED FUNDS (400,000 AND 225,000 USD
RESPECTIVELY) TO WFP'S SPECIAL OPERATION (SO) FOR
PASSENGER AIRCRAFT SERVICE IN GUINEA, SIERRA LEONE,
AND LIBERIA. THE IRISH AND SWISS ALSO CONTRIBUTED.
THE COST FOR THE FIRST YEAR WAS 1.2 MILLION USD
(10/07/01-10/06/02). THE NEW SO, WHICH SPANS ANOTHER
YEAR, BEGAN ON OCTOBER 7, 2002 AND ALSO REQUESTS 1.2
MILLION USD. WFP REPORTS THAT THE CURRENT FUNDING
FOR THE SO WILL SUPPORT THE AIR OPERATION ONLY
THROUGH MID-DECEMBER. IF NO OTHER FUNDING IS
PROVIDED, WFP WILL BE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN THE
OPERATION.
40. THE PLANE FLIES INTERNALLY TO SITES IN GUINEA
FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND ONCE A WEEK MAKES A REGIONAL
ROTATION TO THE THREE COUNTRIES. ON TUESDAY,
NOVEMBER 5, WFP ADDED FLIGHTS TO COTE D'IVOIRE,
SERVICING ABIDJAN AND YAMOUSOUKRO, WITH THE HOPE OF
SOON ADDING BOUAKE. WITH THE DISCONTINUANCE OF THE
WFP HELICOPTER IN SIERRA LEONE, WFP IS ALSO
CONTEMPLATING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PLANE MAKING
INTERNAL FLIGHTS IN SIERRA LEONE ONCE OR TWICE A
WEEK.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 09 OF 10 071548Z
41. ALTHOUGH THE SO IS PRIMARILY MEANT TO PROVIDE
PASSENGER SERVICE, IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR
TRANSPORTING COMMODITIES, IF NECESSARY. WITHOUT
DISRUPTING ITS NORMAL SCHEDULE, WFP AIRLIFTED FOUR
METRIC TONS OF HIGH-PROTEIN BISCUITS FROM STOCKS IN
CONAKRY TO OUAGADOUGOU IN EARLY OCTOBER TO BE USED
FOR THE COTE D'IVOIRE CRISIS.
42. FOR THESE REASONS, IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE IF
WFP WERE TO HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN THE OPERATION AT SUCH
A TENUOUS TIME.
------------------
RECOMMENDATIONS
------------------
43. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
-- THE TRANSFER OF REFUGEES FROM KOUANKAN CAMP IS
URGENT AND NEEDS TO COMMENCE BEFORE THE END OF THE
MONTH. GRG WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION IS NEEDED AND A
MORE ECONOMICAL METHOD OF TRANSFER MUST BE AGREED
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6733
PAGE 01 ROME 05454 10 OF 10 071548Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 FMP-00 PRM-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------050386 071744Z /38
P 071435Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6837
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
NSC WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC 2416
AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS 2945
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05454 10 OF 10 071548Z
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID-HA
UNCLAS SECTION 10 OF 10 ROME 005454
SIPDIS
FROM AMEMBASSY ROME
GENEVA FOR RMA
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USAID FOR A, DCHA, OFDA, FFP
STATE FOR AF, IO, PRM
USDA FOR FAS/EC/PDD TILLSWORTH AND
FAS/ICD KRAMER, LEBLANC
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NAIROBI FOR REDSO AND OFDA/ARO
DAKAR FOR FFP NESTES AND KSTURR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE NUMBERS IN GUINEA'S FOREST REGION
SWELL AS LIBERIA'S BUSH WAR CONTINUES: A PROGRESS
REPORT ON THE UN'S RESPONSE
UPON AMONG THOSE INVOLVED. STATE AND USAID
ASSISTANCE WOULD BE HELPFUL IN EXPEDITING THIS
SLOTHFUL PROCESS.
-- FOR THOSE REFUGEES WHO CHOOSE NOT TO MOVE FROM
THE BORDER AREAS, UNHCR AND THE GRG NEED TO MAKE A
POLICY DECISION ABOUT HOW THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE
HANDLED.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05454 10 OF 10 071548Z
-- THE GRG SHOULD BE CONVINCED TO MAINTAIN NONAH AS
A TRANSIT CAMP, AS THE NEED FOR IT IS STILL VERY
RELEVANT.
-- A THIRD RECEPTION CENTER IN THE EASTERN PART OF
N'ZEREKORE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR THOSE CROSSING
FROM NORTH-CENTRAL LIBERIA OR WESTERN COTE D'IVOIRE
INTO EASTERN PARTS OF N'ZEREKORE.
-- UNHCR SHOULD BE URGED TO CONDUCT A REGISTRATION
OF THE REFUGEES IN THE ALBADARIAH CAMPS, AS WFP
SUSPECTS THE LISTS NEED TO BE CLEANED.
-- IT IS SUGGESTED THAT STATE/PRM CONSIDER PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FAO/TCE TO CONTINUE ITS CURRENT
ACTIVITIES IN THE CAMPS AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES FOR
ANOTHER AGRICULTURAL CYCLE. THE POSITIVE IMPACT
THESE SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS HAS HAD ON THE LIVELIHOODS
AND MORALE OF REFUGEES IS EVIDENT AND SHOULD BE
PROMOTED FURTHER.
-- WFP AND UNHCR NEED TO COME TO IMMEDIATE CLOSURE
ON THE ISSUE OF PDM IN THE N'ZEREKORE CAMPS. AFTER
DRAGGING ON FOR EIGHT MONTHS, ITS COMPETENT
IMPLEMENTATION IS NOW AN URGENT MATTER.
-- THE CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM THE PDM IN THE
ALBADARIAH CAMPS NEEDS TO BE FOLDED INTO THE VAM AND
OTHER FOOD SECURITY WORK IN WHICH WFP AND FAO ARE
ENGAGED. THE WORK NEEDS TO GET UNDERWAY SO THAT
ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE BY WFP IN PROGRAMMING AND IN
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05454 10 OF 10 071548Z
THE RATION SIZE.
-- AS STATED IN REF TEL, WFP IN WEST AFRICA IS URGED
TO ADOPT A COMMON REGIONAL VAM METHODOLOGY IN THE
THREE COUNTRIES, AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT USAID/DCHA
CONSIDER SUPPORTING SUCH A REGIONAL APPROACH.
-- STATE/PRM AND USAID/OFDA SHOULD SERIOUSLY
CONSIDER PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE WFP SO
FOR THE WEST AFRICA PASSENGER AIRCRAFT, AS WITHOUT
THIS SERVICE, HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN THE REGION
WOULD BE SEVERELY HAMPERED.
44. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. HALL
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME05454 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
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