VZCZCXRO8421
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0505/01 0880642
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290642Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6668
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000505
SIPDIS
AIDAC
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI UN SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR - DESPITE OBSTACLES USAID PARTNERS CONTINUE TO
DELIVER ESSENTIAL HUMANITARIAN SERVICES IN DARFUR
KHARTOUM 00000505 001.2 OF 002
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SUMMARY
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1. (U) Despite significant bureaucratic impediments and security
concerns, a recent USAID monitoring and assessment mission to Darfur
confirmed that USAID partners are providing critical, quality,
life-saving services to hundreds of thousands of internally
displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. USAID-funded health,
nutrition, capacity building, infrastructure rehabilitation, and
water, sanitation, and hygiene programs continue to serve
beneficiaries in Darfur against a backdrop of fluid and dangerous
security, ongoing government harassment, and ambiguous and onerous
visa, travel, and customs regulations. End summary.
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BACKGROUND
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2. (U) From February 25 to March 5, USAID Office of U.S. Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Disaster Operations Specialist (DOS)
traveled to El Fasher, Kafod, Korma, and Kutum, in North Darfur;
Nyala, South Darfur; and Zalingei and Mornei, West Darfur, to assess
current humanitarian conditions and monitor and evaluate ongoing
USAID programs. This represented the first visit by USAID/OFDA/DOS
staff to Zalingei and Mornei in more than sixteen months due to
restricted access as a result of insecurity. USAID staff met with
implementing partners, U.N. agencies, members of the Sudan
Liberation Army (SLA), local government officials, and community
members.
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NORTH DARFUR
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3. (U) On February 25, USAID staff participated in an inter-agency
humanitarian assessment of Kafod, Kobe Athar, Korma, and Kela Hijoon
areas, North Darfur, to investigate reports of new displacement and
identify humanitarian needs of affected populations. The team found
that no new displacement has occurred since June 2006 when fighting
between Arab militias displaced the population of Korma. [Note:
Earlier militia clashes in 2004 had displaced the majority of
Korma's population of 40,000 to IDP camps in El Fasher, where
humanitarian agencies, including USAID partners International Rescue
Committee (IRC), Relief International, and CHF are providing
assistance to more than 140,000 IDPs.]
4. (U) The divided control of the region to the west of El Fasher
between factions of the SLA led by Minni Minawi and Abdul Wahid
al-Nur has exacerbated ethnic tensions and heightened insecurity.
The inter-agency mission established contact with SLA commanders to
facilitate humanitarian access in the region, including access for
U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) staff to conduct a scheduled polio
immunization campaign in late March 2007. The U.N. Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will follow up with
humanitarian actors in the area to address identified health,
nutrition, food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene needs
based on assessment findings.
5. (U) Insecurity in Kutum, North Darfur, has presented significant
challenges to humanitarian agencies operating in the region
resulting in the remote operation of humanitarian health programs by
USAID partner GOAL. GOAL's four urban and two rural health clinics
in the area are maintained by 240 national staff. Two additional
rural health clinics have been suspended due to insecurity.
Discussions with GOAL staff highlighted program successes
characterized by improved local staff reporting, and positive
relationships with local hospital staff and community leaders.
However, despite GOAL's success, significant concerns regarding the
limitations of remote program operations exist, including the
diminished number and quality of services provided and the long-term
feasibility of such programs.
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SOUTH DARFUR
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6. (U) USAID partners in Nyala town continue to operate relief
activities while humanitarian organizations in rural areas such as
Ed Daein locality in southeastern South Darfur have been forced to
KHARTOUM 00000505 002.2 OF 002
either partially or fully suspend activities due to insecurity. On
March 28, USAID staff traveled to As Salam IDP camp outside of Nyala
to monitor an emergency food distribution by USAID and U.N. World
Food Program partner World Vision to nearly 5,000 new arrivals,
predominantly from Buram, South Darfur. USAID staff noted the high
quality of USAID partner Action Contre La Faim's health operations,
including a therapeutic feeding center in Nyala town and an
out-patient therapeutic feeding program in surrounding IDP camps.
In meetings with USAID partners operating in Ed Deain locality,
USAID staff reviewed the impact of insecurity on programming which
has led to a significant reduction in activities, and in some
instances the suspension of humanitarian operations.
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WEST DARFUR
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7. (U) Although Zalingei town remains relatively calm, the
surrounding area supports a number of armed groups, creating an
environment of instability and insecurity in the region. On March
3, USAID/OFDA/DOS staff traveled to Zalingei for the first time in
over sixteen months to monitor USAID-funded health, protection, camp
management, and water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. USAID
staff consulted with implementing partners OCHA, Mercy Corps,
International Medical Corps, and IRC. Zalingei hosts approximately
100,000 IDPs in five camps, including the only camp of displaced
Arabs in Darfur. USAID partner Mercy Corps is providing water
services to an estimated 125,000 people in the region. USAID staff
found that programs are running smoothly and non-governmental
organization partners are providing critical services to targeted
populations.
8. Despite the withdrawal of expatriate staff, USAID-funded
programs in Mornei, West Darfur, continue to support critical
health, nutrition, hygiene, water, sanitation, and road
rehabilitation programs under the management of competent national
staff. USAID noted the high quality of nutrition and health
operations exemplified by the SC/US hospital in Mornei IDP camp that
serves an average of 200 patients per day. SC/US is currently the
only clinic in the area providing prenatal, postnatal, and obstetric
care and consults an estimated 100 pregnant women per day.
HUME