VZCZCXRO3577
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0798/01 1430742
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 230742Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7284
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000798
SIPDIS
AIDAC
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
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 SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR - UN AGENCIES PLAY VITAL ROLE IN HUMANITARIAN
EFFORTS
KHARTOUM 00000798 001.2 OF 002
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SUMMARY
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1. (U) UN agencies are crucial to the provision and coordination of
humanitarian assistance in Darfur. The UN agencies provide
important leadership, through coordinating a wide variety of
assistance activities, acting as a liaison between the humanitarian
community and the Sudanese government, and directing provision of
common humanitarian services. Continued support for UN agencies is
vital to maintaining the large humanitarian effort underway in
Darfur. End Summary.
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BACKGROUND
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2. (U) The USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
(USAID/OFDA) supports six UN agencies in Darfur: the UN Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the UN Children's
Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Program (WFP), the UN World Health
Organization (WHO), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
and the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). In Fiscal
Year 2006, USAID/OFDA funding for the six UN agencies totaled USD
27.5 million.
3. (U) This cable provides an overview of the UN's important role in
Darfur.
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COORDINATING SERVICES AND LIAISING WITH THE GNU
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4. (U) Overall coordination of humanitarian assistance is led by
OCHA, both in Khartoum and in the three Darfur states, with weekly
coordination meetings for UN agencies, as well as international and
national non-governmental organizations (NGOs). OCHA also plays an
important role in liaising with the Sudanese government on behalf of
the humanitarian community. Other UN agencies, such as UNICEF, WHO,
and FAO coordinate sector-level activities in health, nutrition,
food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
5. (U) The UN agencies also work closely with the Government of
National Unity (GNU) ministries, building capacity and assisting
with tracking NGO service provision. During the summer of 2006,
UNICEF and WHO led agencies in planning for the prevention and
treatment of reported cholera cases in Darfur. The two agencies
coordinated efforts undertaken by a myriad of international NGOs, as
well as the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the GNU's water and
sanitation authority.
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COMMON SERVICES AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP
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6. (U) Relief commodities for Darfur are provided through a common
pipeline, which is a joint effort of UNICEF, CARE, and the UN Joint
Logistics Center (UNJLC). UNICEF procures the commodities,
including plastic sheeting, blankets, sleeping mats, water
containers, and women's clothing. CARE transports the commodities to
distribution sites across Darfur, and UNJLC coordinates and
documents the process. The common pipeline enables NGOs to order
and receive the relief commodities free of charge in the needed
locations, either as initial assistance to newly displaced
populations or to provide for particularly vulnerable households in
camps and to replace hygiene supplies.
7. (U) WFP operates the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS). UNHAS
flies between Khartoum and the three Darfur states and has
helicopters that transfer passengers from the three state capitals
to operational areas that are inaccessible by road due to
insecurity. As insecurity has reduced access throughout Darfur
since May 2006, helicopters are the only means for humanitarian
workers to reach populations throughout Darfur. With funding from
bilateral donors, including USAID and the Common Humanitarian Fund,
UNHAS now operates two helicopters in each of the three Darfur
states, enabling twice weekly flights to many destinations and
providing evacuation capability for aid workers in remote areas.
Passengers are charged for flights, but the operation is subsidized
by donor funding. UNHAS charges passengers USD 40 per person for
intra-Darfur flights and USD 100 for Khartoum to Darfur flights.
Commercial airlines operate Khartoum to Darfur flights for USD 120,
KHARTOUM 00000798 002.2 OF 002
and have intra-Darfur connections to all three Darfur states.
8. (U) UNICEF, WHO, and FAO provide technical leadership in their
respective sectors: health, child protection, agriculture and food
security, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. Recently,
WHO has improved the Early Warning and Response System's (EWARS)
reporting capacity throughout Darfur. Previously, EWARS relied on
reporting from international NGOs, and when NGOs could not access
certain areas reporting ceased from those locations. To remedy
this, WHO identified and trained local health officers to provide
weekly reporting. As of the last EWARS bulletin, 88 percent of
locations reported. WHO provided training to local health officers,
as well as medical kits, diagnostic kits, and communications
equipment, including satellite phones and scratch cards, to enable
the officers to conduct tests and report results. WHO expects the
true test of the new reporting system to occur with the early
detection of malaria and acute watery diarrhea during the upcoming
rainy season. EWARS has already performed well in the early
detection of meningitis cases, which requires daily reporting.
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COMMENTS
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9. (U) USAID needs to encourage the UN to implement a cluster
approach in Darfur. Currently, the protection sector lead is the UN
Mission in Sudan Protection Unit (UNMIS/Protection) that operates
under the leadership of the UNMIS Darfur Coordinator. This
structure hampers the sector's effectiveness as the Darfur
Coordinator plays a political and representational role for the UN
in Darfur.
10. (U) Currently, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) is planning to engage in IDP camp coordination
activities in Darfur. However, UNHCR has no memorandum of
understanding with the GNU and is operational only in West Darfur.
If the UN decides to employ a cluster approach in Darfur, close
coordination between the International Organization for Migration,
OCHA, and UNHCR will be needed to ensure effective IDP camp
management and circumvent GNU administrative impediments.
POWERS