Cablegate: Darfur Q Security Assessment of Usaidqs Darfur

VZCZCXRO6774
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2185/01 2541231
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111231Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4481
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 002185

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 JBRAUSE, NSC/AFRICA FOR TSHORTLEY
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR Q SECURITY ASSESSMENT OF USAIDQS DARFUR
FIELD OFFICES AND OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

KHARTOUM 00002185 001.2 OF 003

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Summary
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1. From August 4 to 17, the USAID Office of U.S.
Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) Safety and
Security Coordinator conducted a safety and security
review of USAIDQs Darfur Field Office (USAID/DFO)
operations in El Fasher, North Darfur and Nyala, South
Darfur. U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, UN agencies,
international organizations, and non-governmental
organization (NGO) security professionals consulted
during the assessment agree that Nyala and El Fasher are
sufficiently secure to allow USAID to operate at the
moment. The assessment found that the current USAID
Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian
Assistance (USAID/DCHA) safety and security plan, which
was approved in March 2006 and updated in August 2006,
meets the safety and security needs of the USAID/DFO.
The assessment also identified several potential
security concerns that should be closely monitored. End
summary.

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Locations Visited and Contacts
------------------------------

2. From August 4 to 17, a USAID/OFDA Safety and
Security Coordinator conducted a safety and security
review of USAID/DFO operations, traveling to Khartoum,
Nyala, and El Fasher. The review included interviews
with security professionals and senior representatives
from the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, UN agencies, and
NGOs. Additionally, the USAID/OFDA Safety and Security
Coordinator met with nearly all USAID/DFO staff to
discuss the security situation. The USAID/OFDA Safety
and Security Coordinator also attended UN and NGO
security briefings during the assessment trip.

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Security Situation in Darfur
----------------------------

3. The USAID/OFDA Safety and Security Coordinator
reported that economically motivated crime is the most
significant security concern for humanitarian agencies
in Darfur. In addition to thefts committed by
opposition forces, there are regular reports of
organized crime taking root in Darfur, with stolen
assets being sold to opposition forces and exported to
Chad.

4. The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS)
reported the following statistics for February through
July 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005.
UNDSS reported that carjacking and banditry are up 230
percent and 40 percent, respectively; overall security
incidents have increased by 123 percent; security
incidents involving the UN have decreased by 10 percent;
security incidents involving NGOs have increased by 76
percent; security incidents against the African Union
have increased by 913 percent; and armed clashes have
increased by 100 percent.

5. The assessment found that the security environment
outside the state capitals of Darfur remains fluid and
volatile. With the continued presence of the African
Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) troops and the deployment
of UN forces contested, security outside the capitals of
Darfur should be expected to decline.

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USAID/DFO Staff Living Conditions Darfur
----------------------------------------

6. The USAID/OFDA Safety and Security Coordinator
visited USAID/DFO facilities in both Nyala and El
Fasher. USAID/DFO staff in El Fasher and Nyala reside
in residences owned and operated by Development
Alternatives, Inc. After a site assessment of the area
by the USAID/OFDA Safety and Security Coordinator the El

KHARTOUM 00002185 002.2 OF 003

Fasher facilities were rated acceptable. However, the
USAID/OFDA Safety and Security Coordinator reported
serious concerns about the Nyala facilities, which
include the inability to control public access to the
compound outside of normal business hours and the lack
of separation between living space and office space.

7. The USAID/OFDA Safety and Security Coordinator
recommended the establishment of a separate
office/residence for USAID/DFO staff in Nyala. The
USAID/DFO and USAID/OFDA Safety and Security Coordinator
are working with the Regional Security Office (RSO) at
the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum on the review and clearance
of a new facility.

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Local Perceptions of USAID/DFO Staff
-------------------------------------

8. USAID/DFO staff in both Nyala and El Fasher enjoy a
positive reputation with the humanitarian community and
within the local communities in which they operate and
reside. The USAID/DFO owes much of this positive
reputation to USAIDQs ongoing support to humanitarian
efforts in Darfur.

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NGO Security
-------------

9. The capacity of NGOs to undertake security analysis
is limited, and many NGOs are not fully utilizing
available UNDSS services. In El Fasher, NGOs meet every
two weeks to discuss security concerns. NGOs are
finding it increasingly difficult to maintain contact
with commanders of the armed militias and to identify
areas of control due to changing personnel and
alliances.

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Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps
-----------------------------------------

10. Tensions in IDP camps in North Darfur continue to
increase. The reported prevalence of weapons at the
household level in camps such as Abu Shouk and Zam Zam
is an issue. In addition, reports from AMIS and the UN
Mission in Sudan documented the presence of weapons and
heavily armed Sudan Liberation Army forces in Zam Zam
camp. Skepticism of vaccinations and water chlorination
conducted by Water and Environmental Sanitation staff
has led to violent confrontations in IDP camps in North
and West Darfur.

11. Representatives from UN agencies and NGOs reported
that IDP camps are increasingly being used as political
tools by the various opposition groups to spread
propaganda in support of or in opposition to the Darfur
Peace Agreement process. Additionally, QYouth patrols,
originally created by IDPs to address security concerns
within the camps, are becoming increasingly politicized
and are challenging the official leadership within the
camps.

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Recommendations
---------------

12. The USAID/OFDA Safety and Security Coordinator
noted that USAID/DFO staff are very conscientious about
their personal safety and security and follow
established protocols. However, care should be taken to
ensure that staff members do not become complacent
situational awareness should be maintained at all times.
The current security climate in both Nyala and El Fasher
are acceptable for continued USAID/DFO operations under
current security protocols developed by UNDSS and vetted
through the RSO. Overland travel by USAID/DFO staff
outside the city limits of Nyala and El Fasher should
continue to be considered as exceptional and requires
the explicit consent of the USAID/DFO Team Leader and

KHARTOUM 00002185 003.2 OF 003

RSO. Only travel requests determined to be Qmission
criticalQ should be considered for approval. City
limits should be defined as within the official
Government of National Unity and Humanitarian Aid
Commission checkpoints.

13. USAID/DFO staff should remind our implementing
partners and contractors that they are required to
follow the USAID branding regulations for use of USAID
logos. Implementing partners should also be advised
that they may apply for a logo waiver if security
situations warrant.

14. Given the dynamic nature of the political and
humanitarian situation in the three Darfur states, the
USAID/DFO Team Leader and the USAID/OFDA Safety and
Security Coordinator recommend that safety and security
situation in Khartoum, South Darfur, West Darfur, and
North Darfur be re-evaluated at least every three
months, more often if the situation further
deteriorates.

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