Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Search

 

Cablegate: Chad Government Sets Up Idp Fund

VZCZCXRO4761
RR RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHNJ #1419/01 3480651
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140651Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4690
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0890

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 001419

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM CD SU
SUBJECT: CHAD GOVERNMENT SETS UP IDP FUND

1. (SBU) Summary: Concerned that escalating violence
in eastern Chad has reduced the capacity, if not the
commitment, of the international humanitarian community
to respond to the needs of newly internally displaced
persons (IDPs), the Government of Chad (GOC) seeks
foreign donor contributions for a USD 17 million
emergency fund to be managed by the GOC Ministry of
Solidarity and Microfinance and implemented by Chadian
NGO's. The GOC announced its own contribution of USD 9
million to the fund. Ambassador Wall reviewed ongoing
USG refugee/IDP funding with Minister of Solidarity and
Microfinance Miriam Ali Moussa December 12. Instead of
a GOC-managed emergency fund, he pointed to the need
for a coordinated response among international donors
and the GOC. Surprised by the GOC action, the UN and
humanitarian community have sought to reassure the GOC
that the international community has not, in fact
abandoned Chadian IDPs and will collaborate closely
with the GOC on IDP relief. End Summary.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

2. (U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a plea to
international donors December 8 soliciting
contributions to a USD 17 million emergency fund for
persons newly displaced by recent fighting in eastern
Chad, particularly around Goz Beida and Kou Kou -
Angarana. The GOC will make a first contribution of
approximately USD 9 million to the fund. Donors were
informed that the Ministry of Solidarity and
Microcredit headed by Miriam Ali Moussa would manage
the fund. Local Chadian NGO's, including the
Association of Women Jurists, and the Association of
Traditional Leaders are to implement the assistance.
Ambassador Wall called on Minister Ali Moussa December
12 to review existing direct and indirect USG
assistance to refugees and IDPs in Chad and to assure
the Minister that the needs of the newly displaced
would continue to be addressed in coordination with the
relevant GOC ministries and UN, NGO and other
humanitarian organizations.

3. (SBU) Ali Moussa noted that the departure
("withdrawal") of humanitarian aid workers due to
increased violence in the east had reduced aid to pre-
existing refugee and IDP populations. She claimed that
virtually no help was being provided to new IDPs and
that the diminishing international capacity justified
the creation of an emergency fund under her ministry's
management to deal with the critical situation of some
65,000 newly displaced persons. Minister Ali Moussa
agreed that an international presence in eastern Chad
had a role to play in addressing the current IDP
situation and insisted that the GOC fully supported its
deployment.

4. (SBU) Ambassador Wall acknowledged that the
deteriorating security situation in the East was indeed
a challenge for the USG, the GOC and others engaged in
addressing the plight of refugees and IDPs in the East.
However, rather than endorse the GOC's apparent
initiative to seek donor funding of a GOC-managed
response, he emphasized the need for consultation and
coordinated action. He concluded by assuring the
minister that, for its part, the USG would work closely
with the GOC and its donor partners in developing an
effective response to the humanitarian needs of both
existing and new IDPs in the East.

5. (SBU) Heads of UN agencies and the UNDP Resident
Representative met with the Prime Minister on December
12 to discuss the GOC's proposed IDP actions. UN
representatives stressed that IDP's had not been
abandoned. In fact, according to UNDP ResRep Kingsley
Amaning, unlike the refugee camps in northern Chad,
which are operating on "auto-pilot," the UN has left
almost the majority of its staff in the field in the
Goz Beida area (where the largest amount of IDP's have
congregated.) The UN stressed its desire to work with
the GOC on IDP's and pledged to collaborate with the
local NGO's charged with IDP welfare. The UN is
completing a study on IDP needs and will be meeting
with donors in the coming week to announce current
needs and launch a new appeal.

-------
Comment
-------

6. (SBU) The GOC announcement took donors by surprise.
Perplexed at the accusation that the IDPs have been
abandoned, donors are also quite skeptical that any of
the national NGO's named by the Chadian government have
the capacity to deliver assistance to IDPs in the east.

NDJAMENA 00001419 002 OF 002

7. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. Wall

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.