VZCZCXRO3511
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0187/01 0521705
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 211705Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2612
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0537

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 000187 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W AND PRM/AFR/CACHANG 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
DAKAR FOR USAID/OFDA/RDAVIS 
DEPT PASS TO USAID/OFDA/DDEBERNARDO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2017 
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL USAID GV LI CI
SUBJECT: TFGV01:  UNHCR CONFIRMS REFUGEES IN GUINEA CAMPS 
ARE SAFE FOR NOW 
 
REF: ABIDJAN 157 
 
Classified By: NICK HILGERT FOR REASONS 1.4 A AND B. 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Prior to the current crisis in Guinea, UNHCR had 
predicted that large-scale population displacements would not 
result from civil disturbances in Guinea.  However, the 
dynamics of the crisis have UNHCR officials on edge and they 
remain vigilant should the situation change.  UNHCR offices 
in Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone reported the 
following: 
 
-  No large-scale population movements into neighboring 
countries have been reported; 
-  UNHCR visited the Laine and Kouankan refugee camps in the 
Guinea Forest region and reports that refugees in these camps 
have not been affected by the recent demonstrations; 
-  Approximately 500 refugees have registered to return to 
Liberia, but UNHCR reports the number of refugees who 
registered as a result of recent events is limited.  The 
majority of refugees, according to UNHCR field staff, still 
prefer to remain where they are.  The next return convoy is 
scheduled for February 21; 
-  None of the Ivoirian refugees (Kouankan II Camp) have 
requested assistance to return to Cote d'Ivoire; 
-  Some refugees have requested to be relocated to Mali; 
-  UNHCR is reporting that some 20 prisoners in Nzerekore may 
have died as a result of mistreatment following their 
transfer to a military camp during the demonstrations.  UNHCR 
is investigating to determine if any refugees being held in 
the prison are among the victims; 
-  UNHCR Freetown has a working contingency plan to assist up 
to a possible 20,000 refugees in Sierra Leone and identified 
key areas of possible access in Kambia, Kailahun, Koinadugu, 
and Kono. 
 
¶2.  (U) Copies of the contingency plans for Liberia and 
Sierra Leone have been forwarded to PRM/AFR as well as the 
UNHCR mission reports to Laine and Kouankan Camps. 
 
Guinean Authorities Seek Refuge in Laine Camp 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) During the UNHCR mission to Laine Camp, refugees 
stated that several Guineans, including the local Commandant 
of the Gendarmerie and the Assistant to the Sous-Prefect of 
Laine village, sought refuge in Laine Camp at the height of 
the demonstrations and violence.  The refugees allowed them 
to spend the night in the camp, but these persons have not 
returned since February 14. 
 
Inter-Agency Mission to Guinea-Cote d'Ivoire Border 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) An official with the International Rescue Committee 
(IRC) in Cote d'Ivoire reported that the week-long 
interagency mission to the Cote d'Ivoire-Guinea border has 
concluded its mission and is preparing a final report with 
their recommendations for follow-up.  The border area with 
Guinea is currently under control of the rebel Forces 
Nouvelles (FN).  The mission met with FN leaders, local 
authorities, traditional leaders, and humanitarian partners 
working in this region.  The mission confirmed that the 
border is closed on the Guinea side, that there is no 
evidence of any large-scale population movement into Cote 
d'Ivoire, and that commercial activity between villages on 
both sides of the border has been disrupted.  FN leaders 
expressed their willingness to work with the international 
community should refugees enter this part of Cote d'Ivoire 
and that they would not force them back into Guinea.  (Note: 
it is not clear how many, if any, persons tried to cross the 
border but were stopped by the Guinean authorities.  End 
note.)  The UN is organizing a Heads of Agency Mission to 
Odienne on February 23-24 to receive the report and finalize 
a contingency plan for Cote d'Ivoire.  An Embassy official 
will participate. 
 
ARC Reports Security Incidents in Lofa County 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Paula Nawrocki, Country Director for the American 
Refugee Committee (ARC) in Liberia, reported that their 
office compound in Voinjama (upper Lofa County) was attacked 
during the night of February 11.  According to Nawrocki, 
several robbers, reportedly carrying automatic weapons, 
 
ABIDJAN 00000187  002 OF 002 
 
 
followed two ARC staff members back to their compound after 
they returned from dinner.  After entering the compound, they 
stole 2 laptop computers, 3 cameras, cell phones, keys to 
cars and motorcycles, and one vehicle.  Nawrocki said they 
had learned the vehicle's window was shot as it ran the 
border checkpoint and has since been spotted in Macenta 
(Guinea).  (Note: these items are mostly funded out of a PRM 
grant for ARC's activities in Lofa County.  End note.) 
Nawrocki said a full police report would be provided to 
UNMIL.  Other PRM-funded NGOs in Lofa County (IMC, IRC, CVT) 
reported that their compounds were not targeted during this 
time period. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The recent violence in Guinea unfolded as UNHCR 
Representatives in the region participated in a joint meeting 
in Dakar to discuss progress in the Liberian repatriation 
effort.  Representatives agreed during the meeting to hold to 
the June 2007 deadline for repatriation, although UNHCR Ghana 
is still pushing to extend the deadline.  They also agreed to 
move forward on local integration efforts in all host 
countries.  Recently, UNHCR Guinea has used the announcement 
of local integration after June 2007 as an effective tool in 
promoting continued repatriation.  This provided refugees in 
Guinea with a clear benchmark against which to make a 
decision as to whether or not they wished to return to 
Liberia or remain in Guinea as their durable solution. 
However, the current situation in Guinea could disrupt this 
effort, and the longer it continues, the less credible an 
alternative local integration might appear to the refugees. 
Fortunately, the refugees do not seem to have been caught up 
in recent events or threatened in any way.  RefCoord will 
monitor closely UNHCR's course of action in the coming weeks. 
Hooks