VZCZCXRO0385
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1033/01 1291741
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091741Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4388
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM GH
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON KRISAN REFUGEE CAMP 
 
REF: A) 06 ACCRA 1796  B) 05 ACCRA 2585  C) 05 ACCRA 2548 
 
     D) 05 ACCRA 2311 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  During a May 4 visit to Krisan Camp, Ref Coord 
noted relatively good morale, better access to potable water, and no 
incidents of sexual- or gender-based violence.  There was still no 
lighting at night and the Camp Clinic has experienced occasional 
shortages of medication.  Resettlement has begun in earnest, with 
116 refugees having already been referred to Australia or Canada and 
the first referrals to the U.S. Resettlement Program starting in 
April.  Relations with local villagers were reserved but civil, but 
the Sudanese were particularly subject to harassment and travel 
restrictions.  Liberians here, as in Budumburam, were resistant to 
the notion of repatriation.  End Summary. 
 
----------- 
Health Care 
----------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On May 4, Ref Coord visited Krisan Refugee Camp, located 
in southwestern Ghana, where he observed curtailment in clinic 
activities due to budgetary cutbacks.   Besides facing spot 
shortages of medication, the clinic was able to refer only the most 
urgent cases to the local hospital for evaluation and treatment.  UN 
Volunteer Mike Sanderson said that the Sudanese were suffering 
disproportionately because they refused to eat greens and 
consequently were susceptible to anemia.  NGO's have made up for 
some of UNHCR's financial straits; for example,  earlier this year, 
a Protestant church group donated USD 1,000 to the clinic. 
 
---------------------------- 
Relations with the Neighbors 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Ghanaian camp manager described relations with local 
villagers as "cordial" but refugees listed several problem areas. 
For example, the local chief initially refused to allow the local 
burial of an 80-year-old refugee who had passed away; eventually he 
relented.  Many refugees reportedly worked as fishermen's 
assistants, but after a day's work, the fishermen would refuse to 
pay them, whether in cash or with a portion of the day's haul.  In 
addition, three village elders recently approached UNHCR, claiming 
that organization had promised them USD 6,000 and complaining that 
Ghanaians were not receiving the same benefits as the refugees. 
Sanderson noted, however, that refugees often mingle and converse 
freely with local villagers, concluding that despite the occasional 
misunderstanding, overall relations were civil. 
 
------------------------- 
No Lights at Night -- Yet 
------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The camp at night remains totally dark.  In April, the new 
Chair of Ghana's Refugee Board met with officials from the electric 
company (VRA) and compellingly presented the need for lighting as a 
security issue, according to Sanderson.  Fortunately, there were no 
new reports of any sexual- or gender-based violence in the camp. 
 
-------------- 
Food and Water 
-------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Refugees appeared to have better access to potable 
drinking water, with several bore holes yielding modest amounts 
during the current dry season.  The World Food Program was supplying 
full food rations to all refugees, including corn meal, dried beans, 
oil, and salt.  Sanderson confirmed refugees' complaints that there 
had been some weevil infestation earlier in the year but said 
spoilage had been minimal. 
 
------------ 
Resettlement 
------------ 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Resettlement activity has reached a pace not equaled 
during the previous three years.  Some 50 refugees were scheduled to 
leave for Australia on May 8, while another 66 were pending their 
Canadian medical clearances.  UNHCR has begun referring Togolese and 
Sudanese Krisan Camp residents to the U.S. Resettlement Program, the 
first of a promised 100 refugee referrals.  The number referred 
could eventually exceed 100, but the Branch Office has asked a UNHCR 
expert on Darfur to evaluate several hundred of the Sudanese before 
it proceeds further. 
 
------------- 
The Liberians 
------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In his discussions with individual refugees, Ref Coord 
noticed that the Liberians remained resistant to the notion of 
repatriation, citing crime, unemployment, property disputes, and 
generalized fear as reasons for not wanting to return home.  Ref 
 
ACCRA 00001033  002 OF 002 
 
 
Coord cautioned that the GOG had not yet decided what kind of status 
to offer the remaining Liberian refugees.  It was possible that they 
would be treated as other foreigners in having to obtain annual 
residence permits and pay for medical bills at non-Ghanaian rates at 
government-run clinics. 
 
------------ 
The Sudanese 
------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Sudanese, though mild-mannered and highly 
self-disciplined, appeared to have more problems.  The GOG has not 
issued refugee ID cards since the last verification exercise in 
2003, a decision that has most acutely impacted the Sudanese, since 
they make up a majority of the newcomers.  Two Sudanese refugees 
were reportedly beaten in unprovoked attacks last year, with locals 
referring to them as "janjaweed."  Though some have managed to reach 
Accra safely, one policeman threatened the Sudanese, saying, "If you 
appear at the Axim checkpoint [east of Krisan], we will send you 
back to Darfur." 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Krisan has come a long way since the November 2005 riot, 
with only the burned out warehouse remaining as mute testimony to 
the violence that ravaged the camp.  Refugees expressed confidence 
in UN Volunteer Mike Sanderson and Representative Aida Haile Mariam, 
with many entertaining high hopes of being resettled in the U.S. 
While the situation with food, water, and medicine was not ideal, 
most refugees appeared to be coping adequately and understood 
UNHCR's budgetary limitations.  Post will address the issue of ID 
cards for the Krisan refugees during its next meeting with the 
appropriate GOG officials. 
 
BRIDGEWATER