VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #0413/01 0500825
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190825Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9606
INFO RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 2134
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 8923
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3389
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3104
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4185
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3034
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6391
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7259
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/CCJ5/CCJS//
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000413 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, DAS AF JSWAN, AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, 
A/S PRM SAUERBREY, AND PRM/AFR 
AFR/AA KALMQUIST, WWARREN, JBORNS, KNELSON, CTHOMPSON 
DCHA/AA MHESS, GGOTTLIEB 
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, CCHAN, PMORRIS, KCHANNELL 
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN, SANTHONY, PBERTOLIN 
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, RTILSWORTH, AND LPANASUK 
NAIROBI FOR OFDA/ECARO GPLATT, RFFPO NCOX, USAID/EA 
ROME FOR AMBASSADOR, OHA, HSPANOS 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU PBROWN 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA 
USUN FOR FSHANKS 
NSC FOR PMARCHAN 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
REF:  A) ADDIS 3644  B) ADDIS 3611  C) ADDIS 0027  D) ADDIS 0153  E) 
ADDIS 0381 
SUBJECT: USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM: ACCESS AND SECURITY 
UPDATE #4 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (SBU) Between December 20 and January 31, U.S. Government (USG) 
Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT) in Ethiopia staff conducted three 
extensive humanitarian assessment trips to the conflict-affected 
areas of Somali Region, including Degehabur, Fik, Gode, and Korahe 
zones.  USG HAT staff note national, regional, and local government 
cooperation in facilitating USG HAT access and travel in the region. 
 During USG HAT regional assessments, local populations reported 
numerous unsolicited accounts of Ethiopia National Defense Force 
(ENDF) attacks on civilian populations and burning of villages. 
While assessing locust damage in Korahe Zone, USG HAT observed two 
burned villages approximately 50 kilometers (km) northeast of 
Kebridehar town.  USG HAT staff also note high levels of tension and 
intimidation in the region. 
 
¶2.  (U) In addition, USG HAT staff report a deterioration in safety 
and security conditions for UN agencies and non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) operating in Somali Region in recent weeks, 
including ENDF arrests and detentions of humanitarian staff and 
increasing allegations by the Government of the Federal Democratic 
Republic of Ethiopia (GFRDE) of humanitarian organizations 
collaborating with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).  At 
the same time, the ONLF released a January 18 statement accusing UN 
and humanitarian organizations of colluding with the GFDRE and 
compromising their neutrality by adhering to GFDRE required military 
escorts for food assistance and failing to publicly acknowledge ENDF 
responsibility for the current humanitarian situation.  End summary. 
 
 
---------------- 
BURNED VILLAGES, IDPS, AND IMPLIED THREATS 
---------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) During USG HAT field assessments in Degehabur, Fik, Gode, 
and Korahe zones, local populations reported numerous unsolicited 
accounts of ENDF attacks on civilian populations, including the 
burning of villages and killing of civilians.  In an IDP camp 
approximately 7 km outside of Kebridehar town, Korahe Zone, USG HAT 
staff heard approximately 10 accounts of nearby villages being 
burned and villagers fleeing into the bush or to the IDP camp.  At 
the same camp, four unknown young men aggressively harassed the USG 
HAT safety and security officer (SSO).  The young men approached the 
USG HAT SSO while making hand gestures indicating slitting one's 
throat.  One young man pulled out a cigarette lighter, put the 
lighter close to the USG HAT SSO's face, lit it, and laughed. 
Although the USG HAT SSO could not confirm the identity of the men, 
the SSO noted that other IDPs avoided the young men.  Based on the 
men's attire and aggressive attitude, the men did not appear to 
belong to the camp.  To avoid an escalation in tensions, USG HAT 
staff departed the IDP camp following the incident.  Continuing 
northeast from the IDP camp, USG HAT staff observed two burned 
villages approximately 50 km northeast of Kebridehar town while 
assessing signs of locust damage in the region.  According to a UN 
staff member, the ENDF had burned the villages approximately four to 
six months prior. 
 
 
 
--------------- 
ONLF COMMUNIQUE 
--------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) On January 18, the ONLF issued an official communique 
accusing UN and humanitarian organizations of "colluding" with the 
GFDRE and compromising their neutrality by adhering to GFDRE 
required military escorts for food assistance and failing to 
publicly acknowledge ENDF responsibility for the current 
humanitarian situation.  USG HAT staff note that the communique 
represents a change in perception of the humanitarian community by 
the ONLF and should be regarded as a potential threat to 
humanitarian activities in the region. 
 
------------------- 
HUMANITARIAN DETENTIONS AND REDUCED ACCESS IN THE OGADEN 
------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), WFP, and 
the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
report an increase in GFDRE arrests of humanitarian staff perceived 
to be assisting the ONLF in recent weeks.  Since January 26, 22 
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff continue to be affected by 
recent GFDRE detentions and movement restrictions within the 
conflict-affected areas of Somali Region, including 10 international 
and 12 Ethiopian staff.  On January 26, the ENDF placed 16 
MSF/Holland staff under open arrest and confiscated staff phones and 
computers in Warder town, Warder Zone, according to OCHA. 
Conditions of open arrest permit free movement within Warder town. 
However individuals are not permitted to leave Warder town, speak to 
UN staff, or enter UN offices, according to OCHA.  According to 
MSF/Holland, a National Information and Security Services official 
told MSF/Holland staff that they were under investigation for 
allegedly having contacted and provided medical assistance to ONLF 
elements.  On January 27, the ENDF also placed six MSF/Switzerland 
staff under open arrest and confiscated staff phones and computers 
in Kebridehar town, Korahe Zone, according to OCHA. 
 
¶6.  (U) In addition to humanitarian staff detentions, USG HAT staff 
report increased restrictions on humanitarian access and movement in 
parts of Somali Region in recent weeks.  On January 29, the ENDF 
stopped and detained WFP and NGO staff at checkpoints in Degehabur 
and Korahe zones for approximately one hour before permitting staff 
to continue onward travel, according to WFP.  From January 29 to 31, 
ENDF restrictions suspended UN and NGO operations and movement in 
Kebridehar town, Korahe Zone.  On January 29, the ENDF ordered all 
UN and NGO vehicles in Kebridehar town, KorahQone, to be moved to 
the ENDF compound for an unspecified period of time, according to 
UNDSS.  UN agencies refused to comply and negotiated an agreement to 
store vehicles in UN and NGO compounds and temporarily suspend 
operations, according to OCHA. 
 
¶7.  (U) OCHA has characterized recent incidents as blatant military 
harassment and intimidation and cautions that humanitarian 
operations cannot continue under current conditions.  In a January 
31 OCHA Somali Region coordination meeting, OCHA reported that the 
Humanitarian Coordinator has raised renewed protection and ENDF 
 
humanitarian harassment concerns with the UN headquarters in New 
York and that the UN Secretary General is expected to raise these 
concerns with Prime Minister Meles. 
 
--------------- 
USG HAT PROPOSED PRESENCE IN KEBRIDEHAR 
--------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) The USG HAT is proposing to establish a temporary field 
presence in Somali Region to continue to evaluate humanitarian 
conditions, implement and manage U.S. emergency response programs, 
and facilitate coordination and information sharing with UN and NGO 
partners operating in the region.  Office space would be co-located 
within the UN compound in Kebridehar town, Korahe Zone, and be 
utilized as a base for short-term assessment teams traveling to the 
region. 
 
------------- 
USG HAT CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) Due to continuing insecurity and an upsurge in recent 
humanitarian staff detentions and movement restrictions in Somali 
Region, USG HAT staff emphasize the need for continued collaboration 
and information sharing between USG HAT staff, the U.S. Embassy 
Resident Security Officer (RSO), and UNDSS, WFP, and NGO security 
staff.  USG HAT staff recommend that future USG HAT travel in the 
region utilize air travel whenever possible, continue to utilize UN 
and NGO partner vehicles and support, and secure RSO advance 
approval, in addition to UNDSS clearance when applicable.  Regarding 
the establishment of a USG HAT presence in Kebridehar, USG HAT staff 
emphasize that the proposed office space is to be utilized as a 
temporary base for short-term assessments to the region.  USG HAT 
staff also encourage USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and 
Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) to communicate concerns regarding 
recent humanitarian harassment and movement restrictions to UN 
leadership. 
 
 
 
YAMAMOTO