VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWD #0326/01 2531453
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101453Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0750
INFO RUEHWD/SADCC COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000326 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
For  State AF/S PGWYN, PRM MMCKELVEY, MLANGE 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL PHUM WA
SUBJECT: REFUGEES IN NAMIBIA: IMPENDING FOOD CRISIS AMIDST DURABLE 
SOLUTIONS 
 
REF: WINDHOEK 00285 
 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (U) The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and 
the GRN's Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration (MHAI) made a 
joint presentation to representatives from the diplomatic community 
in Windhoek on September 4 concerning durable solutions for the 
integration or resettlement of 8000 refugees residing in Namibia. 
At the meeting, a representative from the World Food Program (WFP) 
also outlined starkly an emerging food security crisis at the Osire 
Refugee Camp and pled for international donor support.  The group of 
41 Congolese refugees, who voluntarily left the Osire Refugee Camp 
in July, remain at the Namibia-Botswana border (reftel).  They are 
now under the care of the Government of Botswana while their status 
and request for entrance into Botswana is being reviewed. 
 
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Durable Solutions Proposed 
   -------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On September 4, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of 
Home Affairs and Immigration (MHAI), Samuel Goagoseb, and the 
country representative for UNHCR, Joyce Mends-Cole, made a joint 
presentation outlining durable solutions, which had been agreed upon 
in principle by UNHCR and the GRN, for the integration or 
resettlement of the Osire refugees.  The three primary avenues are: 
(1) voluntary repatriation and reintegration of refugees to their 
countries of origin, (2) local integration into the current country 
of residence, and (3) resettlement in third countries. 
 
¶3.  (U) With the caveat that no one may be "forced" to repatriate to 
his/her country of origin, Mends-Cole stated that the first two 
options would be emphasized in Namibia, as third-country 
resettlement is a viable option for only a small minority of the 
refugees.  She announced the gradual implementation of cessation 
clauses for Angolan refugees in 2010, due to improved stability and 
conditions in Angola.  While UNHCR has recently facilitated the 
return of some Angolans, the majority of refugees resident in 
Namibia - about 5000 of the total 8000 - are still Angolan 
(reftel). 
 
¶4.  (U) Both presenters emphasized the importance of a comprehensive 
policy approach for both local integration and repatriation 
strategies, which would address all aspects of the process - legal, 
economic, and socio-cultural.  Legal considerations for repatriates 
would include documentation for those who no longer have 
identification from their country of origin and for those who may 
have been born into refugee status.  For those integrating locally, 
legal provision would mean the expansion of rights, resident status, 
and freedom of movement.  Economic provisions for both groups would 
facilitate and require increased self-reliance on the part of 
refugees, such as through job training or credentialing those with 
professional skills.  Socio-cultural considerations relate to 
reasonable freedom from discrimination or exploitation, and 
opportunities to contribute to national development, as former 
refugees seek to integrate with society. 
 
¶5.  (U) Mends-Cole laid out a "target" timeline in which a 
comprehensive local integration policy will be drafted for review by 
December 2009 and formally presented to Parliament in April 2010. 
The Permanent Secretary qualified this statement, noting that only 
policy "recommendations" could be drafted and thus the process may 
take longer.  He added that the MHAI has begun issuing "non-citizen" 
birth certificates as documentation for refugees. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Food Security Crisis at Osire Camp 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Also at the September 4 meeting, WFP representative Baton 
Osmani briefed the diplomatic community on the "continued shrinking 
of available resources across the board" and the allocation of those 
resources to crises or areas that have garnered more international 
attention. Osmani warned of an emerging food crisis at the Osire 
Refugee Camp.  He noted that the WFP had been supplying full rations 
to the refugees at Osire since 2000 in partnership with the GRN, at 
an on-going cost of approximately USD 80,000 per month.  As the WFP 
had received no new donations since 2008 and had "failed" to acquire 
new donor commitments, Osmani projected a shortfall of about 164 
metric tons of food in the last quarter of 2009 (costing roughly USD 
120,000). 
 
¶7.  (U) In an effort to prevent fraud or abuse of the distribution 
system, WFP introduced I.D. and ration cards in 2008 and also began 
reducing or eliminating rations for camp inhabitants who were 
 
employed and demonstrably able to provide for their own needs.  WFP 
has also cut sugar and oil rations by 50 percent in an effort to 
stretch resources.  While full food rations have been authorized for 
September 2009, they will have to be cut by half in October in order 
to maintain some level of supply for the remainder of the year. 
 
¶8.  (U) In a subsequent discussion on September 8, Osmani indicated 
that he is hoping to receive new pledges of support from the 
international community as a result of his presentation.  He has 
also made direct appeals to the highest levels of the GRN for 
assistance.  If the GRN makes a new commitment, the WFP will 
 
publicize the donation and press the international community 
further, "possibly" followed by direct appeals to individual 
governments who have a stated or historical interest in the Osire 
refugees. 
 
------------------------------- 
The Congolese 41 Still in Limbo 
------------------------------- 
¶9.  (U) Representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 
inquired into the status of 41 Congolese refugees who voluntarily 
left the Osire Refugee Camp on July 8.  Both the Permanent Secretary 
and UNHCR representative made it clear that the claims by the group 
of death threats and maltreatment by the GRN were investigated and 
determined to be unsubstantiated.  Goagoseb reasserted the GRN's 
position that these individuals had broken Namibian law and would 
not be re-admitted to Namibia, even if they should desire to return. 
 Mends-Cole stated that UNHCR had provided food, water and other 
supplies for the group as they initially camped at the border 
between Namibia and Botswana, but she added that the Botswana 
government had taken over this responsibility while it reviewed the 
refugees' status and request for entrance into the country.  The 
refugees will remain where they are until Botswana makes a formal 
ruling on their case. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶10.  (SBU) It is unclear to what degree real progress on a 
comprehensive local integration policy may be made in the coming 
year.  UNHCR emphasized its commitment to develop policy 
recommendations for local integration as a viable and durable 
solution, and also noted that there is a "green light" from the 
President and a Cabinet mandate to do so.  However, upcoming 
presidential and parliamentary elections in November and Namibia's 
continuing economic downturn may impede quick progress.  On the 
other hand, the food crisis at Osire may elicit a more immediate 
response. 
 
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ACTION REQUEST 
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¶11.  (U) Post would appreciate notification should the Department 
decide to allocate funds to WFP specifically for the Osire Refugee 
Camp.