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### Viewing cable 09QUITO322, COMBATTING ECUADOR'S INCREASING REFUGEE POPULATION

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09QUITO322 | 2009-05-06 15:58 | 2011-05-02 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Quito

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHQT #0322/01 1261558
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 061558Z MAY 09
    FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0337
    INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 8127
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3531
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAY LIMA 3184
    RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4303

` `

    UNCLAS QUITO 000322

    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR USAID

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREF PREL SMIG EC

    SUBJECT: COMBATTING ECUADOR'S INCREASING REFUGEE POPULATION

    ¶1. SUMMARY:  This cable summarizes a review of the World Food
    Program's (WFP) assistance to Colombian refugees (defined in this
    cable as persons of concern) in northern Ecuador.  The review was
    conducted by Barry Burnett, USAID/DCHA/FFP, over the period April 6
    - April 10, 2009 and included field trips to Ibarra, Tulcan, and San
    Lorenzo in northern Ecuador.  Mr. Burnett also interviewed
    representatives of WFP, UNHCR, USAID/Ecuador, IOM, Hebrew Immigrant
    Aid Society (HIAS), and Colombian refugees.  Findings indicate that
    Colombian refugee levels are increasing, both along the northern
    border with Colombia and elsewhere in the country.  UN agencies and
    their implementing partners are providing critically needed
    assistance to this growing refugee population.  However, it is
    estimated that the scope of current operations will need to be
    expanded to meet the rising needs.

    MORE COLOMBIANS FLEEING THE CONFLICT AT THE BORDER
    ¶2. The long-standing conflict between Government of Colombia forces
    and illegal armed groups has resulted in the displacement of up to
    4.4 million Colombians, with tens of thousands seeking refuge in
    Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama.  UNHCR estimates that Ecuador is
    hosting at least 135,000 persons of concern, of which 22,000 have
    been granted refugee status and another 72,000 have pending asylum
    applications with the GOE.  One of WFP's key implementing partners,
    HIAS, is responsible for making initial contact with refugees and
    providing guidance, orientation and emergency assistance, including
    food aid and counseling.  HIAS reported that the refugee level was
    30 percent higher in the period November 2008 to March 2009 than the
    refugee level recorded in the previous ten months, January 2008 to
    October 2008.

    WFP ASSISTING 11,000 WITH FOOD AID AND TRAINING
    ¶3. WFP's food assistance program is currently reaching nearly 11,000
    of the most food-insecure refugees and other highly vulnerable
    people in host communities.  Total WFP beneficiaries are projected
    to increase as the level of refugees continues to rise.  WFP is
    increasing the provision of food-for-training and food-for-work as
    it seeks to accelerate recovery operations in 2009 and beyond.

    ¶4. Site visits indicated, for example, that WFP food distributions
    supplement provisions from small family plots for a group of elderly
    refugees and food-insecure elders in the host-community.  WFP
    complements food distributions with lessons about health and
    nutrition delivered to beneficiaries in biweekly meetings.  WFP also
    trains women in a variety of handicrafts and businesses (e.g. fish
    marketing) to improve their livelihoods.  In certain communities,
    WFP distributes food aid to refugee children being attended to by
    state-funded baby-sitters so their mothers can go to work.

    ¶5. During a high-profile ceremony in Ibarra in northern Ecuador
    commemorating the distribution of Title II-funded fortified wheat
    flour for which U.S.  Ambassador Heather Hodges was the
    guest-of-honor, senior GOE officials made clear their appreciation
    for the assistance but urged that other countries recognize the
    severity of the growing refugee problem and lend assistance.
    According to UNHCR sources, the GOE has provided some $40 million in
    support of health care, education and registration for Colombian
    refugees.

    NEW GOE/UN PROGRAM REGISTERS REFUGEES IN ONE DAY
    ¶6. Prior to being officially recognized as a refugee, asylum seekers
    are not allowed to seek employment, forcing a greater dependence on
    basic services, including food aid.  Recently, with UNHCR support,
    the GOE agreed to an accelerated registration process that cuts down
    the time required to obtain refugee identification cards from nine
    months to one day.  About 1,300 Colombians were granted refugee
    status in the first two weeks of the initiative (March 23-April 3,
    2009).  UNHCR expects it will take some time to fully
    institutionalize the accelerated registration process, but it is a
    promising start.

    CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    ¶7. A. The flow of Colombian refugees across Ecuador's northern
    border shows no sign of abating; quite the opposite, NGO contacts
    indicated that this flow appears to have increased in recent
    months.

    ¶B. UN institutions, in particular WFP and UNHCR, are rendering
    critically important emergency services to Colombian refugees,
    including food aid, counseling, orientation, and training, to
    facilitate their transition from Colombia to Ecuador.  The
    challenges facing the UN and other institutions seeking to improve
    refugee conditions are complicated by the presence of illegal armed
    groups, the flow of drugs from Colombia across sections of the
    border to the Pacific Ocean and on to foreign markets, and Ecuador's
    high rate of unemployment and underemployment (8.5 and 53 percent
    respectively as of February 2009).

    ¶C. The Ecuadorian military patrols the northern border region and
    protects against armed incursions, as well as the illegal flow of
    drugs, weapons and other contraband.  The GOE is also seeking to
    coordinate assistance efforts aimed at strengthening economic
    conditions along the northern border.  In this context, WFP and
    UNHCR should use its strong presence in the region to continue to
    assist the GOE in coordinating relief efforts in northern Ecuador.

    ¶D. WFP will undertake an assessment of its food aid program later
    this year and will likely recommend a larger program, with greater
    attention to rehabilitation efforts.  Such an approach would appear
    consistent with the conditions observed and outlined above.

    Hodges

`