TNAG-1542-FCO40-2106-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 240

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CONFIDENTIAL

3

(4)

i.

Co-ordination/Co-operation

As result of reasonably efficient coordination there is little actual duplication and the work of other organisations and agencies are generally complementary. There is in fact a network of coordination and double-checking, but this suggests that this could be more systematic.

ii. N/A

iii. The UNHCR do hold regular in-house coordination meetings which include WFP who are housed in the same building and are mutually supportive.

iv.

There are UNHCR offices in Tunisia and Morocco but they are separate and autonomous organisations and coordination, on those rare occasions when it would be necessary, would be through Geneva.

ง.

There is close liaison with the Algerians but the UNHCR representative remarked accurately that Algeria is a state "born on suspicion". The government-assigned Red Crescent Society are however good intermediaries with a reasonable degree of independence. On non-Sahrawi refugees the consular and political sections (DAC and DAPI) provide ad-hoc support, but procedures could be improved.

vi. There is, as already suggested, generally good coordination between organisations. NGOS have regular coordination meetings and they like to coordinate their effort, although there is some jealousy and desire for independence. The relevant liberation movement (Polisario) is represented through the SADR Red Crescent Society - in fact by a diplomat on the SADR list.

(5)

Information/Disaster Preparedness

i. The statistics quoted in the Algerian extract are those provided by the SADR. Objective estimates would probably not exceed 100,000. However the UNHCR has ample opportunity to estimate numbers in those groups which they directly supply.

ii.

Maps and plans of camp locations and sizes and other such statistics are held at headquarters as a result of field visits.

iii. The UNHCR rep is conscientious in keeping in touch with Algerian diplomatic and governmental circles and is as active as can be in keeping up to date.

iv.

However he himself suggests that the information he is able to pass back to headquarters is not really systematic and largely impressionistic.

CONFIDENTIAL

/v.

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