TFX001: SITREP NO. 3 ON SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002073 SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/INS, SES-O, AND CA/OCS STATE PLEASE ALSO PASS USAID/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING, GARVELINK USPACOM FOR FPA NEW DELHI FOR FAS BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN GENEVA FOR USAID - NANCY KYLOH E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2014 TAGS: CASC AEMR EAID PGOV PREL CE MV SUBJECT: TFX001: SITREP NO. 3 ON SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES, DECEMBER 30 REF: COLOMBO 2070 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: AMB. JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD. REASON: 1.4 (B,D). -------------- SRI LANKA -------------- ¶1. (U) American Citizens: The number of American citizens confirmed killed in the December 26 tsunami stands at 7; 116 remain unaccounted for; 180 welfare/whereabouts cases have been resolved. All American and LES employees of the Embassy, USAID and IBB have been accounted for. According to the Ministry of Tourism, 100 foreigners have been reported killed in the disaster so far. ¶2. (U) Casualty Figures: According to most recent estimates from the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL),the casualty toll has reached 24,743. The eastern coastal district of Ampara has registered the highest number of deaths (as many as 13,000). Casualty figures from areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are difficult to confirm. According to local press reports, 25 coastal villages in the LTTE-controlled district of Mullaitivu were completely obliterated. ¶3. (U) Government Efforts: The GSL is publicizing efforts to provide relief in the north and east, following criticism in the Tamil press and on the LTTE website for focusing assistance on the Sinhalese south. Following President Kumaratunga's December 29 appeal for national unity (Reftel), LTTE leader Prabhakaran issued a public statement conveying his sympathy to Muslim and Sinhalese "brethren" affected by the disaster. The Tiger chief's reference to the Sinhalese majority as "brethren" is unprecedented in the 21-year ethnic conflict. President Kumaratunga is meeting with ambassadors of selected missions, including the U.S. Ambassador, at 6:30 p.m. local time on December 30. ¶4. (U) U.S. Efforts: One OFDA assessment team returned from Trincomalee District on December 30. Two teams remain in the field and are expected to return December 31. The first planeload of emergency supplies provided by OFDA funds is expected in Colombo December 31. ¶5. (C) PACOM: 30 members of the PACOM Disaster Relief Assessment Team (DRAT) have arrived in Sri Lanka. Members of the group and DATT had a productive meeting with Secretary to the President W.J.S. Karunaratne and secretaries of 12 ministries on December 30. Members of the DRAT, two members of the USAID/OFDA assessment team and DATT will helicopter over disaster-affected areas (on a coastal route from Kalutara to Ampara) to assess damage on December 31. The initial military airlift of relief supplies is expected to land in Colombo the evening of December 30. The Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on January 7, while the Marine Expeditionary Unit is expected to arrive January 4. ¶6. (SBU) Wave rumors: At mid-day on December 30 Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara contacted the Ambassador about SIPDIS reports received from the Indian government of another tidal wave expected to hit southern India. Palihakkara said that the Indian Foreign Secretary had told him that the information came from a U.S. company, Terra Research, which he believed was based in Portland, Oregon. The Foreign Secretary asked for U.S. help in verifying the reports of an SIPDIS impending tsunami. The Ambassador contacted the Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, which dispelled the rumor. -------------- MALDIVES -------------- ¶7. (U) American Citizens: As of COB on December 30, no American citizens had been reported killed. Two Americans were unaccounted for in Maldives. ¶8. (U) Government Efforts: The Government of the Republic of Maldives (GORM) reports contact with all 19 atolls, although some of the islands within these atolls remain out of contact. According to information received from UNDP, the Government has reported that all islands (presumably with the exception of those that remain out of contact) have been provided with a three-day supply of food (rice, flour and sugar) from emergency reserves. Electricity remains out on 14 of the inhabited islands. ¶9. (U) Foreign Assistance: The UNDAC/OCHA team arrived in Maldives late December 28. To date, the GORM reports receiving pledges of USD 500,000 from bilateral donors and USD 450,000 from the UN. In addition, according to the UNDP ResRep, the World Food Program will provide USD 500,000 in emergency food and other supplies. ¶10. (U) U.S. Assistance: The first delivery of U.S. relief supplies (plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, water bladders and jerry cans) is expected to arrive on December ¶31. A member of the USAID/OFDA assessment team, accompanied by an emboff, is expected to arrive in Maldives on January 2 to coordinate the distribution of relief materials. LUNSTEAD