TFXO01: (12/29) BURMESE GOVERNMENT UPS TSUNAMI

UNCLAS RANGOON 001643 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, CA TASK FORCE, OPS CENTER BANGKOK, KATHMANDU FOR USAID USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR CASC PREL PINR PGOV AMGT BM SUBJECT: TFXO01: (12/29) BURMESE GOVERNMENT UPS TSUNAMI CASUALTY FIGURES REF: A. 12/29/04 TASK FORCE-RANGOON TELCOM ¶B. RANGOON 1633 AND PREVIOUS ¶C. STATE 274365 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: As of December 29th, the GOB's official earthquake/tsunami death toll in Burma is 51 dead and 70 missing, though the real numbers may be higher. There have been no reports of Amcit casualties or verified cases of missing Americans. The GOB has declined offers of assistance from international organizations, stating that it is still assessing the impact of the December 26th events and that it has the capacity to deal with the situation. Rangoon experienced yet another earthquake in the early hours of December 29th, considerably smaller than the December 26th quake, but there were no casualties or damage reported. End Summary. The Toll Rises ¶2. (SBU) Three days after the December 26th earthquakes and tsunami, the GOB increased its official tally of dead, SIPDIS missing, and injured in the country. The Minister of Home Affairs told the Chief of Mission (COM) on December 29th that at latest count there were 51 dead and 70 missing. In a December 28th statement, the Deputy Information Minister announced that in addition there were 45 injured and 788 homeless. Some UN sources believe these numbers are understated, but the UN's top representative in Burma says he has seen no evidence to contradict the GOB's overall assessment. A UNDP assessment mission dispatched to the remote regions of the Irrawaddy delta is expected to report back to Rangoon on December 30th. ¶3. (U) Most of the dead, missing, and injured are located in the far southeastern coastal region of Tanintharyi Division, on the Andaman Sea, and in the Irrawaddy delta region southwest of Rangoon (on the Gulf of Martaban, Andaman Sea). Unverified press reports also claim 10 dead fisherman in the Bay of Bengal. However, as previously reported by Embassy Rangoon (ref B),and contrary to the Department's public announcement of December 28th (ref C),we have received several reports (including from Emboffs and other diplomats on location) that the touristed beach areas along the Bay of Bengal, to the west and northwest of Rangoon, have not suffered any casualties or major damage. Amcits are Fine ¶4. (U) There have been no reported American citizen casualties to date. Embassy Rangoon's consular section has made inquiries as to the whereabouts of nine pleasure craft carrying foreigners, at sea on the 26th from the port town of Kawthaung, Tanintharyi Division. According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, all of the craft are accounted for and five have returned undamaged to port. GOB: No Plan and No Aid ¶5. (SBU) The COM asked the Minister of Home Affairs whether the GOB would request international assistance. He was vague, telling her only that the GOB was "still waiting and reviewing figures and damage." The GOB did not accept a December 27th offer of aid by the World Health Organization or subsequent offers by other UN agencies. The COM also pressed the Minister on Burma's preparedness plan should a major earthquake strike in or near population centers in Burma (the country is on a major fault line). The Minister demurred and seem surprised to learn from the COM and his subordinates that Rangoon had experienced another, minor earthquake at about 0330 (local) on December 29th (there were no casualties or damage reported from this latest quake). MARTINEZ