TSUF01: GOC AND PRIVATE OFFERS OF HURRICANE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008334 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON ASEC CASC MARR AMGT AMER SUBJECT: TSUF01: GOC AND PRIVATE OFFERS OF HURRICANE ASSISTANCE REF: A. STATE 162270 ¶B. BOGOTA 08197 ¶C. BOGOTA 08281 ¶1. (U) As requested in Ref A, the Embassy has accepted in principle the 20 bilingual members of the Colombian disaster assistance force to help with recovery efforts offered by the GOC in Ref B. The GOC has made additional, but non-specific, offers of assistance as noted in Ref C. ¶2. (U) The Embassy has received several offers of assistance from private citizens and groups. Private Colombian citizens offering monetary assistance have been directed to the International Red Cross. Post would appreciate guidance as to how to respond to offers of technical assistance and other non-monetary donations from private citizens. A list of some of these offers follows: -Mr. Gustavo GAVINA Angel, a Colombian citizen and owner of a coffee export business, Industrias Aliadas, in Ibague, Tolima, has offered unlimited coffee from his storage facility in Miami. He also has offered to transport the coffee from Miami to other locations. He speaks English fluently and can be contacted at (578)317-7783 (land) or (57)310-266-9705 (mobile). He may have made a similar offer to the International Red Cross. -Dr. Luis Eduardo CRUZ, a medical doctor, and other members of a civil assistance group called Grupo de Apoyo General Defensa Civil from Cali, have offered to help with search and rescue missions. -Mr. Guillermo SANCHEZ Blanco, a retired employee of the petroleum company Occidental de Colombia with experience in materials and security issues, has offered his expertise and assistance in restoring oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. He has a tourist visa and can be contacted at (571)863-7328 (land) and (57)300-209-7973. -Offers of technical assistance from civil and electrical engineers, included those who have been licensed in the United States. -Offers of medical assistance from various groups of doctors and nurses. WOOD