TFXO01: SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES, SITREP. NO. 8,

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000031

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SA/INS AND CA/OCS
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING, GARVELINK
GENEVA FOR NANCY KYLOW
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN
NEW DELHI FOR FAS
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR CASC PGOV CE MALDIVES'>MV
SUBJECT: TFXO01: SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES, SITREP. NO. 8,
JANUARY 4

REF: COLOMBO 0016 AND PREVIOUS

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SRI LANKA
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1. (U) Casualties: According to Government statistics,
30,229 people died in the tsunami; 3,858 remain missing;
835,028 have been displaced. A total of 7 Americans have
been confirmed killed in the disaster.


2. (SBU) U.S. Actions/Assistance: The Ambassador,
accompanied by Brigadier General Panter, head of the Combined
Support Group Sri Lanka (CSGSL),USAID/OFDA DART leader Bill
Berger and DATT, met on January 4 with the Secretaries of
Defense, Finance and Foreign Affairs to discuss disaster
assistance operations. They agreed on a notional list of
operations U.S. military might undertake, mainly medium
engineering reconstruction efforts. Sri Lankans requested
heavy lift capabilities and heavy engineering assistance
also. They were told that at present heavy lift capabilities
would be deployed to Indonesia, not Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans
also clarified the support they were ready to provide in
terms of space for U.S. troops and equipment. The meeting
was very useful as it allowed us to clarify for the
Government what our capabilities are, and for us to
understand what the Government is looking for. The need for
heavy lift capability is very real, and no other nation,
including the Indians, is able to provide it. Provision of
some heavy lift assets would have major impact here.


3. (SBU) U.S. Actions/Assistance: On January 4 the
Ambassador, accompanied by Brigadier General Panter, DART
leader Berger and DATT, also met with Education Secretary
Tara De Mel, who has been named by President Kumaratunga to
head the Center for National Operations managing the national
relief effort, to brief her on the capabilities and
assistance possible through the combined USG response to the
disaster. The Ambassador stressed that the U.S. effort is
being closely coordinated with the Government, as well as
with other bilateral and multilateral donors. De Mel noted
that coordination with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) is improving, although some "distance" remains.
According to De Mel, information on casualties and displaced
persons from LTTE-controlled territory is still "sketchy."
She reported that the ICRC, rather than the Government, is
taking relief supplies into LTTE areas.



4. (SBU) U.S. Actions/Assistance (cont.): Two C-5s carrying
trucks, generators, engineering equipment and life-support
equipment are expected to land later January 4.

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MALDIVES
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5. (SBU) The combined Embassy/DAO/DART/CSGSL team returned
from MALDIVES on January 4. Specific immediate needs include
water availability and distribution, followed by temporary
shelter, clearance of debris, and rehabilitation of
generators and fishing vessels. An overriding need for all
relief efforts is logistical support to distribute resources
and expertise to the affected islands. Sitrep on MALDIVES
will follow septel.

LUNSTEAD