FRANCE'S ASIA RELIEF EFFORTS VIA DJIBOUTI

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000023 SIPDIS COMUSNAVCENT BAHRAIN PRIORITY USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ5// PRIORITY STATE FOR TASK FORCE-1, AF/E, AF/RSA, PM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS XO DJ FR SUBJECT: FRANCE'S ASIA RELIEF EFFORTS VIA DJIBOUTI ¶1. (U) France's Ambassador to Djibouti, Philippe Selz, told Ambassador January 6 that because of Djibouti's location, France would be using resources of its forces based here to assist with France's overall effort to assist tsunami disaster victims in Asia. ¶2. (U) Selz told Ambassador that the French helicopter vessel "Jeanne d'Arc" ended prematurely on January 3 its visit to Djiboutian territorial waters in order to assist with Asian relief efforts. The vessel departed Djibouti on that date for Thailand and Indonesia, filled to the brim with resources taken primarily from stocks of the French military outposts in Djibouti. According to Selz, the "Jeanne d'Arc" carried seven tons of pharmaceuticals, three helicopters, logistical materials to assist in removing debris and building structures, 100,000 liters of bottled fresh water, 2000 folding cots, a high volume of field rations, four medical experts from Bouffard Hospital in Djibouti, inflatable tanks for water, and products with which to treat water. He said the ship was fully loaded, to the extent that it was forced to dismantle some of its pallets and fit items under sleeping berths and behind doors to enable transport of all the materials. The vessel also carried, the French Ambassador stated, about 45-50 military personnel to assist with the relief effort. The vessel is scheduled to reach its destination on January 10. ¶3. (U) Selz commented that the "Jeanne d'Arc" "exhausted" most of the reserve items the French military had in Djibouti. He said he expected that French forces in Djibouti would be asked to do more in the coming days. RAGSDALE