TFUS01: Further information on Spanish Assistance

UNCLAS MADRID 003153 SIPDIS E.O. 12950: N/A TAGS: AEMR EAID PREL US SP SUBJECT: TFUS01: Further information on Spanish Assistance Reftels a)Madrid 3149 b) State 166366 ¶1. According to Pablo Muelas Garcia, Technical Advisor in AECI (the Spanish USAID equivalent),two Spanish Hercules transport aircraft are scheduled to depart Spain tomorrow (September 7) with material assistance from the Spanish Government (reftel A.) As currently planned, one plane will contain MREs and the second a compendium of items from our list (reftel B),including tents, bedding, cleaning items, water purification plants, and basic medical supplies. Muelas also asked for status of an earlier Spanish request for U.S. airlift. We had turned the request off because of the availability of the Spanish Hercules. He stated he had just returned from a meeting with NGOs and the governments of Spain's autonomous communities (state equivalents.) He estimated that between the two, there could be three further planeloads of supplies to transport. He did not yet have details on the supplies or timing. ¶2. Madrid's Air Attache is coordinating the U.S. airlift request, as well as the travel of the Spanish Hercules aircraft. We are also waiting for confirmation from OFDA on landing slots for the Spanish aircraft in Little Rock (information promised for later tonight.) ¶3. Embassy Madrid is receiving a large volume of calls from Spaniards wishing to provide assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina. We are steering them to the Spanish Red Cross, which has a telephone number dedicated to these donations.