TFUS01: FRENCH OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 005995 SIPDIS STATE FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AND EUR/WE TREASURY FOR DO/IM JOINT STAFF FOR J-3, J-5/EUR DHS FOR FEMA/OIA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON ASEC CASC AMGT EAID PREL FR SUBJECT: TFUS01: FRENCH OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF REF: A. A) SECSTATE 163366 ¶B. B) SECSTATE 163729 ¶C. C) TELCONS PARIS/TF1 09/04/05 ¶D. D) SECSTATE 163416 ¶1. SUMMARY: Following specific French offers of disaster assistance, repeated below, we relayed acceptance per ref D. The GOF still awaits notification of where and when to send the material accepted. END SUMMARY. -------------- GOF OFFERS of AID -------------- ¶2. France announced on September 2 it is willing to provide disaster relief assistance to the United States to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Initial proposals included: --Interior Ministry capabilities: an emergency services detachment of 35 people (including 11 hurricane specialists) can be immediately deployed from Guadeloupe and Martinique. An airmobile disaster intervention detachment of up to 60 people can also be mobilized from continental France. --The Foreign Ministry pre-positioned humanitarian action supplies in Martinique, including 600 tents, almost 1000 camp beds, 60 generators, 3 motor pumps, 3 water treatment units and 1000 foldable jerry cans. -- The Defense Ministry can make available 2 aircraft which are already in the area and another six from continental France, 2 navy ships (one with a helicopter) and a hurricane unit specialized in medical support. -- The Telecom sans frontiers NGO and the French water company Veolia Environment Company offered services in their areas of expertise, namely, restoring telephone and water links. ¶3. On September 4, we met with representatives of the French disaster response team (which includes representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Defense, Interior, and the Presidency), and shared with them the points provided in Ref B. The French provided further specifications of their offers of material assistance, at our request, as follows: 143 tents 25m2 146 tents 13m3 200 tents 16m2 98 tents 8m2 2 tents, hangar 86m2 980 camp cots 1000 pliable jerricans 1100 buckets 11 liters 3136 soapbars 576 cooking kits 30 generators 2.5kwa 9 generators 4.2kwa 20 generators 4kva LX400 SDMO with stakes 350 Cresyl chemical water-purifiers with 5-liter flask 126 first aid kits 1029 tarps 8x6m 1200 tarps 5x4 1000 blankets 200 stretchers 6 ropes 1 water treatment station 10m3/h 2 water treatment stations 10m3/h 10 motor pumps 36m3/h Honda ) suction tube 6m, discharge tube 40m 20 motor pumps 36m3/h SDMO TR 2.36H with tube kits 4 concrete mixers with accessories 394 storm lamps 159 masonry kits 192 carpentry kits 295 plumbing kits 6 portable electric tools 30 chainsaws gloves safety hats 300 pick axes 223 shovels 180 sledgehammers 3000 ponchos 234 boots (US sizes M 7, 8, 9) Subsequently, the French MFA indicated it also has available 1000 MRE rations. We faxed the detailed list to the Task Force. ¶4. During the meeting, French officials indicated they also would coordinate their offers with the European Commission Civil Protection Cooperation Mechanism (ECCPM). (NOTE: French officials provided a copy of a message from the ECCPCM to us, with a list of urgent requirements in two tables. It appears the second table is almost verbatim from Ref B, with the exception that pharmaceuticals are listed as being requested, not excluded. END NOTE.) ¶5. The GOF indicated that it has planes ready to go in Guadeloupe and Martinique with disaster supplies; their pilots just need to know a destination. The French also would like to know exactly what to send, and sought confirmation of our priorities. Delivery can be by air or sea, but by sea will take a few days longer. French officials repeated their offer to provide trained personnel. These specialists would be fully autonomous (e.g., have enough food and water) for up to five days. The French Red Cross stated their contacts with the US Red Cross indicated the greatest need is for medical personnel. ¶6. We checked by phone with the Task Force, and relayed the message that the USG priority now is for material supplies, not personnel. We also relayed the message to the French that search & rescue personnel are not required. The French suggested that they could also provide personnel to aid in the distribution of goods, if desired. -------------- PRIVATE OFFERS -------------- ¶7. In addition to the French Telecom NGO and Veolia, the GOF informs us that Airbus is willing to make available, as soon as September 6, its Beluga cargo carrier. In addition, the Groupe de Secours Catastrophe Francais has offered to send a team of 5-15 persons to engage in water purification of up to 1500 liters per hour and to provide sanitary support. POC is Thierry Velu, tel 336 63 58 0195, fax 333 21907 932, email secretaire@gscf.fr. The Corps Mondiale de Secours, another SIPDIS NGO specializing in search & rescue, has also offered its services. POC is Camille Chardon, tel. 336 19 98 45. ¶8. We have referred other offers to FEMA and the Task Force for consideration, as well as to the Embassy website, which has contact information for donations. -------------- CONSULAR ISSUES -------------- ¶9. Francoise le Bihan, Assistant Secretary for French Consular Services, expressed concern to us about the plight of EU members in the wake of the storm, particularly of course French citizens. She requested, if possible, to have EU citizens grouped together for easier handling. She reported the French ConGen in New Orleans had been relocated to Lafayette, but soon would move to Baton Rouge. Other French consulates, such as in Houston, are also involved in providing aid. -------------- ACCEPTANCE -------------- ¶10. We relayed the USG acceptance to the French of the tents and generators (ref D). The GOF took note, and requested destination information soonest. In order to fuel the planes properly, that is the most important piece of information missing. The GOF also awaits further notification on its other offers of aid, specifically the personnel proffered. -------------- POINTS OF CONTACT -------------- ¶11. For the GOF, the primary host-country POC who is English-speaking and can address technical and logistical details is Marion Fesneau-Castaing, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tel. 331 43 17 40 27, fax 331 43 17 54 70 and 331 43 17 58 91, portable duty phone 336 15 30 61 41. The French lead POC is Christian Rouyer, Delegate for Humanitarian Action, tel. 331 43 17 47 63, fax 331 43 58 91. ¶12. Embassy Paris POC is Economic Officer Otto Van Maerssen, reachable through the Embassy,s 24-hour switchboard at 331-4312-2222. Alternate phones: 331 42 94 84 89 (home), 336 20 8666 19 (cell). STAPLETON