TFUS01: CZECHS OFFER IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN HELP

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001289 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AEMR EAID EZ SUBJECT: TFUS01: CZECHS OFFER IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN HELP REF: A. PRAGUE 1287 ¶B. STATE 163366 ¶1. Czech PM Paroubek and President Klaus both met Ambassador morning of Sept 5 to present list of Czech offers of immediate support for relief and assistance following Hurricane Katrina. The Czechs have notionally offered $1 million in equipment and personnel to provide immediate relief, although PM Paroubek stressed that this figure was only preliminary and that the GOCR was prepared to consider any specific request from US authorities. Paroubek and Klaus both stressed the first-hand experience the Czechs have with flood relief, based on the severe floods that struck Prague in 2002 (when Paroubek was Deputy Mayor of the city) and have impacted other areas of the country in recent years. ¶2. The Czechs are offering the following (full translation of GOCR list e-mailed to TF1): a) One large water filtration unit and team to run the equipment b) Doctors from the Health Ministry (total of 14 in various specialities including trauma, neurology and emergency medicine) c) A military field hospital d) Specialized military forces e) Military chem-bio teams to handle decontamination and environmental cleanup f) Flood relief equipment (not specified) and a 14-man team to manage g) Flood recovery pumps: two Sigma 4000 pumps and a 10-man team to operate h) "Aquasteril" water treatment packets ¶3. Czech Airlines is prepared to transport any personnel to New York. CSA or Czech Army TU-154 planes could transport some of the material, although larger items (field hospital, large filtration unit, pumps) would require support from US military transport. ¶4. Czech officials stressed this list responds only to immediate needs. They are prepared to look at ways that Czech experts can support the rebuilding effort, again drawing on Czech expertise and lessons learned following the 2002 Prague floods. ¶5. Ambassador promised to reply soonest to Czech requests. ¶6. Embassy POC is Pol-Econ Counselor Mike Dodman, cell 420-602-324-273. Czech MFA POC is Mr. Jiri Slavik, Dept of International Assistance, office 420-224-183-117, cell 420-737-219-479. CABANISS