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