HURRICANE KATRINA: COSTA RICA OFFER OF ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002086

SIPDIS

FOR HURRICANE KATRINA TASK FORCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR EAID PREL US CS
SUBJECT: HURRICANE KATRINA: COSTA RICA OFFER OF ASSISTANCE

REF: A. (A) STATE 163366


B. (B) STATE 164132

President Abel Pacheco and Health Minister Rocio Saenz phoned
Charge September 7 to offer assistance to Hurricane Katrina
victims. The offer was for two forms of assistance:

-- a team of nurses (unspecified number), and/or
-- non-perishable food items, specifically sugar and coffee
(unspecified amount).

Neither Pacheco or Saenz mentioned whether they could deliver
the assistance by their own means or whether transport would
require U.S. assistance. We believe that U.S. assistance for
transport would be requested if the USG were to accept the
Costa Rican offer.
FRISBIE