NETHERLANDS/PAKISTAN: GONL PLEDGES ANOTHER 5 MILLION EUROS

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 003032 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI/REITER USEU FOR LERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL NL EHUM SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/PAKISTAN: GONL PLEDGES ANOTHER 5 MILLION EUROS ¶1. Econoff met with Joost Andriessen (Humanitarian Affairs Director, MFA) at the first available opportunity on November 7 to get an update on Dutch contributions to earthquake relief and inform him of U.S. efforts. ¶2. Andriessen said the GONL had pledged a second 5 million euro (USD 6 million) tranche for the education of child-survivors, raising total Dutch contributions to 28 million euros (USD 33.6 million). Dutch humanitarian relief has been pledged as follows: (in millions of euros; 1 Euro=USD 1.20) UN Agencies 16.5 Red Cross 2.5 Local and International NGOs 4.0 Search and Rescue Team 1.0 Army Field Hospital 3.5 500 10-Person Tents 0.5 ¶3. Andriessen said he shared U.S. concerns at how little money had been raised worldwide. He speculated many governments' budgets were probably depleted due to the Asian tsunami and the end of the budget year. Andriessen said his SIPDIS ministry was still searching its year-end budget for more money (Note: the Dutch fiscal year runs from January to December). Andriessen thought the proposed November reconstruction conference should be postponed at least until mid-December to allow more time for an accurate needs assessment and to give governments time to prepare pledges. Development Minister Agnes van Ardenne intends to visit affected areas in mid-December. Given the GONL budget process, he said it was unlikely the GONL could pledge reconstruction assistance before then. BLAKEMAN