CZECHS OFFER SURGICAL CARE FOR SERIOUSLY-INJURED

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000898 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE, NEA/XXX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL MOPS IS LE EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS OFFER SURGICAL CARE FOR SERIOUSLY-INJURED LEBANESE CHILDREN REF: PRAGUE 00192 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Czech government has launched a medevac program to help critically injured women and children in Lebanon. This program is modeled on the successful Czech medevac programs for Iraq and Pakistan, and typifies the GOCR's modest yet extraordinarily active and adaptable disaster response mechanism and humanitarian assistance programs. The Czechs welcome U.S. assistance in identifying eligible patients. If necessary, the Czechs may seek allied assistance evacuating patients out of Lebanon. End summary. ¶2. (U) Poloff met with Czech Ministry of Interior officials on August 1 to discuss the Czech government's new Lebanese medevac program. The Head of the MOI's Unit for Policy, International Relations and Information on Countries of Origin Pavla Fridrichova said the program is similar to the Czechs' successful medevac programs for Iraq and Pakistan (Ref A). The program aims to provide emergency medical care to approximately 20-30 Lebanese people, preferably children or mother and child pairs. ¶3. (U) According to Fridrichova, the program will bring patients to the Czech Republic to receive surgical or medical care, and provide material support to them and accompanying family members while they recuperate. To be eligible, the patient should: (1) be a child or a mother and child pair, (2) have a serious injury or medical condition that cannot be treated in Lebanon because of the current situation, and (3) be stable enough to survive transportation to the Czech Republic. ¶4. (SBU) Fridrichova said the MOI is working with UNHCR and NGO Caritas in Lebanon to identify eligible patients, but has not identified any yet. Therefore, the Czechs would welcome U.S. assistance in identifying eligible patients. In addition, if necessary, the Czechs may seek allied assistance to evacuate patients safely out of Lebanon. ¶5. (U) The medevac program has received $440,000 in Czech government funding (CSK 10 million),which the Czechs believe could be used to treat up to 30 cases. CABANISS