MANAGUA SITREP 6: U.S. RELIEF EFFORTS CONTINUE

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 04 MANAGUA 002102 SIPDIS NOFORN SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN FEELEY AND LERSTEN DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/FO AND CA/OCS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID/W, USAID/DCHA AND USAID/OFDA USAID/W FOR A/AID HFORE USAID/OFDA FOR KLUU, AFERRERA, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, AND SBISWAS USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS AND GGOTTLIEB SOUTHCOM PLEASE PASS TO JTF-BRAVO SOUTHCOM FOR SCJ3--LTC ALEXANDER NSC FOR ALVARADO AND TSHORTLEY SAN JOSE FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR GENEVA FOR NKYLOH USUN ROME FOR RNEWBERG USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER ROME PLEASE PASS TO USUN ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PGOV MOPS AEMR KPAO CASC NU SUBJECT: MANAGUA SITREP 6: U.S. RELIEF EFFORTS CONTINUE REF: A. MANAGUA 2070 ¶B. MANAGUA 2059 ¶C. MANAGUA 2044 ¶D. MANAGUA 2032 ¶E. MANAGUA 2026 (NOTAL) ¶F. MANAGUA 2025 (NOTAL) ¶1. (SBU/NF) SUMMARY. Following the re-activation of the Samuel Roberts' two SH-60 helicopters on September 10, a total of 19 sorties have been carried out, delivering relief supplies, medical supplies, doctors, and security personnel to nine outlining communities in the Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN). On September 12, Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC) executive Robert Mossbacher, in an event covered by all national media, signed a memo of intent, extending an additional USD 7 million to rebuild homes in the affected areas. Over the past two days, Spanish and Venezuelan air support has delivered nearly 70 tons of relief supplies from Managua to Puerto Cabezas. A Dutch ship containing some 200 tons of relief supplies arrived in Puerto Cabezas on September 11. U.S. military assets are expected to continue operations for the next several days, primarily in Puerto Cabezas. END SUMMARY. CURRENT SITUATION - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (U) AFFECTED PERSONS: As of Monday evening, September 10, the GON was reporting the following data regarding the human impact of Hurricane Felix. Affected persons: 162,373 in the municipalities of Puerto Cabezas, Waspam, Rosita, Bonanza, and Alamikamba in the RAAN and in the departments of Nueva Segovia and Jinotega; 136 people have been rescued. CASUALTIES: 67 confirmed dead of which 65 were registered in the communities of Puerto Cabezas and 2 in Asan; 76 unconfirmed deaths; and 110 persons are missing. PROPERTY DAMAGE: 16,633 houses damaged (9,864 destroyed and 6,769 without roofs); 153 buildings and 12,072 latrines sustained partial damage. WELLS POLLUTED: 9,010. ¶3. (U) RETURN OF DOD ASSETS: Since sitrep 5, US SOUTHCOM re-activated two SH-60 helicopters to distribute relief supplies from Puerto Cabezas to outlying communities in the region. The SH-60s carried out nine and ten sorties on September 11 and 12, respectively. ¶4. (SBU/NF) SINAPRED UNCOOPERATIVE: OFDA/Milgroup team in Puerto Cabezas was denied access to the SINAPRED planning meeting on September 11. On September 12, Ambassador raised the issue with Foreign Minister Santos, who, within minutes, called back to report that President Ortega had given an order to allow OFDA/Milgroup to participate all appropriate planning meetings. (NOTE: SINAPRED postponed the regularly scheduled evening planning meeting for September 12. It is unlikely the meeting will be rescheduled for September 12. END NOTE) ¶5. (U) SUPPLY SITUATION IN MANAGUA: A snapshot assessment showed no backlog of supplies in Managua. However, the Nicaraguan military logistical coordinator in Managua indicated that SINAPRED has another 500 tons of supplies in a storage facility outside the airport, but was uncertain about SINAPRED's deployment plans for the supplies. He indicated that an additional C-130-equivalent aircraft is essential to guarantee the continued smooth flow of supplies to the Atlantic Coast. ¶6. (U) SOUTHCOM ASSESSMENT TEAM RETURNS TOMORROW: SOUTHCOM's second assessment team flew to Puerto Cabezas on the afternoon of September 12 and will return to Managua on September 13. Subsequent U.S. military asset deployment plans may be adjusted based on the team's assessment. USG PLANNING AND RESPONSE - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶7. (U) Over the past two days, U.S. relief efforts have concentrated on the redistribution of supplies from Puerto Cabezas to the remote communities in the region. The distribution effort was coordinated as follows: September 11: -- Sahsa: Six doctors from Accion Medica and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health (MINSA) and 600 pounds of medical supplies. A second flight carried 20 rolls of plastic sheeting. -- Colombo: Three flights provided a total of 19 sacks of rice, 6 sacks of split peas, 29 sacks of cereal, 23 cans of oil, and 7 rolls of plastic sheeting. -- Dakura, Pahara, Awastara: Nine Nicaraguan security officers replaced officals in place since the hurricane made landfall last week. -- Lapan: Two flights delivered 10 sacks of rice, 3 sacks of split peas, 17 sacks of cereal, and 12 cans of oil. September 12: -- Suina: Military personnel conducted aerial damage assessment. -- Lapan: Four MINSA doctors and 600 pounds of medical supplies. -- Sumubila: Four MINSA doctors. -- Awastara: Three flights delivered 47 sacks of rice (5,300 pounds). -- Prinzubila: Two flights delivered 3,500 pounds of emergency good commodities including rice, salt, and water. -- Isnawas: Two flights delivered 3,500 pounds of emergency good commodities including rice, salt, and water. PD OUTREACH: OPIC SIGNS USD 7 MILLION FOR RECONSTRUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (U) On September 12, OPIC executive Robert Mossbacher signed a memo of intent with BANCENTRO to add USD 7 million to an existing USD 30 million agreement to rebuild houses in the hurricane affected areas. The event was well-covered by all Nicaraguan national media. In addition, the Embassy issued a Spanish press release highlighting the deal. ¶9. (U) Following the signing, Mossbacher and the Ambassador met with President Ortega and the First Lady at the FSLN Secretariat. They discussed the OPIC deal and briefed Ortega on the status of US hurricane relief efforts, calling attention to the USD 1.4 million in disaster assistance the U.S. has delivered thus far. Separately, Embassy press officer Kristen Stewart briefed most national media about the OPIC / BANCENTRO deal and the USD 1.4 million in disaster assistance. FOREIGN GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE: DUTCH, SPANISH, AND VENEZUELANS DELIVER AID - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶10. (U) The Dutch-flagged ship Pelican arrived in Puerto Cabezas on September 11 carrying 300 tons of food with one helicopter on board. Supply offload will begin on September ¶13. ¶11. (U) Nicaraguan military officials in Puerto Cabezas reported that a Venezuelan ship is en route, but do not know the name of the ship nor its contents. ¶12. (U) On September 11, a Venezuelan C-130 airlifted 8,800 pounds of food and mixed supplies from Managua to Puerto Cabezas. A Spanish C-130 airlifted an additional 60,600 pounds of relief supplies to Puerto Cabezas and a Nicaraguan AN-26 airlifted a further 8,800 pounds of relief supplies to PC. ¶13. (U) On September 11, two MI-17 Venezuelan helicopters arrived in Managua and deployed to Siuna to assist with distribution of supplies to isolated communities northeast of Siuna. Further, one UH-1 helicopter from Honduras arrived in Puerto Cabezas on September 11 to join the delivery effort. LOOK AHEAD - JFT-B OPERATIONS CONTINUE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶14. (U) JTF-B commander arrived on September 12 and will deploy to PC on September 13 to resume command of U.S. military relief operations. ¶15. (U) On September 13, JFT-B plans to deploy Forward Aeriel Refuel Point (FARP) to Puerto Cabezas to support PC-based UH-60 helicopter operations over the next few days. On September 13, C-130 Bladder Bird is expected to arrive in PC and have FARP established on September 14. The CH-47 helicopters are also expected to arrive in Nicaragua on September 13 to assist as needed with delivery efforts. TRIVELLI