OMAN BEGINS CYCLONE RECOVERY EFFORTS, CONTINUES TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MUSCAT 000590

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2017
TAGS: AMER AMGT ASEC CASC KSAC KHLS MOPS SENV MU
SUBJECT: OMAN BEGINS CYCLONE RECOVERY EFFORTS, CONTINUES TO
ASSESS DAMAGE

REF: A. MUSCAT 581


B. MUSCAT 576

C. MUSCAT 574

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Major clean-up and recovery efforts are underway in
the Muscat area following the pounding the city took from
tropical cyclone Gonu, but significant work remains to be
done. Some parts of the greater capital area still have no
power or water and the damaged road system is snarled with
traffic. Standing water presents a potential health hazard
and some residents have reported looting in temporarily
abandoned homes. Road crews are working to restore
transportation links with towns outside Muscat previously
cut-off by the storm, but water, food and other supplies in
more isolated areas remain scarce. The city of Sur further
south along the Omani coast suffered an even more direct hit
from Gonu, but is being aided by a large-scale Omani military
assistance operation. But, perhaps the biggest question
Omanis are asking five days after the storm is, "Where's the
Sultan?" Reported to be actively inspecting the damage and
recovery efforts, he has not been seen or heard from. End
Summary.

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MUSCAT: ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE THE CITY'S SHEEN
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2. (U) In the aftermath of the destruction caused by
tropical cyclone Gonu (refs A-C),the government of Oman has
initiated extensive relief and clean-up efforts in affected
areas. In the Muscat metropolitan area, widely known for its
beauty, organization and almost antiseptic cleanliness,
destruction, garbage and in a few places even chaos now
reign. Road repair crews are working extended hours to
re-open traffic arteries by removing mud, fallen trees and
debris from streets and, in some cases, by making temporary
structural repairs. Electricity service is being restored to
additional neighborhoods, although an announcement in the
local press June 11 asked city residents to "conserve" power.
Of more concern to most people, the city water supply and
distribution system is slowly reaching more parts of the city
as the desalination plants in Ghubra and Barka move towards
normal capacity, although full production and operations may
not be restored for another week. (Note: The residences of
all U.S. employees of the Embassy have electricity and have
also received sufficient water -- either from delivery trucks
or through distribution pipes -- to meet immediate needs.
End Note.) In some areas that were spared major flooding,
daily life is deceptively "normal" with open stores and
supermarkets full of consumer goods (although there is still
a shortage of fresh milk and other items) and readily
available gasoline at service stations.

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OMANIS HELPING EACH OTHER
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3. (SBU) Apart from government efforts, Omanis continue to
make material donations to aid storm victims and are actively
volunteering to assist in clean-up and relief operations (ref
A). The local press, for example, contains numerous articles
focusing on the generosity of the Omani people and how Omanis
(not expatriates) have rallied together to assist others.
Despite a government policy banning assistance from
non-Omanis (ref A),local charities are now accepting donated
goods (though not cash) from foreign residents and utilizing
expatriate volunteers. Westerners helping to accept
donations report considerable disorganization as volunteers
and charity officials attempt to sort and deliver items to
affected areas. (Note: Some well-intentioned individuals
have donated cooked food or other highly perishable goods.
End Note.) Interestingly, one U.S. national volunteer
observed several non-related Omani men and women ignoring
cultural norms by working together side-by-side. Some of the
women had discarded their traditional abayas, while some of
the men had taken off their dishdash in favor of T-shirts and
athletic garb (even shorts!).

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MUSCAT 00000590 002 OF 003


WATER SHORTAGES, LOOTING HINDER RECOVERY
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4. (SBU) Despite the progress noted above, major challenges
to storm recovery efforts in and around the Muscat area
remain. While an increasing number of city neighborhoods
have power and at least limited water service, some areas of
metropolitan Muscat -- particularly those that experienced
major flooding and/or are near "wadis" that overflowed during
the cyclone -- still have no electrical service or water.
With temperatures back to their oppressive summer levels,
many residents of these areas have not been able to live in
their homes. Moreover, some contacts have related stories of
organized looting of temporarily abandoned homes, leading
some homeowners to have at least one family member stand
guard over their possessions until their homes are once again
habitable.

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FEW HEALTH CONCERNS FOR THE MOMENT
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5. (SBU) Although flood waters from the storm receded
fairly quickly, stagnant pools of standing water - some quite
large - remain in several parts of the city. Authorities are
attempting to pump the water out, but progress is slow and
the water could potentially flood the sewer system, seep into
city water pipes (thereby contaminating municipal water
supplies),and serve as a breeding ground for insects and
disease. Local press on June 11 confirmed widespread cases
of diarrhea in the city, but the Ministry of Health stated
that it does not expect "a pandemic outbreak." Post has
learned that hospitals are taking in significant numbers of
children with dysentery and other intestinal problems as a
result of drinking unclean water.

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RESTORING TRANSPORTATION A CHALLENGE
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6. (SBU) Many stretches of road in the Muscat region that
were completely washed out by the cyclone - as well as
numerous collapsed bridges - will require considerable time,
in some cases months, to be rebuilt and reopen. The current
closure of these roads and bridges has already caused huge
traffic jams in Muscat as more and more residents attempt to
return to their jobs and venture out onto the roads to
conduct normal tasks. Traffic problems are further
exacerbated by shocking numbers of rubberneckers, some coming
from as far as the UAE, to see the havoc wrought by Gonu.


7. (SBU) Farther afield, some coastal towns on the outskirts
of Muscat, including Qurayat and Amirat, were almost
completely cut-off for several days after the storm by
damaged roads and reachable only by 4-wheel drive. Contacts
report that a few vehicles delivering aid to some of these
towns have been vandalized by mobs of residents desperate for
food, water and other necessities. Road crews have since
opened a narrow passage to Qurayat and Amirat (quickly
overwhelmed by traffic),but supplies there and in other more
isolated areas are still very limited.

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STORM'S HUMAN TOLL STILL UNKNOWN
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8. (SBU) While the official death toll remains at 49, one
Royal Oman Police (ROP) contact told poloff that he expects
that number will exceed 100 as more information comes in from
areas outside Muscat. A physician at Royal Hospital (located
near hard-hit neighborhoods in western Muscat) reported that
the number of storm-related injuries appeared to be
relatively low, and that his hospital's emergency room
handled 57 patients on June 7, 15 of whom had injuries
directly related to Gonu. On June 8, he added, the number of
such injuries dropped to seven.

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HEAVY DAMAGE IN SUR
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9. (SBU) While reports and observations of damage were
relatively quick to come in from Muscat, the situation in the
city of Sur - about 170 kilometers down the Omani coast - has
until very recently remained unclear. Rumors abounded that

MUSCAT 00000590 003 OF 003


Sur and surrounding villages, which were hardest hit during
the evening of June 5 (many hours before Muscat),had been
severely damaged. (Note: The industrial port city of Sohar
north of Muscat appears to have sustained less damage and
flooding than the capital as it was farther removed from the
eye of the cyclone. End Note.) All principal roads leading
to Sur were completely washed out during the storm and no
telephone calls (via cell phones or land lines) were able to
reach the city for several days afterwards. According to
early government reports, the Omani military launched an
emergency relief operation via sea to provide assistance to
beleaguered residents of the area.


10. (C) On June 10, two teams of U.S. military members
currently in Oman for training with the Omani armed forces
attempted to reach Sur from Muscat via 4-wheel drive vehicles
on two different routes -- one through roads in the Omani
interior, the other along coastal roads. The team taking the
coastal route observed, but was able to get around, several
washed out roadways and bridges before turning back at the
town of Tiwi approximately 28 miles north of Sur due to a
destroyed land bridge. (Note: The team saw a road
construction crew actively working to construct a new bridge.
End Note.) They noted intact cell phone transmitter towers
along the way, but no cell phone coverage was available. The
team taking the inland route was able to reach Sur
approximately 3.5 hours after departing Muscat, although they
observed several stretches of washed out road and a destroyed
bridge that they were able to bypass. The team passed
several Omani military trucks carrying water, diapers,
mattresses, blankets and other supplies on their journey, and
reported that the cell phone network was operational along
the entire route.


11. (C) According to the U.S. military teams, Sur remains
without power and water, although cell phone coverage in the
city has been restored. The Omani army post outside of Sur
appeared fully intact and was busy with activity, including
multiple helicopters taking off and landing. City streets
were full of mud, and residents reported that a tidal surge
and flooding wadis had submerged some city buildings and
knocked down walls and other structures. Strong winds, they
continued, had blown out many windows and sheared the tops
off of palm trees. Most buildings, however, appeared
structurally intact, as did the large liquefied natural gas
(LNG) facility. The team spoke with three U.S. citizens
(whose names were provided by the Embassy consular section),
who reported that all known Americans were in good condition.
One Amcit noted that he was "impressed" by the way the Omani
military had quickly flown and shipped in supplies after the
cyclone. Other residents also expressed relative
satisfaction with relief and clean-up efforts, although items
other than basic necessities were in short supply and
gasoline was being strictly rationed. It is unknown how much
assistance has been able to reach villages outside of Sur in
this hard-hit region.

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COMMENT: WHERE'S THE SULTAN?
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12. (C) The Omani government appears to be doing a credible
job in recovering from the immediate impact of tropical
cyclone Gonu. Its resources, however, are limited and
pressing needs, as described above, will likely remain for
some time. Long-term, the country will require a huge
investment to rebuild destroyed or damaged infrastructure and
public facilities. In addition to telling stories of
destruction and hardship, many people in Oman are quietly
(and in some instances, not so quietly) asking, "Where is the
Sultan?" The Sultan's absence from public and the lack of
official statements from the palace or from the cabinet
during and after the storm are puzzling even to senior Omani
officials and could affect the popularity and admiration the
Sultan has long enjoyed from both Omanis and expatriates.
Others are questioning the continuing decision not to accept
the many offers of foreign assistance (ref A),including from
the U.S., UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others. End Comment.

GRAPPO