Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA462
2008-05-07 08:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES AID PACKAGE FOR BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO7157 OO RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHBY #0462 1280858 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 070858Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9514 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI IMMEDIATE 0224 RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE IMMEDIATE 5227 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH IMMEDIATE 3509 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY IMMEDIATE 3419 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0631
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000462
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, USAID AND SES-O
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018
TAGS: EAID CASC PHUM PGOV BM AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES AID PACKAGE FOR BURMA
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons: 1.4 (
b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000462
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, USAID AND SES-O
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018
TAGS: EAID CASC PHUM PGOV BM AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES AID PACKAGE FOR BURMA
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons: 1.4 (
b),(d)
1. (U) Foreign Minister Smith announced May 7 that Australia
would provide AUD 3 million (USD 2.84 million) in
humanitarian aid to Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis. The
package includes up to AUD 1 million (USD 0.94 million) for
Australian NGOs with capacity on the ground to provide
immediate emergency shelter, water, water purification,
cooking utensils, bedding, tarpaulins and sanitation
assistance. Another AUD 1 million would be provided through
the UN World Food Program for essential food staples, such as
rice. The final AUD 1 million would be provided through
UNICEF for water purification and sanitation. Smith later
clarified that Australian aid agencies with capacity on the
ground in Burma included CARE, World Vision and Caritas.
2. (U) In his press release, Smith said Australian aid would
be concentrated in and around Rangoon, the area hardest hit
by the cyclone. The release noted that Australia did not
have a bilateral aid program in Burma and would not provide
any assistance to the Burmese regime, instead would work
through credible international organizations, including
multilateral and international NGO aid partners who are
positioned to provide immediate and targeted assistance to
the most vulnerable people.
3. (U) FM Smith called on the Burmese regime to ensure speedy
access to aid agencies able to render emergency humanitarian
assistance.
4. (C) Gary Quinlan, Senior Advisor on International Affairs
to the Prime Minister, told the Deputy Chief of Mission on
May 7 that the GOA was encountering problems with the Burmese
authorities in securing approval for entry of relief
supplies. The Australian Permrep in New York had convened a
meeting of interested parties, including the Burmese Permrep,
to discuss the issue, but without resolution. Quinlan said
the Burmese Permrep's "heart was in the right place" but he
was unable to generate a response from Rangoon. As Quinlan
was recounting this to the DCM, he took a call from World
Vision Australia Director Tim Costello, who complained he was
unable to get Burmese permission to fly relief supplies into
Rangoon from Dubai.
5. (SBU) Separately, DFAT Acting Director for Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia and Burma Kirsten Hambly denied local press reports
that Australians were among the victims of Cyclone Nargis.
As of COB May 7, the GOA was unaware of any Australian
casualties in Burma. The Australian Embassy had reported
that known Australian nationals in and around Rangoon had
been accounted for with no deaths or injuries, as least so
far.
6. (U) Hambly noted that AusAID, the official Australian
development agency, had one official and 2-3 locally engaged
staff in place in Rangoon to assist relief efforts,
supplementing the Embassy staff of six officers.
MCCALLUM
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, USAID AND SES-O
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018
TAGS: EAID CASC PHUM PGOV BM AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES AID PACKAGE FOR BURMA
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons: 1.4 (
b),(d)
1. (U) Foreign Minister Smith announced May 7 that Australia
would provide AUD 3 million (USD 2.84 million) in
humanitarian aid to Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis. The
package includes up to AUD 1 million (USD 0.94 million) for
Australian NGOs with capacity on the ground to provide
immediate emergency shelter, water, water purification,
cooking utensils, bedding, tarpaulins and sanitation
assistance. Another AUD 1 million would be provided through
the UN World Food Program for essential food staples, such as
rice. The final AUD 1 million would be provided through
UNICEF for water purification and sanitation. Smith later
clarified that Australian aid agencies with capacity on the
ground in Burma included CARE, World Vision and Caritas.
2. (U) In his press release, Smith said Australian aid would
be concentrated in and around Rangoon, the area hardest hit
by the cyclone. The release noted that Australia did not
have a bilateral aid program in Burma and would not provide
any assistance to the Burmese regime, instead would work
through credible international organizations, including
multilateral and international NGO aid partners who are
positioned to provide immediate and targeted assistance to
the most vulnerable people.
3. (U) FM Smith called on the Burmese regime to ensure speedy
access to aid agencies able to render emergency humanitarian
assistance.
4. (C) Gary Quinlan, Senior Advisor on International Affairs
to the Prime Minister, told the Deputy Chief of Mission on
May 7 that the GOA was encountering problems with the Burmese
authorities in securing approval for entry of relief
supplies. The Australian Permrep in New York had convened a
meeting of interested parties, including the Burmese Permrep,
to discuss the issue, but without resolution. Quinlan said
the Burmese Permrep's "heart was in the right place" but he
was unable to generate a response from Rangoon. As Quinlan
was recounting this to the DCM, he took a call from World
Vision Australia Director Tim Costello, who complained he was
unable to get Burmese permission to fly relief supplies into
Rangoon from Dubai.
5. (SBU) Separately, DFAT Acting Director for Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia and Burma Kirsten Hambly denied local press reports
that Australians were among the victims of Cyclone Nargis.
As of COB May 7, the GOA was unaware of any Australian
casualties in Burma. The Australian Embassy had reported
that known Australian nationals in and around Rangoon had
been accounted for with no deaths or injuries, as least so
far.
6. (U) Hambly noted that AusAID, the official Australian
development agency, had one official and 2-3 locally engaged
staff in place in Rangoon to assist relief efforts,
supplementing the Embassy staff of six officers.
MCCALLUM