EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING - DUSHANBE 02/08/08

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000217 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR: DS/IP/SCA/ SCA/CACEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER TI SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING - DUSHANBE 02/08/08 REF: A. DUSHANBE 0175 ¶B. DUSHANBE 0173 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Per Department's request, Ambassador chaired an Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting February 8 to discuss preparations and next steps in light of the current weather and energy problems in Tajikistan. Regional Security Officer, Management Officer, Political/Economics Chief, Pol-Mil Officer, Consular Officer, Defense Attache, Information Management Officer, Public Affairs Officer, General Services Officer, Facility Manager, Agency for International Development Country Director, Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement project engineer, Community Liaison Officer, Foreign Service Health Practitioner, and Marine Security Guard Detachment Commander and assistant participated. Post does not/not request authorized departure at this time but is actively planning other contingencies should the situation deteriorate. Post appreciates Department's attention to its situation. End Summary. -------------- Current energy situation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The energy utility Barqi Tojik announced yesterday that, effective immediately, power will be on for 10 hours a day in Dushanbe (five in the morning, five in the evening) and off for 14. Despite the announcement, about half of the staff reported having power last night. The intent of the rationing is to reduce outflow from the Nurek reservoir, which provides 65% of the country's reservoir, from the current 35 centimeters per day to 25 centimeters per day. This step is necessary to keep electricity flowing to Dushanbe and other essential objects through the rest of the cold season. During a meeting with Ambassadors yesterday, the Foreign Minister said the government expects to get more electricity from neighboring countries as early as next week, when warmer temperatures will permit Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to meet prior commitments. ¶3. (SBU) The international community is focusing on humanitarian food and energy assistance (septel). To date, no mission or international organization has drawn down its staff or evacuated family members. United Nations Resident Representative Michael Jones said the UN is actually considering increasing its staff to deal with humanitarian assistance. -------------- Embassy preparations -------------- ¶4. (SBU) At present there is no restriction on the availability of diesel fuel. Nevertheless, the management section has procured three 6,000 gallon diesel tanks to boost storage capacity, and has ordered water pumps from the United States with the intention of retrofitting a water truck that can draw water from the river should the city supply fail. The water could be made potable at the embassy's water treatment facility. The embassy has also leased an additional water truck for home deliveries. ¶5. (SBU) Currently, the management section is supporting all 35 embassy residences, including supplying diesel to all and water to ¶18. This time consuming process is stretching the staff thin. Post has ordered fuel pumps from Turkey which should arrive Monday to speed up diesel deliveries, which are currently only possible using 55 gallon drums equipped with a hand pump. ¶6. (SBU) The EAC noted that our residences are equipped with backup Q6. (SBU) The EAC noted that our residences are equipped with backup generators which are not designed to provide 24-hour power for extended periods of time. -------------- Next steps -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The EAC discussed the possibility of authorized departure and agreed that it is not necessary or desirable at this time. The CLO, FSHP and others on the EAC have been in touch with all embassy spouses. All want to stay at post as long as there is generator power and water available. Many would see a forced departure as an additional hardship. The EAC does not assess that authorized departure would result in a significant decrease in post's footprint. Further, even if some spouses were to leave, that would not, in itself, significantly reduce the burden on the management section to maintain housing. ¶8. (SBU) The EAC does see merit, however, in planning for the possible consolidation of housing. GSO noted that if post can decrease the number of residences it supports from 35 to 25 it would be better able to maintain those residences and continue to build improved capacity to manage its challenges. While the EAC did not feel that post needs to consolidate immediately, management will develop a plan for presentation on Monday as to how we would consolidate. The initial thinking was to first move single people into fewer residences, particularly those residences which have the best generators and water storage capacity. Although the EAC considered consolidation a more effective approach than authorized departure in current conditions, it will continue to review the situation. ¶9. (SBU) The EAC agreed to meet again on Monday in conjunction with Country Team. At that time, we will review mission activities to see if there are any that should be postponed to relieve the management burden. Some sections have already asked proposed TDYers to delay travel. We are currently maintaining a full schedule of embassy activities but will look at where we can reduce. ¶10. (SBU) The GSO has reminded embassy staff to keep a stock of food and potable water in residences in case we face shortages. Currently there is adequate food, although not much variety, in local stores (a lack of variety is not unusual at this time of year). ¶11. (SBU) The Management Officer will meet with the FSN Executive Committee later today. So far, local staff are dealing well with the situation, although some are reporting transportation delays as taxis and transit vans have difficulty coping with the freezing weather. The EAC agreed that we should continue to be flexible with regards to FSN working hours. At a later point, we could consider reducing embassy working hours. ¶12. (SBU) A RIMC technician is arriving Monday to fix long-standing radio problems, and post expects as early as today to receive previously requested funding to purchase sufficient radios for all American staff. ¶13. (SBU) Post has issued a Travel Alert suggesting that Americans limit non-essential travel to Tajikistan at this time. ¶14. (SBU) Post will hold two town hall meetings, one for the embassy American community and one for the larger American community, on Monday afternoon. JACOBSON