SPAIN: HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS

UNCLAS MADRID 000521 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL BM SUBJECT: SPAIN: HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS REF: SECSTATE 48651 ¶1. (U) Summary: ESTHOff delivered reftel points on May 9 to Carmen de Juana Velasco, Subdirector General of Cooperation of Sub Saharan African and Asia for AECID, the Foreign Ministry's agency for international cooperation and development. Velasco did not provide a substantive response. Spain has committed 500,000 euros in humanitarian assistance, beginning with the flight of 13 tons of emergency supplies to Bangkok to be distributed by U.N. representatives, and 150,000 euros provided to the Spanish Red Cross. AECID continues to publicly express concern about the difficulty humanitarian personnel are experiencing in entering Burma and the challenge of effectively delivery aid. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Spain has committed 500,000 euros (US 775,000) in humanitarian assistance for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma. The assistance includes donations from all Spanish government levels including local, regional and national, and will be coordinated by AECID with the help of the Spanish Embassy in Thailand. The GOS has also provided 150,000 euros to the Spanish Red Cross for humanitarian assistance to Burmese victims. ¶3. (U) AECID has remained in constant contact with several international agencies to help coordinate its assistance including the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the U.N. World Food Program, and the European Commission,s Humanitarian Aid Department. ¶4. (U) As part of the first phase of its assistance, the GOS has prepared an aircraft with 13 tons of emergency materials including water and water purification equipment, emergency health kits, mosquito netting, cooking equipment, and various medical and hygiene materials. AECID reports that the aircraft will depart on Friday, May 9 from Madrid to Bangkok International Airport. The aircraft departure was delayed for two days while the GOS worked to ensure that the cargo would be effectively delivered to the victims. After meeting in Bangkok with U.N. representatives responsible for the humanitarian assistance operation, AECID approved the aircraft departure. The supplies will be delivered to U.N. representatives in Bangkok for distribution. ¶5. (U) AECID continues to publicly express concern that the situation in Burma is "complicated" and "humanitarian personnel continue to experience difficulty entering the country." AECID will participate in meetings on Saturday, May 10 with U.N. agencies, and in a separate meeting organized by the European Union. Llorens