CANADA'S RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000646 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS (COPE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL BM CA SUBJECT: CANADA'S RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS REF: A. SECSTATE 48651 ¶B. OTTAWA 621 Sensitive but unclassified ¶1. (sbu) CANADA is committed to providing emergency aid to Burma, but remains stymied by the Burmese regime's actions blocking humanitarian relief, Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Director of Humanitarian Affairs and Disasters Response Group Leslie Hope told Econcouns on May 9. Joined by Lt. Commander Mike McKay, seconded from the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM) to help coordinate Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) efforts, Hope stated that CANADA shared the U.S. views and experiences laid out in ref a. She said the initial obstacle is simply being allowed into Burma. Once that is overcome, attention would turn toward building capacity infrastructure and getting access to the areas devastated by the cyclone. Hope added that some Canadian diplomats stationed in Thailand -- but also accredited to Burma -- might soon be receiving entry visas. ¶2. (sbu) Hope stated that CANADA "is pressing for (the delivery of) humanitarian assistance through the UN." She said this effort includes public statements by Ministers (see ref b and paragraph 5),demarches encouraging countries with ties to Burma to lobby the regime, and convoking the Burmese charge d'affaires in Ottawa. Hope stated that the Burmese CDA had been "noncommittal" to Canadian entreaties, only promising to fax them to Rangoon. ¶3. (sbu) Canada's C$2 million pledge for Burma relief announced on May 5 (ref b) would undoubtedly increase if and when the Burmese regime allowed international aid to flow into the country, Hope stated. She also noted that Minister for International Cooperation Bev Oda's May 8 announcement of C$500,000 for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) is part of the initial C$2 million pledge, and is not an additional allocation. Hope said Canada's estimate of the total international assistance pledged to date was $41 million. She also stated that CANADA would be closely watching the (expected) May 9 appeal by the World Food Programme (WFP) for $100 million in pledges, much of which would go for building logistical and telecommunications infrastructure needed for delivering assistance. ¶4. (sbu) Lt Commander McKay stated that a four-person Canadian DART is now in Bangkok, awaiting permission to enter Burma. Charged with assessing the political environment as well as humanitarian needs, the DART would -- under normal circumstances -- lead the way for a seven-member reconnaissance team, McKay said. Based on the two teams' recommendations, the military would then decide if the entire DART apparatus (some 240 diplomatic, military, and aid personnel) should deploy and whether other Canadian forces should become involved. McKay expressed doubt that any Canadian DART team would be allowed to enter Burma, but acknowledged the need to make "public statement" by sending a team to the region. ¶5. (u) In addition to the May 5 statement on providing humanitarian assistance to Burma (ref b),CANADA released another statement the evening of May 8. Begin text: The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today offered the service of Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) following Tropical Cyclone Nargis, and urged the Government of Burma to grant immediate QNargis, and urged the Government of Burma to grant immediate access to humanitarian actors: "As the number of dead and missing continues to grow, the international community has responded rapidly to offer much-needed humanitarian assistance to communities in Burma affected by this disaster," the ministers said. "Although we are heartened by the news that some United Nations officials and relief flights are gaining access, we urge the Government of Burma to move quickly to grant immediate full and unhindered humanitarian access, including the necessary visas and customs clearance, so that desperately needed assistance may reach the people of Burma." "Earlier today," said Minister Bernier, "I spoke with UN OTTAWA 00000646 002 OF 002 Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and reconfirmed Canada's support and willingness to help. We have already pledged up to $2 million in humanitarian relief. We are now offering the services of our Disaster Assistance Response Team to help with relief efforts. A Canadian advance team has left for the region to assess how CANADA can best deliver its support." The ministers added, "Given the widespread and devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Nargis, CANADA calls upon the Burmese government to focus on meeting the immediate needs of its people rather than pushing forward with the upcoming referendum on the Constitution. "The window of opportunity to save lives and alleviate suffering is rapidly closing. We cannot afford to wait any longer." End text. ¶6. (u) On May 9, Canada's House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion regarding Burma. Begin text: "That the House: (a) denounce the Burmese military regime's deplorable response to the crisis following Cyclone Nargis: (b) condemn the unprecedented seizure of international aid shipments by the military regime; (c) urge the Burmese regime to allow full and unrestricted access to international aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations: and (d) reaffirms its support for the Burmese people during this tragic period in their history. End text. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS