BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS DECLARATION OF DISASTER

UNCLAS RANGOON 000315 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS USDOC FOR 4430/MAC/ASIA/OPB/VLC/HPPHO STATE FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA KY LUU, ROBERT THAYER, TOM ROGERS STATE FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA DAA GREG GOTTLIEB BANGKOK FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER KATHMANDU FOR OFDA ADVISOR GENEVA FOR USAID NANCY KYLOH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KSCA TBIO EAID VM SUBJECT: BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS DECLARATION OF DISASTER REF: A) RANGOON 310 ¶1. This is an action cable. Please see paras 5 and 9. ¶2. As a result of Cyclone Nargis, which occurred on May 3, 2008 (Ref A),the Chief of Mission has determined that the disaster is beyond the capability of the host government to respond, is of sufficient magnitude to warrant U.S. Government assistance, and is in the best interest of the U.S. Government to respond. The GOB has requested international assistance, including from the United States Government. The Chief of Mission is therefore exercising the disaster assistance authority. ¶3. Cyclone Nargis made landfall on Burma's Irrawaddy Delta on May 2 at approximately 1430, and on May 3, pounded Rangoon from approximately midnight to 1030, local time. According to Embassy Officers, the storm brought down trees throughout Rangoon, cutting off communications, electricity, and water supplies to much of the city. Burmese authorities report the number of dead at 10,000 with 3,000 missing. Initial UN estimates place the number of people living in the storm area at approximately 15 million, with perhaps one million of them in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN will reevaluate these numbers as more information becomes available. ¶4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs approached UNHCR with requests for food, canned food, medicine, water purifications systems, temporary shelters, blankets, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, and iron sheets, nails, and wires. In a meeting with UN Acting Resident Coordinator Chris Kaye, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare acknowledged the GOB needed international assistance for the relief effort, but has not committed to receiving an UNDAC team. The Embassy separately received a verbal request from the Burmese Army for satellite imagery and unspecified humanitarian assistance. ¶5. The Chief of Mission is requesting $50,000 in discretionary funds and $200,000 as discussed previously with Bill Berger. We will channel these funds through UNICEF, WFP, and UNHCR. These agencies are taking the lead in providing water and sanitation, food, and shelter to those in need. ¶6. The Myanmar Red Cross (MRC) will take the lead on GOB disaster relief efforts. Food and supplies channeled through the UN system will not be given directly to them, only distributed in close coordination. Other GOB agencies involved in the humanitarian relief coordination effort are the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Defense. ¶7. Providing this humanitarian assistance will assist the millions of people left homeless and suffering by the devastating cyclone. Our assistance provides an opportunity for the GOB to open its closed system to the international organizations best equipped to provide them the relief they need, and paving the way for a more positive relationship with the international community. ¶8. U.S. Embassy Rangoon has done preliminary surveys of the U.S. citizens in Rangoon. We have found no major injuries or deaths among U.S. citizens, but the storm damaged many of their homes and workplaces. ¶9. Because of the magnitude of the disaster (Ref A),Embassy Rangoon requests a USAID Disaster Assessment Relief Team (DART). This team would work in conjunction with the UN on relief and assessment efforts. However, the GOB is not yet ready to agree to permit the entry of either UN or USG assessment teams, so they should not make any travel plans. ¶10. The UN continues to assess the situation and anticipates having a clearer picture of the damage within the next 24 hours. VILLAROSA