BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS SITREP NO. 2

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 000320 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR USAID/OFDA, EAP/MLS, S/ES-O-CMS, DS/CC AND DS/IP/EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID BM SUBJECT: BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS SITREP NO. 2 REF: RANGOON 319 AND PREVIOUS SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The GOB reported Cyclone Nargis killed over 15,000 persons, most in the Irrawaddy delta region. Food, water, and fuel shortages continued throughout Rangoon. While some neighborhoods had limited water service restored, government-provided electricity was still out. There were reports of isolated incidents of looting and disturbances in the city but security forces moved in to restore order in most cases. Rangoon's main port was completely destroyed and authorities said they currently have no plans to rebuild, and no equipment to properly dredge it. Embassy Rangoon received half of its requested fuel shipments on May 6 and has approximately 12 days of diesel fuel on hand. We have received from Amcit family members in the US a number of welfare and whereabouts request, many of whom have been located today and confirmed all right. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths among the Amcit community, and no requests for any emergency services. Embassy Rangoon's town hall meeting for the off icial and non-official Amcit community was well attended. The Charge urged Amcits to consider departing the country and Consular encouraged all to read the Travel Warning, to use newly-installed embassy computer stations for emailing home, and to register with the consular section if they have not already. EMBASSY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) STAFFING AND OPERATIONS: The Embassy operates from 0800 until 1630 on a liberal leave policy. The American Center will stop its generators on May 7 and will remain closed to the public until fuel and manpower resources allow it reopen. ¶3. (SBU) FUEL: Management reported receiving two of the five truckloads of diesel fuel it ordered, each containing 1,920 gallons. As of May 6, the Embassy has 31,000 gallons of diesel fuel in its storage tanks. We will shut down the American Center and former chancery's generators the morning of May 7. This will save 500 gallons per day. Once this is done, the Mission will consume 2,700 gallons of diesel fuel per day (1,100 at the Embassy compound and the remainder in vehicles and at staff residences). At this rate of consumption, each truckload of diesel fuel represents approximately three quarters of a day's worth of fuel, so our current supplies represent approximately 12 days worth of consumption (28 days if all fuel is used to run the Embassy compound only). We have ordered five more truckloads of diesel for delivery May 7 and have received a commitment for two trucks. All private Embassy homes have full fuel tanks which will last an average of three or four days without replenishment. The CMR and DCMR have approximately 10 days of fuel. All three of the serviced apartments that house some Embassy staff reported fuel shortages and have instituted electricity rationing and price increases. One building announced it would increase electricity charges from 8 cents per minute to 80 cents per minute. Another announced it had 12 days of fuel remaining. ¶4. (SBU) WATER: Management reported the Embassy has adequate water supplies in its wells and can treat and ship potable water to all Embassy residences. All but one Embassy residence has a well. ¶5. (SBU) SECURITY: RSO reported no American staff were the victims of crime since the cyclone struck. 95 percent of the local guard force reported for work today. We have a full MSG contingent. The closure of the American Center to the public has allowed RSO to divert three of the five American Center guards to other duties. RSO has posted guards at the RANGOON 00000320 002 OF 003 gas station and to cover a breach in the Embassy compound perimeter. Five Embassy residences have breaches in their perimeter walls. We are operating two mobile patrols per day to cover all Embassy residences. The police have responded to our request and sent two officers to guard the front gate of the Embassy compound. ¶6. (SBU) SCHOOLS: The principal of the International School Yangon (ISY) has suspended classes and will close for the school year on Tuesday, May 13. The other two schools, Yangon International School and Yangon International Education Center also sustained damage and will likely close. ¶7. (SBU) FLIGHTS: Thai Airways operated two flights into and out of Rangoon today. So far it has not created a third daily flight. Flights are booked until May 16th. Silk Air operated a flight to Singapore on May 5 and has not announced plans to suspend its three-times-a-week service. ¶8. (SBU) OTHER: The Embassy's main shipper, Crown Shipping's, warehouse was destroyed. GSO is trying to obtain packing materials from Singapore in anticipation of the summer transfer season. We received one chainsaw from Bangkok today, and will receive 4 more chainsaws within one or two days. Post has requested 2,000 MREs, and Embassy Bangkok will send us batteries. ¶9. (SBU) VISAS: Contrary to U.S. officials' comments to the press, the GOB has not refused the visas for our DART team. Officials told Charge yesterday that they must seek approval from Nay Pyi Taw and could not say whether the visas would be granted. SITUATION ON THE GROUND -------------- ¶10. (SBU) CASUALTIES: The GOB reported Cyclone Nargis killed over 15,000 persons. The worst of the casualties were in the Irrawaddy delta region where a 12 foot storm surge hit in the middle of the night. Officials also reported that over 95 percent of the structures were destroyed in the delta. ¶11. (SBU) PORT: Econ contacts reported that the Rangoon port was completely destroyed. Numerous structures were destroyed and a significant number of ships sunk. As of May 7, there were no shipments of any kind, including food and fuel, into or out of the port. Port Authority officials told our contacts they do not have the equipment to repair the port. ¶12. (SBU) FOOD, WATER AND FUEL: Food, water, and fuel shortages continued throughout Rangoon. While some neighborhoods had limited water service restored, government-provided electricity was still out. While our contacts reported some markets were stocked, food prices remained high and many markets closed out of a fear of looting. The price of eggs had increased 400 percent since the storm. The price of a bottle of water increased from 350 kyat to 1,000 per 20 liter bottle. DAO reported there are only two CNG stations operating in the city and long lines at the gas stations that were open. Most public transportation runs on CNG. ¶13. (SBU) LAW AND ORDER: There were reports of isolated incidents of looting and disturbances in the city but security forces moved in to restore order in most cases. RSO staff reported security forces moved in to stop physical altercations that broke out in some local markets. A P/E FSN reported between 200 and 300 people confronted authorities who tried to prevent them from taking water out of a Rangoon lake, although they eventually departed without the water. TOWN HALL AND CONSULAR -------------- ¶14. (SBU) Embassy Rangoon held a Town Hall meeting for American Citizens on May 6, over 150 attended. Charge RANGOON 00000320 003 OF 003 explained that the fuel, water, food and communication situation in Rangoon was serious and could get significantly worse in the coming weeks as supplies dwindle. She strongly urged all Amcits to seriously consider leaving the country until the situation improved, stressing that leaving now in a calm manner would be easier than waiting until violence broke out. Consular encouraged all to read the Travel Warning, to use newly-installed embassy computer stations for emailing home, and to register with the consular section if they have not already. Representatives from three of the international schools in Rangoon attended the meeting. They said that they have meetings scheduled today or tomorrow to make definite plans for the remainder of the school year, which ends in three weeks, but indicated that they would probably close schools by the middle of next week. Many people were concerned about conta cting their families now that most communication had been severed. The Embassy set up two workstations for limited email for Amcit use during normal business hours. ¶15. (SBU) We have received from Amcit family members in the US a number of welfare and whereabouts request, many of whom have been located today and confirmed all right. There has been no reports of injuries or deaths among the Amcit community, and no requests for any emergency services. VILLAROSA