BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS SITREP NO. 6

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 000352 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR USAID/OFDA, EAP/MLS, S/ES-O-CMS, DS/CC AND DS/IP/EAP; PACOM FOR LTC JAMIE MCADEN; BANGKOK FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID BM SUBJECT: BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS SITREP NO. 6 REF: A. RANGOON 335 ¶B. RANGOON 345 AND PREVIOUS SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) EMBASSY OPERATIONS: Embassy Rangoon continued to operate on city power and had topped off its diesel fuel tanks. On May 9, four EFMs departed post for Bangkok. On May 13, six more EFM will depart post for Bangkok. Only one new welfare and whereabouts inquiry came in overnight and consular continued to try and resolve thirteen outstanding cases. No criminal incidents involving American staff or families were reported. ¶2. (SBU) C-130 FLIGHTS: Our C-130 flight is expected to land at 1330 today. Admiral Keating, U/S Fore, and DAS Marciel will accompany the relief shipment. Two additional C-130 flights are scheduled for May 13; and we have requests for five flights on Wednesday, May 14. ¶3. (SBU) SITUATION ON THE GROUND: We continued to receive reports of high casualties in the delta and outskirts of Rangoon. Food prices in Rangoon continued to climb, but fuel prices dropped since last Friday. The Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa port has resumed limited operations, and a shipment of 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel arrived in Rangoon on May 10. Electricity was restored to more Rangoon neighborhoods although much of the city, and nearly all of the delta, remained without power. There were no reports of widespread looting or public disturbance in or around Rangoon. Heavy rain is expected in Rangoon and parts of the delta this week and is expected to exacerbate problems in the cyclone-affected areas. ¶4. (SBU) REFERENDUM: The GOB went ahead with its constitutional referendum on May 10 in all the areas that were not critically affected by Cyclone Nargis. On an MFA-sponsored diplomatic tour, two of our officers were able to view polling in two cities, Myeik and Kyaingtone. They observed some irregularities, but no violence or significant disturbances. In the five vote counts our officers observed, turnout was high as was the percentage of "yes" votes recorded. EMBASSY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) STAFFING AND OPERATIONS: Embassy Rangoon continued to operate on its normal 0800-1630 schedule subject to a liberal leave policy. ¶6. (SBU) CONSULAR: Only one new welfare and whereabouts inquiry came in overnight. Among the unregistered thirteen Amcits who are "unaccounted for," Burmese Immigration authorities have told us they have no record of four ever entering Burma via Rangoon airport (note: land crossings by tourists into Burma are very rare and require advance approval by the GOB). Due to the sporadic telecommunications, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has not yet been able to locate the remaining Amcits through their own internal monitoring system of foreigners. Consular staff continued searches by cold calling hotels and guest houses throughout Burma when the phones actually connect. Given that we have received no reports of American fatalities, we believe the unaccounted for tourists in country are likely traveling in parts of upper Burma not affected by the cyclone. ¶7. (SBU) AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE AND FLIGHTS: Post's Authorized Departure Task Force met again on May 12. On May 9, four eligible family members (EFMs) from one family departed Rangoon for Bangkok at 1945 hrs on Thai Air flight 306. On May 13, six more EFMs from three families will depart post for Bangkok at 1945 hrs on Thai Air flight 306. Two EFMs from one family who were scheduled to depart on May 13 have RANGOON 00000352 002 OF 003 decided to remain at post for now. After the May 13 Thai flight, all EFMs who have asked to depart post will have left. ¶8. (SBU) FUEL AND POWER: The Embassy continued to operate on city power. We received two more truckloads of diesel fuel on May 12. With that delivery, our diesel storage tanks are full, and high octane tanks are at 60 percent. All Embassy-owned vehicles have full gas tanks. ¶9. (SBU) WATER: The Embassy continued to have adequate water supplies and purification capacity on hand. ¶10. (SBU) SECURITY: No criminal incidents involving American staff were reported. C-130 FLIGHT -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Our C-130 flight is expected to land at 1330 today. Admiral Keating, U/S Fore, and DAS Marciel will accompany the shipment. During the stopover, the three US officials will meet with GOB officials in the VIP lounge of the airport, but the Burmese have not yet confirmed which officials will be present. The relief supplies will be delivered directly to Burmese officials at the airport. We have received permission for two more C-130 flights to deliver relief supplies on May 13; and have requests for five flights on Wednesday May 14. Today's flight will contain 24,000 pounds of relief supplies, including bottled water, blankets, and mosquito netting. ¶12. (SBU) On May 11, the Charge met with the Chinese Ambassador to discuss the possibility that Burmese authorities may object to Admiral Keating's presence on the C-130. After further discussions, the Burmese authorities agreed not to object to the Admiral's visit. SITUATION ON THE GROUND -------------- ¶13. (SBU) CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE: Residents of Kunchankone township in southern Rangoon Division estimated as many as 10,000 residents of that area were dead or missing. Witnesses reported numerous un-recovered corpses and a severe shortage of food, fuel, clothing, and shelter. Despite the poor conditions in the area, the regime announced that it had begun to send residents of the township back to their neighborhoods. Embassy contacts reported nine Burma Navy vessels were sunk during the cyclone. Initial reports indicated that many of the ships' crews were lost. ¶14. (SBU) RECOVERY AND RELIEF: The UN recommended flying future aid shipments directly to the airport in Pathein, Irrawaddy Division, due to its proximity to the affected areas in the delta. We have communicated this to JTF in Thailand. ¶15. (SBU) Embassy sources told us they continued to receive reports of dissatisfaction within the military's ranks over the pace and progress of the regime's relief efforts. Some Embassy employees saw high energy bars and other items that appeared to be relief supplies sold in several Rangoon stores this weekend. ¶16. (SBU) WEATHER: Heavy rain is expected in Rangoon and parts of the delta this week and is expected to exacerbate problems in the affected areas. ¶17. (SBU) PORT: We have confirmed that the Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa port has resumed limited operations. On May 12, Embassy contacts reported that vessels under 130 meters in length were arriving and departing the port, and Embassy officers observed at least two ships departing the port over the weekend. Econ sources told us authorities have waived licensing requirements for the import of limited amounts of fuel, food, and construction RANGOON 00000352 003 OF 003 materials by certain Burmese businesses. Our sources also confirmed that a shipment of 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel arrived as scheduled in Rangoon on May 10. The fuel was offloaded at the mouth of the Rangoon River on May 8 and transported by barge to Rangoon (reftel A). A private company took delivery and will sell the fuel at market rates. Another shipment of fuel is expected this week, possibly as early as May 13. ¶18. (SBU) FUEL: Fuel prices in Rangoon dropped slightly but were still higher than pre-storm levels. On May 12, the price of diesel was 6,000 kyat ($5.45) per gallon, down 25 percent from May 8. The price of gasoline was 5,000 kyat ($4.50) per gallon, down 28 percent from May 8. Before the cyclone, diesel sold for 3,000 kyat per gallon and gasoline cost 2,500 kyat per gallon. ¶19. (SBU) FOOD AND WATER: The price of food continued to rise, particularly rice and meat. Fish consumption has dropped due to fears of contamination. The price of salt has also risen due to increased demand for use as a food preservative and decreased supply from Laputta, which was a major salt producer before the storm. ¶20. (SBU) TRANSPORTATION: More Rangoon commuter busses resumed service on May 12. However, the price of transportation between the delta and Rangoon remained high. An Embassy contact reported a ticket for a bus from Rangoon to Bogolay in the delta was 15,000 kyat ($13.60). Before the storm the trip cost 2,000 kyat ($1.80). ¶21. (SBU) ELECTRICITY: The government continued to restore electricity to Rangoon neighborhoods, including parts of the populous Dagon township. However, much of the city and most of the delta was still without any power. ¶22. (SBU) LAW AND ORDER: RSO noted a lack of nighttime police presence in several central Rangoon neighborhoods. However, there were no reports of widespread looting or public disturbances in or around Rangoon. REFERENDUM -------------- ¶23. (SBU) The GOB went ahead with its referendum on May 10 in all of the areas that were not critically affected by Cyclone Nargis. On an MFA-sponsored diplomatic tour, two of our officers were able to view polling in two cities, Myeik and Kyaingtone. The polling we observed was free of violence or disturbances, although we did see several instances of voting irregularities and mismanagement. Reports from other areas indicated that the voting process was less fair: some voters were given ballots that had previously been completed, and others were watched carefully as they voted. In the five vote counts our officers observed, turnout was high, as was the percentage of "yes" votes recorded (see Septel). VILLAROSA