BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS SITREP NO. 8

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 000376 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. 8 REF: A. RANGOON 365 ¶B. RANGOON 358 AND PREVIOUS SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) EMBASSY OPERATIONS: Embassy Rangoon operated on city power and had full diesel fuel tanks. As of May 13, all EFMs who asked to leave had departed post and were in Bangkok. Further to pending welfare and whereabouts inquires, consular currently has only two Amcits unaccounted for and continues to investigate. No criminal incidents involving American staff were reported. ¶2. (SBU) C-130 FLIGHTS: Five C-130 relief flights were scheduled to arrive at Rangoon International Airport on May ¶14. Five more C-130 relief flights are scheduled to arrive on May 15. On May 14, the GOB's New Light of Myanmar newspaper published accurate and detailed information on the relief supplies we delivered. ¶3. (SBU) SITUATION ON THE GROUND: According to the World Health Organization (WHO),health conditions in the delta continued to deteriorate, although they had not yet confirmed any cases of cholera. The results of initial tests by the GOB should be available in a few days. The UN has worked with the GOB and NGOs to provided water purification tablets, basic medicines, cholera test kits, tetanus shots, and measles vaccinations to those in need in the delta. A senior GOB civil aviation official told us that the Pathein airport may not currently have the capacity to accommodate relief flights, but his office was willing to try to work to improve its capabilities so that it could. An INGO operating in the delta reported that the UN told them that the GOB may require foreigners working in the delta to leave the area, except for Bangladeshis and Thais. We are seeking to confirm this. EMBASSY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) STAFFING AND OPERATIONS: Embassy Rangoon operated on its normal 0800-1630 schedule subject to a liberal leave policy. ¶5. (SBU) CONSULAR: Further to pending welfare and whereabouts inquires, consular currently has only two Amcits unaccounted for and continues to investigate. Consular received an e-mail today from a person in Germany who was worried that his Amcit friend in a remote monastery near Mawlamyine had typhoid. Consular was able first to talk with the Mawlamyine Hospital's attending doctor, who said her diagnosis was that the Amit does not have typhoid, but rather is suffering from gastroentitis and dehydration. The doctor has treated him with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. Consular then spoke directly with the Amcit who said he is feeling better but still weak and will rest before traveling by car to Rangoon on Friday May 16. He said he intends to depart for Germany on May 17, and Consular will assist him with his travel arrangements. ¶6. (SBU) AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE AND FLIGHTS: As of May 13, all EFMs who asked to leave had departed post and were in Bangkok. ¶7. (SBU) FUEL AND POWER: The Embassy operated on city power and had full diesel storage tanks. We did not have any fuel deliveries scheduled for today but expect to receive a high octane delivery tomorrow, May 15. ¶8. (SBU) WATER: The Embassy continued to have adequate water supplies and purification capacity on hand. ¶9. (SBU) SECURITY: No criminal incidents involving American staff were reported. U.S. RELIEF FLIGHTS -------------- RANGOON 00000376 002 OF 003 ¶10. (SBU) Five C-130 relief flights were scheduled to arrive at Rangoon International Airport on May 14. The first arrived at 0840 hrs, the second arrived at 0957 hrs, and the third arrived at 1105 hrs Rangoon time. The remaining two were scheduled to arrive at 1411 and 1511 hrs. We have five more C-130 relief flights are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, May 15. ¶11. (SBU) On May 14, the GOB's mouthpiece daily newspaper New Light of Myanmar published accurate and detailed information on the relief supplies we delivered, which helps to ensure accountability. The May 13 edition carried extensive and favorable coverage of the initial C-130 flight and USAID Administrator Fore and PACOM Commander Admiral Keating's meeting with GOB officials. SITUATION ON THE GROUND -------------- ¶12. (SBU) CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE: According to the World Health Organization (WHO),health conditions in the delta continued to deteriorate. Health professionals remained concerned about the spread of diseases, including cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and measles, although they have yet to confirm any cholera cases. The Ministry of Health (MOH) told WHO there is no shortage of doctors in the affected areas, but is challenged by how best to deliver medicines and treatment to the people. ¶13. (SBU) RECOVERY AND RELIEF: Eight foreign aid flights, including our two C-130s, landed in Rangoon on May 13. A senior official from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) told us that the Pathein airport may not currently have the capacity to accommodate some types of large aircraft. However, he said that the DCA was willing to work on improving capabilities at the airport, including bringing out the necessary ground handling equipment and arranging for refueling in Rangoon, if necessary. He urged us to encourage the GOB to allow flights into Pathein, and said the DCA would do what it can to support the proposal. ¶14. (SBU) The WHO told us that, in conjunction with the MOH and NGOs, the UN has provided water purification tablets, basic medicines, cholera test kits, tetanus shots, and measles vaccinations to those in need in the delta. The MOH was conducting stool sample tests to determine if cholera was present in the affected areas of the delta and Rangoon. Initial results should be available within a few days. ¶15. (SBU) An INGO operating in the delta reported that the UN told them the GOB may require foreigners working in the delta to leave the area, except for Bangladeshis and Thais. We are seeking to confirm this information with other contacts. ¶16. (SBU) Further to reftel A, we continued to monitor local markets in Rangoon and the delta for signs of diverted relief supplies, but so far have found no evidence that any have been diverted and sold. ¶17. (SBU) FUEL: Fuel prices in Rangoon remained stable. ¶18. (SBU) FOOD AND WATER: Food in Rangoon was still expensive, especially meat and rice. Shortages in the delta continued. ¶19. (SBU) ELECTRICITY: Power was restored to more neighborhoods in Rangoon, but much of the city, and most of the delta was without city power. ¶20. (SBU) LAW AND ORDER: We received no reports of widespread looting or public disturbances in or around Rangoon. ¶21. (SBU) VISAS: Several INGOs reported a number of their foreign staff have successfully obtained visas from Burmese RANGOON 00000376 003 OF 003 embassies in their home capitals. Embassy staff have confirmed at least seven expatriate aid workers from an INGO and a western aid agency received visas in the past week. VILLAROSA