BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS SITREP NO.13

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000408 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.13 REF: RANGOON 404 AND PREVIOUS SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) EMBASSY OPERATIONS: Embassy Rangoon operated on city power and had full diesel fuel tanks. Consular operations have returned to normal. No criminal incidents involving American staff were reported. ¶2. (SBU) U.S. RELIEF FLIGHTS: Five C-130 flights carrying relief supplies were cleared and scheduled to arrive in Rangoon on May 22. Three of them have been consigned to NGOs. We have requested clearance for five more flights tomorrow, May 23, including two consignment shipments. ¶3. (SBU) SITUATION ON THE GROUND: UNSYG Ban Ki Moon arrived in Rangoon on May 22. He will be here through May 23 ad return again for the UN/ASEAN donor conference on May 25. As a result of his visit, security has been heightened around Rangoon, particularly near his hotel. OFDA/DART team leader Bill Berger arrived in Rangoon on the afternoon of May 21. He plans to attend the diplomatic briefing and tour of cyclone affected areas today and on May 23. Fuel prices have nearly reached pre-cyclone levels and food prices continue to drop, although they remain higher than normal. EMBASSY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) STAFFING AND OPERATIONS: Embassy Rangoon operated on its normal 0800-1630 schedule subject to a liberal leave policy. Other than those on regularly scheduled leave, a full complement of local employees reported for work. ¶5. (SBU) CONSULAR: Consular continued regular services on May 22. Consular has received no new welfare and whereabouts cases. Inquiries with international organizations regarding Amcit John (no other details) who was reportedly swept away in the storm have yielded no further information. ¶6. (SBU) AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE: One EFM plans to depart post on May 23 to join the 10 currently in Bangkok. On May 22, the EAC recommended that authorized departure status continue until June 3. ¶7. (SBU) FUEL AND POWER: The Embassy operated on city power and had full diesel storage tanks. ¶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 -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Five C-130 flights carrying relief supplies were cleared and scheduled to arrive in Rangoon on May 22. Three of them carry consignment shipments for NGOs. We have requested clearance for flights on May 23, including two consignment flights. SITUATION ON THE GROUND -------------- ¶11. (SBU) CONDITIONS, CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE: UNSYG Ban Ki Moon arrived in Rangoon on May 22 for meetings in advance of the May 25 donors' conference. He will stay through May 23 and then return again on May 25. As a result of his visit, there is a heightened military and police presence throughout the city, particularly near his hotel. The All Burma Monks Alliance issued a statement on May 16 that calls for monks to prepare for an uprising in response to the government's lack of action to assist cyclone victims. RANGOON 00000408 002 OF 002 ¶12. (SBU) RECOVERY AND RELIEF: Bill Berger, the OFDA/DART team leader, arrived in Rangoon on the afternoon of May 21. He planned to attend a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attend the diplomatic tour of cyclone-affected areas on May 23. ¶13. (SBU) FUEL: Fuel prices in Rangoon nearly returned to pre-cyclone levels. ¶14. (SBU) FOOD AND WATER: Food prices in Rangoon continued to drop but most were still higher than before the cyclone. Shortages in the delta continued. ¶15. (SBU) ELECTRICITY: The GOB continued to restore power to parts of Rangoon. ¶16. (SBU) LAW AND ORDER: We received no reports of looting or public disturbances in or around Rangoon. VILLAROSA