JTF-B HELICOPTERS LIFT 180,000 POUNDS OF BRIDGE

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000401 SENSITIVE SIPDIS OSD FOR A/S STEVE JOHNSON, DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND WHA/PPC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MASS PGOV SOCI CS SUBJECT: JTF-B HELICOPTERS LIFT 180,000 POUNDS OF BRIDGE MATERIAL REF: A. SAN JOSE 197 ¶B. SAN JOSE 003 ¶1. (U) On May 14, two JTF-B Blackhawk helicopters completed a humanitarian assistance airlift of 180,000 pounds of suspension bridge material for Costa Rica's indigenous population in the remote and mountainous Talamanca area. The mission began on May 7 and was to conclude in four days, but due to inclement weather was extended to May 14 in order to complete the airlift of all materials, which included cement, planks, fencing, rope and rebar reinforcement rods. It took approximately 50 sorties to complete the mission. ¶2. (U) The suspension bridging material, enough to build five bridges, will replace dangerous home-made bamboo bridges that currently span rushing streams and high gorges. In the past year and a half, over 20 people have died and more than 30 have been injured at the bridge sites, including children who died while trying to go to school. We suspect that there have been many more deaths that have gone unreported. The bridges in these remote areas are essential as most schools, hospitals, and other components of the government's social support networks are located several hours walking distance from the communities. During the rainy reason, floods often isolate these communities and the new suspension bridges will assist the indigenous population to self-evacuate to safer areas. ¶3. (U) In addition to the airlift of materials, JTF-B helicopters were able to support the indigenous communities of Talamanca with several other humanitarian missions. For example, an eight-month old dehydrated baby and her mother were medevac'd as well as an 11-year old girl who had been severely bitten by a venomous snake. All of the patients have recovered from their injuries. Also, a five-person Costa Rican medical team was airlifted to a remote village called Piedra Meza (site of a December MEDRETE, see Ref B) to provide medical care to some ill indigenous families. Over 20 individuals received treatment. ¶4. (U) The humanitarian airlift was a joint operation conducted with JTF-B helicopter and rigging assets, GOCR emergency management personnel, local NGOs, and about 50 local laborers who assisted in the loading and unloading of the materials from the helicopters. According to Veronica Vega of the GOCR's National Community Development Directorate, more than 15000 local indigenous persons will benefit from the construction, to be carried out by the GOCR and NGOs, of the suspension bridges. ¶5. (U) Both local and national Costa Rican media carried wide coverage of the event, including television and print. All of the coverage was positive and accurately described the involvement and coordination between USG, GOCR and local NGOs. We did not see any negative references to the use of U.S. military assets in Costa Rica. ======= COMMENT ======= ¶6. (SBU) As noted in Ref A, this airlift came in the wake of a specific GOCR request for U.S. military assistance for humanitarian projects. Along with last December's MEDRETE (Ref B),the successful completion of this complex mission -- involving an unprecedented partnership of U.S. military, non-law enforcement GOCR entities, local NGOs, and local laborers -- is a significant development for a country (and administration) traditionally reluctant to be involved with most things military. ¶7. (SBU) By using soft military power, the airlift of these suspension bridge materials directly contributed to furthering two of our four Mission Strategic Plan goals for Costa Rica, investing in people and promoting prosperity. Post thanks OSD, SOUTHCOM, and JTF-B for approving this mission. The impact has been huge, both on the Costa Rican people and on the positive image of the U.S. government and military. We especially want to thank the highly competent and professional 16-member military team, who performed flawlessly. The pilots, crew, and rigging teams were truly first-class. Thanks to their hard work in unforgiving terrain and hot weather, U.S. objectives in Costa Rica and the region were directly and positively advanced. ¶8. (U) We will conduct a follow-up visit to the bridging sites once the construction is complete. BRENNAN