ADDITIONAL USG DISASTER AID FOR PHILIPPINES

UNCLAS MANILA 002339 SENSITIVE SIPDIS BANGKOK FOR USAID /OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR A. DWYER USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA R. THAYER USAID W/ FOR ANE/AA AND DCHA/FPP GENEVA FOR N. KYLOH USUN FOR OFDA REP BRUSSELS FOR P. BROWN ROME FOR USAID/OHA H. SPANOS SECDEF FOR SOLIC JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR J3/J4/J5 PACOM FOR J3/J4/J5 NSC FOR P. MARCHAM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID SOCI PREL KPAO SENV EAGR RP SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL USG DISASTER AID FOR PHILIPPINES REFTELS: A) Manila 2308 ¶1. (SBU) The U.S. Government (USG) is providing $5.2 million in new disaster relief assistance to the Philippines to meet vital education, water and sanitation, health, and disaster preparedness needs. These funds are in addition to the more than $16 million in rescue and relief aid that the USG has already provided in response to the three massive storms that have devastated the northern Philippine island of Luzon in the last six weeks. Tropical Storm Ketsana (local name Ondoy),Typhoon Parma (Pepeng),and Typhoon Mirinae (Santi) have claimed almost a thousand lives and inflicted over half a billion dollars worth of damage to crops and infrastructure (reftel A). More than 260,000 houses were damaged or destroyed and extensive areas remain flooded in waist-deep water, leaving 150,000 Filipinos homeless and threatening many more with water-borne disease. -------------- Practical and Targeted Assistance -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The new assistance consists of $2 million in new USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) funds, and an additional $3.2 million that USAID has reprogrammed from existing bilateral aid programs to help jump start disaster recovery efforts. The aid targets immediate needs in the sectors of: -- Education: $2 million to refurbish schools, construct 20 new classrooms and 40 computer laboratories, provide 300,000 books, as well as chairs and desks for 15,000 students; -- Water and Sanitation: $1.7 million to provide clean water, sanitation facilities, wastewater and solid waste management, and technical assistance to rebuild damaged infrastructure; -- Health: $500,000 to refurbish health clinics, and provide medical supplies and technical assistance to address infectious diseases and child/maternal health; -- Disaster Preparedness: $500,000 for climate change adaptation to assist flood-prone municipalities map vulnerable areas and reduce risk. -------------- Beyond Relief to Reconstruction -------------- ¶3. (SBU) This package was drawn up in close consultation with Philippine government disaster relief officials, non-governmental organizations, international institutions, and other donor nations. It will help sustain relief efforts and will support the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment that is being coordinated through the World Bank and is slated for completion within the next month. Secretary Clinton could announce this package during her November 12-13 visit to the Philippines. Kenney