PHILIPPINES VOLCANO REMAINS AT HIGH ALERT; U.S. GAUGES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 002636 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 CASC RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES VOLCANO REMAINS AT HIGH ALERT; U.S. GAUGES POTENTIAL RELIEF NEEDS REFTELS: A) Manila 2597 B) Manila 2583 C) Manila 2610 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Southern Luzon's Mount Mayon, at Alert Level 4 since December 20, continues to emit lava and hurl ash skyward in mile-high plumes. Local authorities have evacuated over 47,000 residents from within five miles of the summit and are struggling to provide them with adequate clean water, sanitation and health care. Mission Disaster Relief Officer (MDROff),U.S. Agency for International Development Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) Regional Advisor, and U.S. military personnel are currently on location to evaluate relief needs, interface with local officials, and develop a U.S. Government contingency relief plan. Based on the current situation, Post is declaring a disaster. Septel formally requests USD 100,000 in disaster assistance funds for victims in evacuation centers. End Summary. -------------- Volcano Calmer, but Major Eruption Remains Likely -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Although Mount Mayon, 220 miles southeast of Manila, continues to exhibit intense volcanic activity, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) scientists have yet to observe an eruption of sufficient magnitude to warrant the highest warning level, Alert Level 5. In fact, PHILVOLCS bulletins indicate that the number of daily volcanic earthquakes has decreased by more than a factor of ten, and the daily volume of sulfur dioxide emissions has more than halved since evacuations began on December ¶14. However, Ms. Maricel Capa of the PHILVOLCS Volcano Monitoring Division told us that decreased seismic and gas activity was also consistent with a 'plugged crater,' which often precedes a particularly violent release of trapped magma. Apart from a catastrophic explosion, Capa said rainy weather and resulting landslides were a major safety concern, as lava flows now extend almost four miles below the crater rim. -------------- Clean Water, Sanitation Shortfalls Threaten Evacuees -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Mission Disaster Relief Officer (MDROff) and U.S. Agency for International Development Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) Regional Advisor inspected four (of 31 total) evacuation centers in Albay province on December 24 and observed crowded conditions and shortages of clean water and sanitation facilities. Most of the evacuation centers are schools, with classrooms designed for 25 children now housing 40 or more evacuees. One center visited by MDROff and OFDA Advisor featured only two working latrines for over 2,000 people. At some evacuation centers the Bureau of Fire Protection is trucking in water to alleviate shortages, while at others evacuees are relying on local residents for potable water. -------------- Health Issues Under Control for Now -------------- ¶4. (SBU) MDROff and OFDA Advisor noted that although current health issues remain limited to low-level respiratory and intestinal conditions, officials are concerned that increasingly cool weather and prolonged overcrowding will increase health risks. Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Committee (PDCC) Executive Director Cesar Daep confirmed that the centers are currently free of major disease outbreaks and said that the Philippine military, the Albay Department of Health (DoH),and private sector groups were collaborating in daily health assessments at evacuation centers. The DoH was setting up clinics at 'strategic locations,' so sick evacuees would not need to be transferred to hospitals in case of illness. MANILA 00002636 002 OF 003 -------------- Authorities Trying to Keep Education on Track -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Anticipating an evacuation that will last at least through January, provincial Department of Education (DoE) authorities hope to transfer evacuees from schools to tent camps by the start of classes on January 4. Disaster relief officials, however, fear that such a move will spur evacuees to return to their homes in the danger zone on Mount Mayon, and suggest holding classes in tents instead. Regardless of which scenario prevails, officials say the need for tents is acute. The DoE plans to resume a normal instruction schedule by doubling shifts in unaffected schools (to accommodate evacuee schoolchildren) and holding make-up classes on Saturdays. The DoE will also attempt to hold classes in some schools serving as evacuation centers, with the centers reverting to sleeping areas at night. -------------- Province Opens Arms to Relief Groups -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Albay provincial officials have enlisted a broad range of public, private, national, and international organizations to support the evacuation effort and maintain the province's 'zero casualty' policy. In addition to engaging the full spectrum of Philippine government departments and agencies, provincial officials have elicited assistance from various United Nations (e.g. World Food Program, UN Development Program, Food and Agricultural Organization, UN International Children's Emergency Fund),private sector (e.g. Pfizer Inc.),and international and non-governmental organizations (IOs and NGOs, e.g. International Organization for Migration, Save the Children). On December 22, Albay Governor Jose Sarte 'Joey' Salceda declared the evacuation centers 'open cities' for IOs and NGOs, allowing them to enter without prior notice or clearance, so as to facilitate the provision of the services and goods they provide to the evacuees. Despite the broad range of donors, PDCC chairman Cesar Daep told us on December 28 that the province's calamity fund was nearly depleted and that obtaining additional funding to maintain the evacuation program is Governor Salceda's top priority. -------------- - Support for American Citizens and Local Staff -------------- - ¶7. (SBU) Consular section staff has determined that there are no U.S. citizens in the extended danger zone, and continue to monitor the situation by contacting local authorities and wardens in the affected area on a daily basis. The Consular section has prepared and pre-cleared a warden message to be disseminated in the event of a major eruption, and has readied a 'fly-away team' that will be dispatched to assist Amcits in the affected area in the event of an eruption. The Management section has prepared a contingency plan in the event an eruption generates an ash cloud over Manila, with provisions to provide emergency medical, communications, and transportation services and information to the Mission community. The Regional Security Office has issued an additional travel notice on December 29 advising American and locally employed staff that travel to the affected area requires permission of the Regional Security Officer. -------------- - U.S. Assesses Needs, Prepares Contingency Plan -------------- - ¶8. (SBU) In conjunction with USAID/Philippines and OFDA, the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines (JSOTF-P) are MANILA 00002636 003 OF 003 conducting a December 29-30 field visit to the affected area to evaluate relief needs, survey infrastructure and potential points of debarkation, and interface with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)units already deployed in the region. In the event of a catastrophic eruption, JSOTF-P is prepared to rapidly deploy a small team of medical specialists and chaplains to augment AFP efforts. Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group-Philippines is closely monitoring the situation, liaising with AFP colleagues on-site, and providing periodic reports to U.S. Pacific Command. ¶9. (SBU) The MDROff and USAID/OFDA Advisor are currently in Albay province monitoring the situation and working with Philippine government officials, NGOs, IOs, UN organizations and donor countries to accurately assess needs and coordinate potential relief efforts to avoid duplication in the event a disaster does occur. USAID/OFDA is also providing technical assistance to PHILVOLCS and ensuring that the volcano-monitoring equipment USAID/OFDA provided the Institute is adequately performing its early-warning function. Based on first-hand assessments by the OFDA Advisor and the MDROff, and the anticipated prolonged stay of community members in evacuation centers, Post is declaring a disaster via septel and requesting USD 100,000 in disaster funds. ¶10. (SBU) USAID oversees several ongoing health projects in the affected region, and staff associated with these bilateral programs is working closely with local government health officials to monitor the wellbeing and health of the evacuees as well as to anticipate the health services that would be needed in the event of a catastrophic eruption. USAID is prepared to mobilize additional resources as necessary to ensure that health standards continue to be met within the evacuation centers and in surrounding affected communities. Kenney