DECLARATION OF DISASTER: ASSISTANCE FOR MOUNT MAYON

UNCLAS MANILA 002638 AIDAC BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR A. DWYER USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA R. THAYER KATHMANDU FOR W. BERGER AND S. MCINTYRE, USAID/W FOR ANE/AA AND DCHA/FFP, STATE FOR EAP, GENEVA FOR N. KYLOH, USUN FOR OFDA REPRESENTATIVE, BRUSSELS FOR P. BROWN, ROME FOR USAID/OHA H. SPANOS, SECDEF FOR SOLIC, JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC 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: DECLARATION OF DISASTER: ASSISTANCE FOR MOUNT MAYON EVACUATION REFTELS: A) Manila 2597 B) Manila 2583 C) Manila 2610 D) Manila 02636 ¶1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 4. ¶2. AS A RESULT OF THE DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS AROUND MOUNT MAYON VOLCANO IN ALBAY, PHILIPPINES FROM NEARLY 4,000 INDIVIDUALS ON NOVEMBER 11 TO 47,000 INDIVIDUALS TODAY, THE CHIEF OF MISSION HAS DETERMINED THAT THE DISASTER IS BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND, IS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE TO WARRANT U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, AND IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. POST'S MISSION DISASTER RELIEF OFFICER AND USAID'S OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) REGIONAL ADVISOR SPOKE WITH THE ALBAY GOVERNOR JOSE SARTE 'JOEY' SALCEDA, WHO CONFIRMED THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CHIEF OF MISSION IS THEREFORE EXERCISING THE AMBASSADOR'S DISASTER ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY. POST THEREFORE REQUESTS A FUND CITE OF USD 100,000 TO PROVIDE DISASTER RELIEF VIA THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE PROLONGED DISPLACEMENT CAUSED BY MOUNT MAYON VOLCANO. ¶3. GOVERNOR SALCEDA WELCOMED U.S. ASSISTANCE TO FILL AN ANTICIPATED MONTH AND A HALF TO THREE MONTH PROTRACTED STAY IN EVACUATION CENTERS WITH THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE VOLCANO. THE PROVINCE'S CALAMITY FUND IS NEARLY DEPLETED AND THESE RESOURCES WILL ASSIST IN FILLING THIS CRITICAL GAP IN PROVIDING EVACUEES WITH BASIC HUMANITARIAN SERVICES. ¶4. POST REQUESTS THAT USAID/OFDA RELEASE USD 100,000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF EFFORTS. THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR ASSISTANCE TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE ONGOING SEISMIC AND GAS ACTIVITY OF MOUNT MAYON. IN COORDINATION WITH THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS, THE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD, NON-FOOD ITEMS, SHELTER, WATER AND SANITATION ASSISTANCE FOR UP TO 47,000 BENEFICIARIES AFFECTED IN ALBAY PROVINCE. ¶5. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION, COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH OFDA'S REGIONAL OFFICE IN BANGKOK AND PROVIDE UPDATES AS THE IMPACT OF THE ONGOING SEISMIC AND GAS ACTIVITY OF MOUNT MAYON BECOMES CLEARER. KENNEY