SINGAPORE STILL MULLING CONTRIBUTION TO PAKISTAN

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000523 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PRM/ECA - N. HASTINGS EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREF PGOV PREL PK SN SUBJECT: SINGAPORE STILL MULLING CONTRIBUTION TO PAKISTAN IDP RELIEF EFFORT REF: A. STATE 55536 ¶B. SINGAPORE 473 ¶C. STATE 50276 ¶1. (SBU) Political Unit Chief delivered Ref A demarche June 2 to MFA South Asia Assistant Director Chen Kien Pin, again urging Singapore to contribute to relief efforts for Pakistan's Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Chen said the GOS is still deciding whether it will make a contribution to the new UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Activities (OCHA) appeal for Pakistan. ¶2. (SBU) Chen replied that Singapore had made a $30,000 contribution (recently increased to $50,000) to relief efforts in Sri Lanka (reported Ref B). Chen said he had recommended to his superiors that the GOS also contribute to the Pakistan relief effort, given the broader regional implications of the conflict there, but has not yet received an answer. ¶3. (SBU) Chen confirmed that earlier in the year, Singapore contributed $10,000 to UN OCHA relief efforts focused on Pakistan IDPs as a result of spring flooding. Singapore has not yet made any contribution to assist Pakistan IDPs associated with the recent conflict in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. ¶4. (SBU) Post will report any further information we develop on GOS contributions to the Pakistan IDP relief effort. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm SHIELDS