INDONESIA SENDS GENEROUS ASSISTANCE TO HAITI

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000061 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP STATE FOR USAID NSC FOR D.WALTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID HL ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA SENDS GENEROUS ASSISTANCE TO HAITI INDONESIA REACTS QUICKLY -------------- ¶1. Indonesia plans to send 1.6 million dollars worth of assistance to Haiti on January 16. The team is waiting for their visas to be issued. (Note: Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Haiti and therefore the team will be issued visas in New York.) EXPERTS AND GOODS ARE SENT -------------- ¶2. Indonesia is sending a team made up of 75 people from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Health and Public Works. Their areas of expertise are medicine, search and rescue, telecommunications and construction. Additionally, the GOI is providing 15 tents, 3 tons of medical supplies, 5 tons of baby and children supplies, dried food, 1 ambulance, 1 truck and 1 water purifier. INDONESIA HISTORICALLY GENEROUS PROVIDER -------------- ¶3. Foreign Minister Natalegawa stated that Indonesia has been devastated by a similar situation and can empathize with the suffering of the people of Haiti. Indonesia has generously provided its expertise and goods to countries that have suffered from natural disasters, most recently to Burma (1 million USD),and China (1.5 million USD). The GOI offered assistance to the U.S. following Hurricane Katrina. POSSIBLE ROLE OF ACS AGREEMENT -------------- ¶4. Emboff informed the National Body for Disaster Mitigation (BNPB) of the acquisition and cross-servicing agreement (ACSA),which was signed by the U.S. and Indonesian Defense Departments on December 9. Emboff explained that the ACSA may provide logistics service and support to Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) operating in Haiti. (Note: The Indonesians will use a military C-130 to send in their personnel and supplies.) The BNPB was pleased to learn of this agreement and will follow-up with the TNI. Hume#