NORWEGIAN AID FOR HAITI LIKELY TO DOUBLE TO $35

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000026 SIPDIS FOR STACY WILLIAMS, WHA/CAR, HAITI TASKFORCE ONE (MELISSA ROUSSER),AND USAID (MAURA O'NEILL) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2020 TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PREL PREF HA NO SUBJECT: NORWEGIAN AID FOR HAITI LIKELY TO DOUBLE TO $35 MILLION REF: A. STATE 04854 ¶B. STATE 04909 ¶C. STATE 04807 Classified By: Acting Political/Economic Counselor Aldo J. Sirotic for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request for WHA/CAR. Please see paragraph 8. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Norway on January 16 increased its promise of aid to Haiti to $17.5 million. The GON has already provided $7 million for relief efforts. An additional $17.5 million (bringing the total to $35 million) is likely forthcoming, according to government officials speaking confidentially, but may be subject to parliamentary deliberations and approval. Virtually all of Norway's money will go to the UN and its organizations, as Norway's priority is to strengthen and emphasize the role of the UN, although how the money will be parceled out to different UN organization has not yet (as of January 20) been determined. The GON's current press release on its aid is reproduced at the end of this cable. End Summary. ¶3. (C) POLOFF met simultaneously on January 19 with three Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials to deliver the three reftel demarches on Haiti. They were: Kjersti Rodsmoen, Acting Head of the MFA Latin America Section; Nana Thue, Haiti Desk Officer, and Kristin Lansholt, Senior Advisor in the Humanitarian Section. GON OFFICIALS EMPHASIZE LONG TERM UN INVOLVEMENT -------------- --- ¶4. (C) The Humanitarian Section is leading the MFA's response to the Haiti disaster. According to Lansholt, the GON's intention is to strengthen the UN's capacity to respond to this sort of crisis. While all three officials thanked and praised the U.S. for its leadership and help in the initial stages of the emergency, the message from the Norwegians was that in the long term the UN must be in charge, although according to Lansholt, "we would have hoped that the initial UN response could have been more efficient and effective." Ultimately, all three officials stated that they hoped that MINUSTAH (the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti) would be significantly strengthened and able to deal with the later-stage aftermath of the crisis brought about by the earthquake. Because of the GON's focus on strengthening the UN, virtually all of the contributions currently proposed and envisioned in the future would go to UN organizations. CURRENT AND PLANNED AID -------------- ¶5. (C) When asked about current and planned aid by the GON to Haiti, the three officials stated that the press release (reproduced at the end of this cable) stating that an increase to $17.5 million contained all the information that they currently could discuss, as the exact distribution of the aid among UN agencies was still being determined. However, they did add confidentially that they believed that the total aid offered by the GON was very likely to double to $35 million. Due to the amount this would take out of the MFA's budget, however, authorization for the second $17.5 million tranche (again, not yet announced) would require parliamentary authorization. The Norwegians did take the opportunity to point out that Norway contributes 20% of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund's (CERF's) budget, an amount equal to approximately $57 million in 2010. PRESS REPORTS: MINISTER COMMENTS ON UN/U.S. RELATIONSHIP; USG REQUESTS NORWEGIAN SHIPS; NORWEGIAN NGO INVOLVEMENT -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) According to press reports, Environment and Development Minister Erik Solheim has said that the UN must work closely with the U.S., which has the resources required, but while the U.S. appears to be taking responsibility, it is unlikely to want to be saddled with that responsibility for long. There have also been press reports that the U.S. State Department sent a request on Sunday for Norway to offer ships from its merchant marine for the relief effort in Haiti (see paragraph 8 for action request on this issue). Solheim is reportedly consulting with the Norwegian Shipowners' association on the matter, and said that the issue of payment has not yet been decided. The Norwegian Red Cross and Save the Children Fund report they have raised $3.5 million for relief work through private donations. Statoil alone donated $530,000 on Sunday. The Norwegian Refugee Council has assembled a 20 person experienced, French-speaking rapid reaction force that it has offered to the UN. PRESS RELEASE ON GON AID TO HAITI -------------- ¶7. (U) On January 16, the GON MFA released the following press release: Begin text: Norway to increase its aid to Haiti following the earthquake Norwegian aid to the earthquake victims in Haiti is to be increased to NOK 100 million (USD 17.5 million) "I am deeply saddened by the extremely difficult situation in Haiti. Although aid is flowing into the country, the needs will continue to be great in the weeks and months ahead," said Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim. The UN has assessed the immediate requirements, and is asking the international community to provide USD 560 million. See the UN's flash appeal for Haiti here. (link) "The UN has made it quite plain that Haiti needs our help. We are therefore increasing the Norwegian contribution to aid efforts to NOK 100 million (USD 17.5 million)," Mr. Solheim said. It is important to support the UN's coordinating role in Haiti, as well as the work the UN is doing to save lives and help survivors. Norway attaches particular importance to helping women and children. "Haiti will need support for its reconstruction efforts for a long time to come. We must also remember that this earthquake is the worst disaster ever confronted by the UN," Mr. Solheim commented. Experience from the earthquake in Pakistan and the Indian Ocean tsunami made it clear that we must continue to show solidarity and maintain our focus on these areas after the television cameras have gone. "I will therefore consider how we can help to support Haiti after the acute emergency relief phase is over," said Mr. Solheim. Norway has already provided NOK 40 million (USD 7 million) for immediate relief efforts. The additional aid will, for instance, be channeled to the World Food Program (WFP),the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),and Medecins Sans Frontieres. Some of it will also be used to fund relief efforts through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF),where one fifth of the funding is provided by Norway. End text of GON MFA press release. ¶8. (U) Post requests that WHA/CAR inform us of whether there has in fact been a request from the USG to the GON for use of the Norwegian Merchant Marine as referenced in paragraph 6. WHITE