US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS5408

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 005408 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA; PLEASE PASS TO AID/OFDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PREL, IN, CE, TH, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: TFX001: INITIAL EC RESPONSE TO ASIAN TSUNAMI 
 
REF: STATE 273476 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  The European Commission has activated two 
emergency mechanisms to meet the immediate humanitarian 
assistance needs arising from the December 26 earthquake and 
tsunamis in the Indian Ocean.  The EU,s Community Mechanism 
 
SIPDIS 
Civil Protection Unit and Monitoring and Information Centre 
(MIC) have generated and coordinated in-kind contributions 
from ten member states, primarily for Sri Lanka.  Most of the 
contributions are in the form of medical teams and supplies. 
The Commission Directorate General (DG) for Humanitarian Aid 
(ECHO) immediately pledged 3 million Euros for the 
International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), to be 
followed by further funding decisions up to 30 million Euros 
for relief efforts and a comprehensive rehabilitation 
package.  An initial expedited funding decision to release 10 
million Euros to international organizations and NGO partners 
is expected by the end of the week.  The Dutch Presidency 
issued a statement December 27 expressing sorrow over the 
tragedy and promising further assistance.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  MIC:  After receiving news of the disaster on December 
26, the two-person team on duty at MIC began coordinating 
in-kind contributions from the civil protection units of 
approximately 10 member states, primarily for Sri Lanka.  The 
contributions have been funded by the following member 
states:  France (air hospital, water, search and rescue); 
Sweden (tents, medical relief); Greece (medical relief); 
Hungary (medical team/relief); Italy (medical team); Slovakia 
(medical team); Czech Republic, Malta and Bulgaria (tents, 
bottled water, blankets).  At this point MIC is suspending 
its efforts to solicit more contributions until it hears more 
from UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 
(OCHA) assessment teams in each country. 
 
3.  ECHO:  On December 26, Development Commissioner Louis 
Michel announced a pledge of 3 million Euros to fund ICRC 
humanitarian assistance efforts in South Asia. 
Characterizing the disaster as one of the world's worst 
natural disasters in many years, the Commissioner expressed 
no doubt that a further "substantial sum8 of up to 30 
million euros would follow for relief and a &comprehensive 
rehabilitation package.8  At ECHO, the Head of Unit for 
Asia, Central and Latin America (who returned from vacation 
to deal with the disaster) told us that a 10 million Euro 
emergency decision is underway and will probably be out by 
the end of the week.  ECHO is waiting for the reports of the 
3-person assessment teams currently in Indonesia and Sri 
Lanka.  The reports are expected in the next day or two, at 
which time the decision can be approved.  An expedited 
procedure can be used for amounts up to 10 million, and the 
strategy is to get the funds out as soon as possible and then 
follow up with further decisions.  The funds will be released 
to international organizations and NGO partners based on 
needs assessments and funding requests. 
 
4.  PRESIDENCY:  On December 26, the Dutch Presidency issued 
a statement expressing shock and sorrow over the disaster. 
The statement mentioned the immediate responses of various 
member states, and said &the EU stands ready to assist in 
very way possible to alleviate the sad plight of the 
victims.8 
McKinley