US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO2063

UNCLAS COLOMBO 002063 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS 
NSC FOR DORMANDY 
DEPARTMENT PASS USAID/OFDA - THAYER 
BANGKOK FOR TOM DOLAN 
NEW DELHI FOR FAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC, AEMR, EAID, PREL, PGOV, MV, Maldives, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: TFXO01:  MALDIVES SITREP -- LOW CASUALTIES, HIGH 
PROPERTY DAMAGE 
 
REF: COLOMBO 2053 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1.  FOREIGN TOURISTS:  Econoff visited Maldives on December 
27, 2004.  As of 2030 on December 27, no American citizens 
have been reported killed in Maldives and there are no known 
American citizens reported missing or injured in Maldives. 
The Government of the Republic of Maldives (GORM) believes it 
has done a complete accounting of foreigners at tourist 
resorts.  Three British tourists died; any other injuries to 
foreign tourists were only minor, according to GORM 
officials.  Safari boat operators were also contacted and 
reported no losses.  In general, tourist islands fared better 
than locally inhabited islands. 
 
2.  AFFECTED MALDIVIANS:  The Maldivian casuality figures 
stand at 52 dead, plus 68 missing (presumed dead).  The GORM 
estimates that 17,000 Maldivians -- from the 122 islands 
reported -- have been internally displaced by the December 26 
tsunamis.  Seventy-nine inhabited islands had not reported 
 
SIPDIS 
back to Male'.  Nineteen out of the 122 contacted islands are 
"total losses," according to officials.  Those citizens are 
being evacuated to other nearby islands or to the capital 
island of Male'.  One whole island of 4,000 citizens was 
evacuated to Male'.  In addition to food and water, shelter 
is the next most critical need. 
 
3.  GORM officials told econoff during a December 27 visit to 
Male' that communications to approximately one-quarter of the 
200 inhabited (not resort) islands had been disrupted. 
According to officials, the swell destroyed the generators 
that operated the microwave communication towers.  Speed boat 
between islands has become the next most useful form of 
communication. 
 
4.  UN MISSION:  According to a late December 28 conversation 
with UNDP Resident Representative Moez Doraid, the four most 
critical needs in Maldives are water, food, medical supplies, 
and transportation (of supplies to the outlying islands). 
Doraid said that water supplies/acquifers had been destroyed 
on 37 inhabited islands and there was limited or no 
electricity on 31 islands.  UNDP is basing planning estimates 
on a target population of 100,000 (the most severely 
affected).  UNDP is anticipating the arrival of two 
additional UN officials from India as well as the late 
December 28 arrival of a 4-person UNOCHA team for a 15-day 
mission.  Doraid told poloff that UN Maldives would have the 
capacity to support the delivery of U.S. assistance. 
 
5.  USAID PLANS:  USAID officials are tentatively planning to 
send one member of the DART team to Maldives on or about 
December 31 for an initial assessment of providing a 
commodities shipment. 
 
6.  OTHER ASSISTANCE TO MALDIVES:  GORM officials told 
econoff that two Pakistani ships already in the Maldives on a 
"friendship visit," were helping to evacuate Maldivians to 
Male'.  The Indians have sent two coast guard planes and are 
sending two coast guard ships, two small and one large 
helicopters, all estimated to be arriving in the next two 
days.  Shallow draught boats to ship supplies are needed to 
approach and clear the reefs surrounding each island. 
 
LUNSTEAD