US embassy cable - 04NEWDELHI8267

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008267 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, AEMR, EAID, MASS, SOCI, ID, CE, MV, IN, GOI, Tsunami Relief 
SUBJECT: UPDATE: INDIAN FOREIGN TSUNAMI RELIEF 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 8228 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt.  Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
1.  (U) Reflecting the very positive Indian reaction to the 
US initiative to create a Core Group for tsunami relief, and 
New Delhi's resolve to do even more to assist India's 
neighbors, on December 30 the MEA provided us with a further 
update on GOI support for Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and 
Indonesia. 
 
2.  (U) Sri Lanka 
 
--The GOI has already supplied 35 tons of dry provisions, 
relief and medical supplies along with communications 
equipment, and several medical teams, including specialists, 
who have been attending to patients.  Indian aircraft have 
provided airlift capability to people and supplies, while 
crews have offered salvage support in clearing harbors, 
divers, and search and rescue sorties. 
 
--Four Indian Navy vessels and seven helicopters had reached 
Sri Lanka by December 29.  The helicopters included three 
Mi-8 and four shipborne Chetaks. 
 
--Two aircraft, one Dornier and one Islander, began operating 
from Colombo on December 30. 
 
--On December 30, the GOI airlifted 700 kilograms more of 
medical supplies. 
 
--The INS Sandhayak (reftel), after delivering its supplies, 
will be converted into a hospital ship. 
 
--Three more Indian Navy vessels, the LCU 33, the INS 
Ghorpad, and the INS Kirch, are enroute to Sri Lanka with 
additional supplies of fuel, rice and water.  They are 
expected to arrive in Trincomalee between December 30 and 
January 1. 
 
--Two IL 76 aircraft carrying military field hospitals are 
scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on December 30. 
 
3.  (U) Maldives 
 
--Three Avros and one Dornier aircraft delivered six tons of 
supplies to the Maldives and are now in Male (reftel).  The 
Indian High Commissioner in Male has indicated that other 
than specific items such as water canisters, there is no need 
for further supplies. 
 
--The INS Mysore (destroyer) and the INS Udaygiri (frigate) 
are in Male.  The ships have been used for transporting 
people and supplies to outlying islands, damage assessment, 
and search and rescue. 
 
--The Indian Navy tanker, the INS Aditya, which is equipped 
with drinking water and a water purification plant, arrived 
in the Maldives on December 30.  The INS Aditya also has a 
helicopter. 
 
--The four helicopters from the three ships have flown seven 
sorties. 
 
4.  (U) Indonesia 
 
--A survey ship, the INS Nirupak, is scheduled to leave 
shortly for Aceh with relief supplies, medicine and tents. 
Cruising time to Aceh is about 100 hours. 
 
5.  (C) In a late December 29 conversation with PolCouns, MEA 
Joint Secretary (Americas) S. Jaishankar said that India 
fully supports and welcomes the formation of the Core Group 
for tsunami relief, but reiterated that assistance is not 
needed within India.  He noted that the GOI has briefed the 
other Core Group members on aid New Delhi has already 
provided, adding that India would like to do more, but needs 
information on specific needs.  Jaishankar asked that when 
moving US forces into the Indian region, that PACOM recognize 
that the Indian military is stretched thin, limiting the GOI 
ability to provide operational support to others.  He said 
the GOI's foreign relief effort will be run out of the 
Ministry of External Affairs, and emphasized India's 
commitment to work closely with the US. 
MULFORD