US embassy cable - 05RANGOON9

UNCLAS RANGOON 000009 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, CA TASK FORCE, OPS CENTER 
BANGKOK FOR USAID, FAS 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, CASC, KFLO, PREL, PINR, PGOV, AMGT, BM, NGO 
SUBJECT: TFXO01: (1/3) RED CROSS IN BURMA REPORTS HIGHER 
CASUALTIES 
 
REF: A. COM-TASK FORCE 1/2 EMAIL 
 
     B. 04 RANGOON 1649 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: A preliminary Red Cross report on the 
extent of the damage in Burma gives figures higher than the 
GOB's official tally, but still quite low compared to 
Thailand.  UN agencies and NGOs are continuing their 
assessments and small-scale relief operations, however the 
GOB is not likely to make a formal request for aid.  There 
are no reports of Amcit casualties or verified cases of 
missing Americans in Burma.  End summary. 
 
IFRC: Death Toll Higher Than Reported 
 
2.  (SBU) The International Federation of the Red Cross 
(IFRC), coordinating the international community's response 
to the tsunami and earthquake damage in Burma, released a 
preliminary report on December 30th collating the information 
collected to date from various agencies' missions to the 
impacted parts of the country.  According to the report, the 
"verified" toll in Burma is 86 dead, 45 injured, 10 missing, 
and 6,250 homeless. 
 
3. (SBU) As reported ref B, the most heavily damaged parts of 
the country are the Irrawaddy River delta southwest of 
Rangoon (47 dead, 4,500 homeless), and the southeastern coast 
(just north of Ranong, Thailand) in Kawthaung, Tanintharyi 
Division (27 dead, 1,750 homeless).  The IFRC report further 
corroborated previous reporting (ref B) that the tourist 
beach areas on the Bay of Bengal (west and northwest of 
Rangoon) were not damaged.  IFRC officials noted that various 
NGOs and UN agencies were planning or now undertaking 
additional assessment trips by air, sea, and road to more 
remote areas of the Irrawaddy delta and islands off the 
Tanintharyi coast. 
 
Assessment and Aid Distribution Ongoing 
 
4. (SBU) Though the GOB has not made a formal request for 
aid, the IFRC noted that UN agencies, international NGOs, the 
Myanmar Red Cross, and, to a lesser extent, the GOB were 
providing basic assistance and emergency shelter in the 
worst-hit areas.  According to IFRC officials, an appeal for 
funds to assist in Burma would be integrated into the general 
UN "Flash Appeal" for all countries affected by the 
earthquake/tsunami.  This appeal is reportedly to be launched 
on January 5th. 
 
Americans are Safe 
 
5. (U) Embassy Rangoon's Consular Section has been working to 
clear remaining welfare/whereabouts inquiries. 
There have still been no reports of American Citizen 
casualties or verified cases of missing Americans. 
MARTINEZ