US embassy cable - 05PARIS6137

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 006137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT and EUR/WE 
TREASURY FOR DO/IM 
JOINT STAFF FOR J-5/EUR 
DHS FOR FEMA/OIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, AEMR, MARR, CASC, PGOV, US, FR 
SUBJECT: TFUS01: UPDATE ON FRENCH REACTION TO HURRICANE 
KATRINA 
 
REFS: A) STATE 163366 B) State 164135 C) STATE 164429 
 
D) Paris 5995  E) Paris 6026 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  This is an action request, see para 14. 
France is still willing to provide further assistance, but 
awaits word from the USG as what else might be provided. 
The Ambassador, DCM, and other Embassy officials have 
publicly expressed thanks per ref B.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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FRENCH GOVERNMENT OFFERS 
------------------------ 
2.  We have passed latest general acceptance cable to the 
GOF (ref C).  France continues to offer additional 
assistance, specifically 20 to 30,000 MREs.  These are 
located in Paris with the French Ministry of Defense, and 
are available for delivery within the next 2-3 days.  They 
can be flown using available Air France cargo space, meaning 
preferred destinations would be Houston or Atlanta.  Other 
arrangements could be made if another destination is better, 
such as Little Rock, but that could entail a delay of up to 
5 days in delivery.  One MRE contains 2 meals, with a 
caloric value of 3200 calories.  The total weight of the 
shipment would be 48 tons for the 30000 MREs. 
 
3.  France also has offered help with diving teams and the 
use of a tugboat.  We understand the Department will shortly 
send a message on formal acceptance, and we will immediately 
relay the message to the MFA upon receipt. 
 
4.  Our matrix on the status of French assistance, to date, 
is as follows: 
 
143  tents 25m2                  Accepted & sent 9/6 
146  tents 13m3                  Accepted & sent 9/6 
200  tents 16 m2                 Accepted & sent 9/6 
98   tents 8 m2                  Accepted & sent 9/6 
2    tents hangar 86 m2          Accepted & sent 9/6 
980  camp cots                   Accepted & sent 9/6 
1000 pliable jerricans           Accepted & sent 9/6 
1100 buckets 11 liters 
3136 soapbars (Marseille) 
576  cooking kits                Accepted & sent 9/6 
30   generator 2.5kwa            Accepted 
9    generator 4.2 kwa           Accepted 
20   generator 4kva LX4000       Accepted 
350  Crsyl (water-purifier) 
126  first aid kits 
1029 tarps 8x6                   Accepted & sent 9/6 
1200 tarps 5x4                   Accepted & sent 9/6 
1000 blankets                    Accepted & sent 9/6 
200  stretchers 
6    rope 
1    water treatment station 
2    water treatment station 
10   motorpumps 36m3/h Honda 
20   motorpump 36m3/h SDMO 
4    concrete mixers 
394  storm lamps 
159  masonry kits 
192  carpentry kits 
295  plumbing kits 
6    portable electric tools 
30   chainsaws+gloves+ safety hats 
300  pick axes 
223  shovels 
180  sledgehammers 
3000 ponchos (15 cartons) 
234  Boots (US sizes 9/10/11) 
1000 MREs                         Accepted & sent 9/7 
20-30000 MREs 
 
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PRIVATE ASSISTANCE 
------------------ 
5.  The French Red Cross made 12 logistical experts 
available to the US Red Cross. 
 
6.  The NGO Telecom Sans Frontiers sent a team to Houston on 
September 5 via commercial air to help restore telephone and 
communication links. 
 
7.  Air France informed us on September 6 that it is 
prepared to make cargo capacity available for French 
humanitarian relief shipments to the U.S.  Air France has 
frequent service to Atlanta and Houston, for example. 
 
8.  Representatives from the international oil company Total 
informed the Ambassador on September 6 that Total is 
pledging a donation of USD 1 million to the US Red Cross. 
 
9.  We have received innumerable offers of assistance from 
private French citizens, and are directing them to 
appropriate organizations in the US. 
 
---------------- 
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
---------------- 
10.  On September 3, Ambassador Stapleton conducted an 
interview about the hurricane with Le Parisien, the largest 
circulation (500,000) daily paper in Paris.  The interview, 
along with a photo of the Ambassador, appeared last 
Saturday.  On September 8, per guidance provided ref B, the 
Ambassador held a well-attended press conference to thank 
the GOF and the people of France for the aid that they have 
provided to date.  More than 20 journalists attended, and 
the results were immediate and positive.  Beginning last 
night with the AP and AFP wire services stories, five radio 
stations, a cable news TV station, and daily center-right 
newspaper Le Figaro all carried features based on the 
Ambassador's press conference remarks. 
 
11.  The DCM gave a live morning drive-time radio interview 
on September 6, emphasizing the resilience of the US and our 
thanks for French pledges of assistance. 
 
12.  Le Monde (center-left national daily) will publish 
Ambassador Stapleton's 9/11 anniversary op-ed in its Sunday- 
Monday weekend edition.  Entitled "Adversity and 
Friendship," the op-ed draws parallels between France's 
supportive response after 9/11 to its similar support and 
solidarity in Hurricane Katrina's wake. 
 
13.  We will continue to seize other opportunities for 
public and media outreach to reiterate our messages. 
 
14.  ACTION REQUESTED: Please provide further guidance on 
French offers of assistance, in particular the 20 to 30000 
MREs. 
STAPLETON#