VZCZCXRO0630
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMS #0638/01 1711246
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201246Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8426
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEASRB/COMUSARCENT-CDRUSATHIRD FT MCPHERSON GA
RHMFISS/COMUSCENTAF SHAW AFB SC
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MUSCAT 000638 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017 
TAGS: AMER AMGT ASEC CASC KSAC KHLS MOPS PINR MU
SUBJECT: C-NE7-01141: OMAN MOVES FORWARD ON POST-CYCLONE 
RECOVERY EFFORTS 
 
REF: A. STATE 84648 
     ¶B. MUSCAT 596 
     ¶C. MUSCAT 590 
     ¶D. MUSCAT 587 
 
Classified By: CDA Alfred F. Fonteneau for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (C) The government of Oman is working diligently to 
restore roads and public services impacted by tropical 
cyclone Gonu.  Notable progress has been achieved, but 
thousands of individuals in the Muscat area alone remain 
displaced and the cost of infrastructure damage is currently 
estimated at over USD 2.5 billion.  Most Omanis appear 
relatively satisfied with the government's storm recovery 
efforts; non-religious charities have supplemented 
governmental assistance.  The Sultan's continued absence from 
the public eye has prompted much private talk, but has so far 
not seriously eroded his popularity.  End Summary. 
 
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RESTORING ROADS AND SERVICES 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The Omani government continues to make progress in 
recovering from the devastation caused by tropical cyclone 
Gonu.  Emergency repair work has at least partially re-opened 
15 damaged roads in greater Muscat, although three traffic 
arteries (one in the Seeb district and two in the hard hit 
Bausher/Ghubrah area) remain closed.  Transportation links to 
badly affected towns on the outskirts of the capital (ref C) 
are also being restored, which has increased the delivery of 
needed supplies to storm victims.  According to the 
government, electricity and water service is now available to 
a large majority of Muscat area residents.  Officials 
specifically claim that 95% of the city's power grid is 
functional, and that 57 million gallons of water is being 
supplied daily to Muscat.  More than 1,800 trucks have been 
assigned to pump out standing water from the capital's 
neighborhoods to reduce the risk of disease.  Fresh milk, 
bread and some other basic consumer items that were in short 
supply are once again fully stocked on store shelves. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Considerable repair and clean-up work remains, 
however.  Despite the government's efforts, some badly 
flooded neighborhoods in and around Muscat still do not have 
power or water.  Officials reported that as of June 18, 3,150 
individuals in the greater capital region remained in 
government-provided shelters (mostly schools):  450 in the 
Bausher/Ghubrah district, 400 in the Muttrah/Yeti area, and 
2,300 in the outlying town of Qurayat.  (Note:  Many persons 
who were forced to leave their homes are staying with friends 
and relatives, rather than in shelters.  End Note.) 
Municipal trash pick-up service has resumed, but piles of 
garbage are still noticeable even in well-heeled 
neighborhoods, and hospitals continue to report cases of 
intestinal-related illnesses amidst fears of contamination in 
the water system.  Hard-hit areas well outside the capital, 
such as the city of Sur (ref C), lag behind Muscat in the 
pace of recovery from the storm, but there are no reports of 
large-scale deprivation, and contacts report that all basic 
needs of residents of these areas are being met. 
 
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A HEFTY DAMAGE BILL 
------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Ministry of National Economy has estimated 
damage to infrastructure alone at approximately 1 billion 
Omani rials (USD 2.6 billion).  Plans to construct three new 
dams in the Wadi Adai to prevent future flooding will require 
24.15 million rials (USD 62.8 million).  During a June 18 
meeting with Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin 
Ali Sultan, insurance company representatives stated that 
claims related to Gonu could approach or even exceed USD 750 
million.  The official death toll from the cyclone has not 
changed for a week and remains at 49 (including 13 Omani 
national), with 27 reported as missing.  Contacts who 
predicted higher casualties (ref C) speculate that the 
authorities may be waiting to issue a final number once they 
have confirmed all deaths, rather than incrementally raise 
the figure as search operations continue. 
 
 
MUSCAT 00000638  002 OF 003 
 
 
---------------------- 
PRIVATE RELIEF EFFORTS 
---------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Apart from government-directed recovery efforts, many 
Omanis have contributed to post-Gonu relief through 
volunteerism or donations.  Numerous volunteer clean-up 
operations have been conducted throughout the Muscat area 
with strong participation by Omani nationals and expatriates. 
 On June 14, for example, roughly 2,000 individuals 
(including some Embassy staff) assembled near the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs and braved high temperatures to remove trash 
and debris from the popular Qurum beach.  According to the 
Secretary General of the Ministry of National Economy, 
 
SIPDIS 
donations to the cyclone relief fund established by a 
directive from the Sultan (ref B) had reached 14 million 
Omani rials (USD 36.4 million) as of June 17. 
 
¶6.  (C) While the Omani government has directly provided the 
bulk of post-Gonu emergency aid, the government-affiliated 
Oman Charitable Organization and, to a lesser extent, the 
private Dar al-Attaa charity have also collected and 
distributed food, water and other supplies to those affected 
by the cyclone.  Expatriate organizations, sometimes in 
conjunction with their resident embassies, have likewise 
organized campaigns to help nationals of their countries who 
suffered heavy losses from the storm.  None of these relief 
efforts have a political tone or anti-government bent.  Some 
Omanis have reportedly brought material donations to their 
local mosques, but imams (who are all employed by the 
government) are not/not attempting to play an active role in 
providing assistance to cyclone victims.  (Note:  There are 
no private Islamic organizations (including charities) 
outside the purview of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious 
Affairs.  End Note.) 
 
----------------------- 
GOVERNMENT IMAGE INTACT 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Although accurately gauging public opinion in Oman 
can be difficult, discussions with contacts and a check of 
Internet chatroom activity indicate that most Omanis are 
relatively satisfied with government relief efforts and the 
initial pace of reconstruction.  Even U.S. citizens in the 
hard hit city of Sur expressed approval of the strong 
response of the Omani military to reach victims with aid and 
supplies (ref C).  The local press, predictably, has mostly 
lauded governmental storm recovery actions and has repeatedly 
praised the Omani people for their "solidarity" and 
generosity in helping the country bounce back from the 
cyclone. 
 
¶8.  (C) Of course, not everyone is happy with the role of the 
government both during and after Gonu.  Some Omani nationals 
who suffered heavy losses and their relatives are, 
understandably, very upset and have privately criticized 
governmental shortcomings.  A June 19 article in Arabic daily 
"Shabiba" called for the Majlis al-Shura (the 
directly-elected lower house of Oman's bicameral advisory 
body) to hold accountable governmental authorities who 
"failed to carry out their responsibilities" as demonstrated 
in the aftermath of Gonu.  The article specifically mentioned 
the Ministry of Housing and Electricity for the "failure" of 
its long-term planning, and alleged that the urban planning 
of the Muscat Municipality was "just decor." 
 
------------ 
WHERE IS HE? 
------------ 
 
¶9.  (C) The issue that continues to perplex many Omanis and 
foreign observers is the Sultan's almost complete absence 
from the public eye since the storm hit (refs C, D).  Apart 
from press and television news coverage of the Sultan 
chairing the June 11 cabinet meeting (ref B), there have been 
no public statements from, or photos or articles on the 
activities of, Oman's ruler in local media.  The entire royal 
family, in fact, has similarly kept a very low profile 
following the storm.  Contacts report sightings of the Sultan 
surveying damage in the town of Qurayat and elsewhere, but 
these have not been confirmed publicly.  Tongues have been 
wagging (albeit in private) around Muscat regarding the 
Sultan's apparent seclusion, but there is no consensus as to 
the possible reason. 
 
 
MUSCAT 00000638  003 OF 003 
 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶10.  (C) Despite some missteps, there has been no widespread 
frustration or discontent among Omani nationals regarding the 
government's response to the cyclone.  Limited criticism of 
the government, moreover, has been offset by a renewed sense 
of nationalism as many Omanis rally around the flag in 
"rebuilding" their country.  The Sultan's invisibility has 
led to much speculation, but has so far not seriously eroded 
his broad popularity.  End Comment. 
FONTENEAU