VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAC #0774/01 2612332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182332Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6190
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000774 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS TO WHA/BSC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAGR MASS PA
SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE POURS IN TO DAMPEN FIRE 
DISASTER 
 
REF: ASUNCION 765 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  The Duarte administration declared a state 
of national emergency September 12 in response to the worst 
fire disaster in Paraguayan history -- three weeks after the 
fires started -- and provided limited emergency relief to 
affected areas.  An OFDA expert monitored the fires by air 
and advised that 5,800 fires could consume over 600,000 
hectares of land in Concepcion, San Pedro, Amambay, and 
Canindeyu departments.  The fires have devastated the lives 
of many campesinos, whose homes, crops, and farm animals were 
destroyed by fire.  The Embassy provided over USD 400,000 in 
total USG emergency assistance through multiple agencies to 
assist firefighters and fire victims.  The USG ramped up 
emergency assistance to augment previous fire prevention 
efforts, the Brazilians provided aerial support over the past 
two weeks, and the Venezuelans launched their support efforts 
with much fanfare and little effect.  The USG's efforts 
played well in the local media, and the Embassy will continue 
to assist firefighters and fire victims in the aftermath of 
the fire disaster.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------- 
FIRE FUELED BY INACTION 
----------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Duarte administration declared a state of 
national emergency September 13 in response to the worst fire 
disaster in Paraguayan history -- three weeks after the fires 
started -- and provided limited emergency relief to affected 
areas.  President Duarte and the National Emergency 
Secretariat (SEN) Minister Jose Key Kanazawa flew to affected 
 
SIPDIS 
areas September 15 to assess the situation.  The SEN deployed 
120 national firefighters and 500 members of the Armed Forces 
to combat the fires and furnished limited food, water, and 
supplies to firefighters and fire victims.  Approximately 400 
local firefighters, including volunteers and police officers, 
combatted fires in affected areas.  Despite these efforts, 
Paraguay remains ill-equipped to fight fires of sizable 
magnitude, and firefighters lack the clothing and equipment 
needed to combat them.  Their efforts have also been hampered 
by firefighter shortages, desertions, and insufficient 
logistical support. 
 
¶3. (U) OFDA Fires Consultant Maria Luisa Alfaro, who arrived 
at post several days before the Government declared a 
disaster and extensively monitored the fires by air, advised 
the Paraguayan government and the Embassy that the 5,800 
fires burning could consume over 600,000 hectares of land in 
Concepcion, San Pedro, Amambay, and Canindeyu departments. 
Paraguayan officials estimated that the fires could burn over 
one million hectares of land and displace over 200,000 
people.  PolOff toured affected areas in Concepcion and San 
Pedro departments by vehicle September 16 and noted 
widespread fire damage.  The administration responded to the 
situation as it has during past fire seasons -- letting them 
burn themselves out.  However, a severe five-month drought 
created tinderbox conditions that contributed to the fire 
disaster.  Although the Paraguayan government claimed that 
slash-and-burn techniques, pyromania, and unextinguished 
cigarettes caused the fires.  Some ruling party politicians 
including Ministers, ludicrously suggested that opponents of 
the government - especially those tied to Monsignor Lugo - 
started the fires as a campaign of "destabilization". 
 
¶4. (SBU) The fires have devastated the lives of many 
campesinos, whose homes, crops, and farm animals were 
destroyed by fire.  The media reported two fire-related 
fatalities, including a 40-year-old rancher and an 
11-year-old boy.  Concepcion Emergency Response Director 
Sixto Ruiz Diaz and Fire Chief Francisco Antogni told PolOff 
September 16 that the fires had severely affected many 
campesinos, displacing over 25,750 in Concepcion Department 
alone, but that large-scale ranches in San Pedro were 
relatively unaffected.  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attache 
Fernando Allo and Brazilian Forest Service Coordinator Alex 
Peroto confirmed that ranch owners had effectively halted 
nearby fires by coordinating efforts with local officials. 
They noted that Marys Llorens, owner of a major ranch in San 
Pedro, donated gasoline to fuel firefighting aircraft in 
exchange for protecting local ranches from the disaster. 
 
-------------------------------- 
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) The Embassy provided over USD 400,000 in total USG 
emergency assistance through multiple agencies to assist 
firefighters and fire victims.  The Ambassador designated USD 
 
50,000 in OFDA emergency assistance funds to the Paraguayan 
Red Cross for fire victims' assistance and USD 50,000 in OFDA 
assistance to local NGO Moises Bertoni Foundation to purchase 
firefighting equipment.  DOD allocated five tranches of aid 
in USD 10,000 installments to purchase firefighting 
equipment, medicines, and hygiene products.  USAID will 
provide up to USD 250,000 in assistance to firefighters and 
fire victims, including firefighting clothing worth USD 
83,000 it donated in February. (Reftel notes additional aid 
provided by USAID.)  In response to the Concepcion governor's 
assistance request, Embassy staff personally delivered on 
September 15th some USD 20,000 in fire equipment and 
supplies,(purchased with DOD emergency assistance funds over 
the weekend) to the towns of Concepcion, Horqueta, and Yby 
Ya'u.  The Paraguayan-American Chamber of Commerce also 
initiated efforts to relieve fire victims in San Pedro 
Department. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  The USG ramped up emergency assistance to augment 
previous fire prevention efforts, the Brazilians provided 
aerial support over the past two weeks, and the Venezuelans 
launched their support efforts September 12 with much fanfare 
and little effect.  Brazil provided five small airplanes 
equipped with 1,800-3,000 liter water tanks, one 
reconnaiscence plane, and pilots to fight fires in Concepcion 
and San Pedro.  Venezuelan President Chavez pledged USD 1 
million September 12 to rent an Ilyushin-76 super hydrant 
aircraft from Russia and donated USD 1 million more September 
14 to the Paraguayan government to pay for fire-related 
expenses.  Venezuela also sent in two hydrant helicopters 
equipped with 2,000 liter water tanks and military support 
personnel to Concepcion September 16 to help fight the fires. 
 (NOTE:  While the announcement of Venezuela's super hydrant 
aircraft made headlines, it has yet to arrive, and fire 
officials in Concepcion told PolOff they were skeptical the 
plane would ever see action.  The press reported that 
American contractor Tom Robinson has been coordinating local 
emergency assistance efforts on behalf of Venezuela and/or 
Russia. END NOTE.) 
 
---------------------------- 
PARAGUAYAN EXPRESS GRATITUDE 
---------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) The USG's efforts played well in the local media. 
National and local media broadcast highlights from the 
Embassy's visit to Concepcion September 17 and noted our 
efforts to aid the Paraguayan people.  Many local officials 
and residents of Concepcion thanked the Embassy for its 
efforts and expressed gratitude to the United States for its 
generosity.  More public turnover events are planned. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶8. (SBU) COMMENT:  The Embassy will continue to assist 
firefighters and fire victims in the aftermath of the 
disaster.  Emergency response coordinators and fire chiefs 
noted that the national government does not have an effective 
disaster response plan, and the government's course of action 
during this emergency involved soliciting donations and 
waiting for the fires to burn themselves out.  The Embassy 
will engage the Paraguayan government to help develop an 
emergency disaster plan.  Post remains extremely appreciative 
of inter-agency backstopping and support provided - starting 
with the hands-on expertise of OFDA's Maria Luisa Alfaro. END 
COMMENT. 
 
Please visit us at     http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion 
 
Fitzpatrick