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DE RUEHMU #2102/01 2561431
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O 131431Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1260
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO IMMEDIATE 4735
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 0122
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0084
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0344
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 04 MANAGUA 002102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN FEELEY AND LERSTEN 
DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/FO AND CA/OCS 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID/W, USAID/DCHA AND USAID/OFDA 
USAID/W FOR A/AID HFORE 
USAID/OFDA FOR KLUU, AFERRERA, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, AND 
SBISWAS 
USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS AND GGOTTLIEB 
SOUTHCOM PLEASE PASS TO JTF-BRAVO 
SOUTHCOM FOR SCJ3--LTC ALEXANDER 
NSC FOR ALVARADO AND TSHORTLEY 
SAN JOSE FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USUN ROME FOR RNEWBERG 
USUN FOR TMALY 
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER 
ROME PLEASE PASS TO USUN ROME 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PGOV MOPS AEMR KPAO CASC NU
SUBJECT: MANAGUA SITREP 6: U.S. RELIEF EFFORTS CONTINUE 
 
REF: A. MANAGUA 2070 
 
     ¶B. MANAGUA 2059 
     ¶C. MANAGUA 2044 
     ¶D. MANAGUA 2032 
     ¶E. MANAGUA 2026 (NOTAL) 
     ¶F. MANAGUA 2025 (NOTAL) 
 
¶1. (SBU/NF) SUMMARY.  Following the re-activation of the 
Samuel Roberts' two SH-60 helicopters on September 10, a 
total of 19 sorties have been carried out, delivering relief 
supplies, medical supplies, doctors, and security personnel 
to nine outlining communities in the Northern Atlantic 
Autonomous Region (RAAN).  On September 12, Overseas Private 
Investment Corp (OPIC) executive Robert Mossbacher, in an 
event covered by all national media, signed a memo of intent, 
extending an additional USD 7 million to rebuild homes in the 
affected areas.  Over the past two days, Spanish and 
Venezuelan air support has delivered nearly 70 tons of relief 
supplies from Managua to Puerto Cabezas.  A Dutch ship 
containing some 200 tons of relief supplies arrived in Puerto 
Cabezas on September 11.  U.S. military assets are expected 
to continue operations for the next several days, primarily 
in Puerto Cabezas.  END SUMMARY. 
 
CURRENT SITUATION 
- - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2. (U) AFFECTED PERSONS: As of Monday evening, September 10, 
the GON was reporting the following data regarding the human 
impact of Hurricane Felix.  Affected persons: 162,373 in the 
municipalities of Puerto Cabezas, Waspam, Rosita, Bonanza, 
and Alamikamba in the RAAN and in the departments of Nueva 
Segovia and Jinotega; 136 people have been rescued. 
CASUALTIES: 67 confirmed dead of which 65 were registered in 
the communities of Puerto Cabezas and 2 in Asan; 76 
unconfirmed deaths; and 110 persons are missing.  PROPERTY 
DAMAGE: 16,633 houses damaged (9,864 destroyed and 6,769 
without roofs); 153 buildings and 12,072 latrines sustained 
partial damage.  WELLS POLLUTED: 9,010. 
 
¶3. (U) RETURN OF DOD ASSETS: Since sitrep 5, US SOUTHCOM 
re-activated two SH-60 helicopters to distribute relief 
supplies from Puerto Cabezas to outlying communities in the 
region.  The SH-60s carried out nine and ten sorties on 
September 11 and 12, respectively. 
 
¶4.  (SBU/NF) SINAPRED UNCOOPERATIVE:  OFDA/Milgroup team in 
Puerto Cabezas was denied access to the SINAPRED planning 
meeting on September 11.  On September 12, Ambassador raised 
the issue with Foreign Minister Santos, who, within minutes, 
called back to report that President Ortega had given an 
order to allow OFDA/Milgroup to participate all appropriate 
planning meetings.  (NOTE:  SINAPRED postponed the regularly 
scheduled evening planning meeting for September 12.  It is 
unlikely the meeting will be rescheduled for September 12. 
END NOTE) 
 
¶5. (U) SUPPLY SITUATION IN MANAGUA: A snapshot assessment showed no backlog of supplies in Managua. However, the Nicaraguan military logistical coordinator in Managua indicated that SINAPRED has another 500 tons of supplies in a storage facility outside the airport, but was uncertain about SINAPRED's deployment plans for the supplies. He indicated that an additional C-130-equivalent aircraft is essential to guarantee the continued smooth flow of supplies to the Atlantic Coast.
 
¶6.  (U) SOUTHCOM ASSESSMENT TEAM RETURNS TOMORROW: 
SOUTHCOM's second assessment team flew to Puerto Cabezas on 
the afternoon of September 12 and will return to Managua on 
September 13.  Subsequent U.S. military asset deployment 
plans may be adjusted based on the team's assessment. 
 
USG PLANNING AND RESPONSE 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶7. (U) Over the past two days, U.S. relief efforts have 
concentrated on the redistribution of supplies from Puerto 
Cabezas to the remote communities in the region.  The 
distribution effort was coordinated as follows: 
 
September 11: 
 
-- Sahsa:  Six doctors from Accion Medica and the Nicaraguan 
Ministry of Health (MINSA) and 600 pounds of medical 
supplies.  A second flight carried 20 rolls of plastic 
sheeting. 
 
-- Colombo:  Three flights provided a total of 19 sacks of 
rice, 6 sacks of split peas, 29 sacks of cereal, 23 cans of 
oil, and 7 rolls of plastic sheeting. 
 
-- Dakura, Pahara, Awastara: Nine Nicaraguan security 
officers replaced officals in place since the hurricane made 
landfall last week. 
 
-- Lapan:  Two flights delivered 10 sacks of rice, 3 sacks of 
split peas, 17 sacks of cereal, and 12 cans of oil. 
 
September 12: 
 
-- Suina:  Military personnel conducted aerial damage 
assessment. 
 
-- Lapan:  Four MINSA doctors and 600 pounds of medical 
supplies. 
 
-- Sumubila:  Four MINSA doctors. 
 
-- Awastara:  Three flights delivered 47 sacks of rice (5,300 
pounds). 
 
-- Prinzubila:  Two flights delivered 3,500 pounds of 
emergency good commodities including rice, salt, and water. 
 
-- Isnawas:  Two flights delivered 3,500 pounds of emergency 
good commodities including rice, salt, and water. 
 
PD OUTREACH: OPIC SIGNS USD 7 MILLION FOR RECONSTRUCTION
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶8. (U) On September 12, OPIC executive Robert Mossbacher 
signed a memo of intent with BANCENTRO to add USD 7 million 
to an existing USD 30 million agreement to rebuild houses in 
the hurricane affected areas.  The event was well-covered by 
all Nicaraguan national media.  In addition, the Embassy 
issued a Spanish press release highlighting the deal. 
 
¶9. (U) Following the signing, Mossbacher and the Ambassador met with President Ortega and the First Lady at the FSLN Secretariat. They discussed the OPIC deal and briefed Ortega on the status of US hurricane relief efforts, calling attention to the USD 1.4 million in disaster assistance the U.S. has delivered thus far. Separately, Embassy press officer Kristen Stewart briefed most national media about the OPIC / BANCENTRO deal and the USD 1.4 million in disaster assistance.
 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE: DUTCH, SPANISH, AND VENEZUELANS DELIVER AID
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
¶10. (U) The Dutch-flagged ship Pelican arrived in Puerto 
Cabezas on September 11 carrying 300 tons of food with one 
helicopter on board.  Supply offload will begin on September 
¶13. 
 
¶11. (U) Nicaraguan military officials in Puerto Cabezas 
reported that a Venezuelan ship is en route, but do not know 
the name of the ship nor its contents. 
 
¶12. (U) On September 11, a Venezuelan  C-130 airlifted 8,800 
pounds of food and mixed supplies from Managua to Puerto 
Cabezas.  A Spanish C-130 airlifted an additional 60,600 
pounds of relief supplies to Puerto Cabezas and a Nicaraguan 
AN-26 airlifted a further 8,800 pounds of relief supplies to 
PC. 
 
¶13.  (U) On September 11, two MI-17 Venezuelan helicopters 
arrived in Managua and deployed to Siuna to assist with 
distribution of supplies to isolated communities northeast of 
Siuna.  Further, one UH-1 helicopter from Honduras arrived in 
Puerto Cabezas on September 11 to join the delivery effort. 
 
LOOK AHEAD - JFT-B OPERATIONS CONTINUE 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶14.  (U)  JTF-B commander arrived on September 12 and will 
deploy to PC on September 13 to resume command of U.S. 
military relief operations. 
 
¶15. (U) On September 13, JFT-B plans to deploy Forward Aeriel Refuel Point (FARP) to Puerto Cabezas to support PC-based UH-60 helicopter operations over the next few days. On September 13, C-130 Bladder Bird is expected to arrive in PC and have FARP established on September 14. The CH-47 helicopters are also expected to arrive in Nicaragua on September 13 to assist as needed with delivery efforts.
 
TRIVELLI