VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDBU #0217/01 0391055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081055Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0193
INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0028
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0024
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0028
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0063
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0024
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC 0009
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC 0021
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0030

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000217 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR: DS/IP/SCA/ SCA/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER TI
SUBJECT:  EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING - DUSHANBE 02/08/08 
 
REF: A. DUSHANBE 0175 
 ¶B. DUSHANBE 0173 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Per Department's request, Ambassador chaired an 
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting February 8 to discuss 
preparations and next steps in light of the current weather and 
energy problems in Tajikistan.  Regional Security Officer, 
Management Officer, Political/Economics Chief, Pol-Mil Officer, 
Consular Officer, Defense Attache, Information Management Officer, 
Public Affairs Officer, General Services Officer, Facility Manager, 
Agency for International Development Country Director, Senior Law 
Enforcement Advisor, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
project engineer, Community Liaison Officer, Foreign Service Health 
Practitioner, and Marine Security Guard Detachment Commander and 
assistant participated.  Post does not/not request authorized 
departure at this time but is actively planning other contingencies 
should the situation deteriorate.  Post appreciates Department's 
attention to its situation.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
Current energy situation 
------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The energy utility Barqi Tojik announced yesterday that, 
effective immediately, power will be on for 10 hours a day in 
Dushanbe (five in the morning, five in the evening) and off for 14. 
Despite the announcement, about half of the staff reported having 
power last night.  The intent of the rationing is to reduce outflow 
from the Nurek reservoir, which provides 65% of the country's 
reservoir, from the current 35 centimeters per day to 25 centimeters 
per day.  This step is necessary to keep electricity flowing to 
Dushanbe and other essential objects through the rest of the cold 
season.  During a meeting with Ambassadors yesterday, the Foreign 
Minister said the government expects to get more electricity from 
neighboring countries as early as next week, when warmer 
temperatures will permit Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to 
meet prior commitments. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The international community is focusing on humanitarian 
food and energy assistance (septel).  To date, no mission or 
international organization has drawn down its staff or evacuated 
family members.  United Nations Resident Representative Michael 
Jones said the UN is actually considering increasing its staff to 
deal with humanitarian assistance. 
 
-------------------- 
Embassy preparations 
-------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) At present there is no restriction on the availability of 
diesel fuel.  Nevertheless, the management section has procured 
three 6,000 gallon diesel tanks to boost storage capacity, and has 
ordered water pumps from the United States with the intention of 
retrofitting a water truck that can draw water from the river should 
the city supply fail.  The water could be made potable at the 
embassy's water treatment facility.  The embassy has also leased an 
additional water truck for home deliveries. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Currently, the management section is supporting all 35 
embassy residences, including supplying diesel to all and water to 
¶18.  This time consuming process is stretching the staff thin.  Post 
has ordered fuel pumps from Turkey which should arrive Monday to 
speed up diesel deliveries, which are currently only possible using 
55 gallon drums equipped with a hand pump. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The EAC noted that our residences are equipped with backup 
Q6.  (SBU) The EAC noted that our residences are equipped with backup 
generators which are not designed to provide 24-hour power for 
extended periods of time. 
 
---------- 
Next steps 
---------- 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The EAC discussed the possibility of authorized departure 
and agreed that it is not necessary or desirable at this time.  The 
CLO, FSHP and others on the EAC have been in touch with all embassy 
spouses.  All want to stay at post as long as there is generator 
power and water available.  Many would see a forced departure as an 
additional hardship.  The EAC does not assess that authorized 
departure would result in a significant decrease in post's 
footprint.  Further, even if some spouses were to leave, that would 
not, in itself, significantly reduce the burden on the management 
section to maintain housing. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The EAC does see merit, however, in planning for the 
possible consolidation of housing.  GSO noted that if post can 
decrease the number of residences it supports from 35 to 25 it would 
be better able to maintain those residences and continue to build 
improved capacity to manage its challenges.  While the EAC did not 
feel that post needs to consolidate immediately, management will 
develop a plan for presentation on Monday as to how we would 
consolidate.  The initial thinking was to first move single people 
into fewer residences, particularly those residences which have the 
best generators and water storage capacity.  Although the EAC 
considered consolidation a more effective approach than authorized 
departure in current conditions, it will continue to review the 
situation. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The EAC agreed to meet again on Monday in conjunction with 
Country Team.  At that time, we will review mission activities to 
see if there are any that should be postponed to relieve the 
management burden.  Some sections have already asked proposed TDYers 
to delay travel.  We are currently maintaining a full schedule of 
embassy activities but will look at where we can reduce. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The GSO has reminded embassy staff to keep a stock of 
food and potable water in residences in case we face shortages. 
Currently there is adequate food, although not much variety, in 
local stores (a lack of variety is not unusual at this time of 
year). 
 
¶11.  (SBU) The Management Officer will meet with the FSN Executive 
Committee later today.  So far, local staff are dealing well with 
the situation, although some are reporting transportation delays as 
taxis and transit vans have difficulty coping with the freezing 
weather.  The EAC agreed that we should continue to be flexible with 
regards to FSN working hours.  At a later point, we could consider 
reducing embassy working hours. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) A RIMC technician is arriving Monday to fix long-standing 
radio problems, and post expects as early as today to receive 
previously requested funding to purchase sufficient radios for all 
American staff. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Post has issued a Travel Alert suggesting that Americans 
limit non-essential travel to Tajikistan at this time. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) Post will hold two town hall meetings, one for the 
embassy American community and one for the larger American 
community, on Monday afternoon. 
 
JACOBSON