VZCZCXRO1506
OO RUEHAST RUEHCN RUEHDH RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC
DE RUEHIN #0979 2250931
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130931Z AUG 09
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 4669
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0156
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2111
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS TAIPEI 000979 
 
AIDAC 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC AND CA/OCS, BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA 
REGIONAL ADVISOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS MCAP MARR AEMR CASC PGOV SENV XE TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN REQUESTS USG TYPHOON RELIEF ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: TAIPEI 974 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST - PLEASE SEE PARAs 3 and 4. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Andrew Hsia contacted 
A/DIR August 13 to offer thanks for the U.S. contribution to 
the Taiwan Red Cross relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon 
Morakot (ref) and to request additional U.S. assistance.  A 
large number of people remain isolated in afflicted areas, 
without adequate housing or a reliable supply of potable 
water.  Health officials are concerned about the possibility 
of disease as residents return to homes contaminated by flood 
waters. 
 
¶3. (SBU) While Taiwan authorities have most of the equipment 
needed to handle the situation, Hsia said, responders have 
identified a number of specific needs.  Specifically, Taiwan 
iss seeking U.S. and other foreign assistance in providing 
any or all of the following: 
 
- several heavy-lift helicopters capable of transporting 
excavators and dump trucks of at least 32 tons. 
 
- 1000 temporary shelters. 
 
- 100,000 bottles (300-500ml) phenol disinfectant. 
 
- 200,000 bottles chlorine tablets. 
 
- 100,000 liters N-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. 
 
- 1000 portable sterilizer units.  MOFA did not have specific 
model information, but said disaster relief experts should be 
familiar with the PCO ("pest control operator") sprayer 
equipment used in this type of work. 
 
- 500 automatic sterilizer units.  MOFA also did not have 
specific model information, but said disaster relief experts 
should be familiar with the PCO ("pest control operator") 
sprayer equipment used in this type of work. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Hsia emphasized that the most pressing need, which 
only the United States or Japan can meet, is for heavy-lift 
helicopters to convey earthmoving equipment to the site of 
the hardest-hit areas.  He said this will most likely require 
the service of U.S. pilots familiar with the aircraft, and 
acknowledged this could be an issue.  Nevertheless, this is 
one of Taiwan's most critical needs which it cannot meet on 
its own. 
WANG