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O R 231726Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0183
INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUMIESS/SOUTHCOM IESS MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SAN SALVADOR 001117 
 
SIPDIS 
SOUTHCOM FOR GENERAL FRASER, GENERAL KEEN, AND THE EL SALVADOR WORKING GROUP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS EAID ES
SUBJECT: Mission Priorities for Disaster Relief Assistance 
 
REF: 09 SAN SALVADOR 1172; 09 SAN SALVADOR 1081; 09 SAN SALVADOR 1057 
09 SAN SALVADOR FTR 2512 
 
¶1.       (SBU) Summary: Embassy San Salvador sees it in the United 
States national interest to offer a robust package of disaster 
relief assistance to President Funes and the GOES.  The GOES has 
requested, at the highest levels, USG assistance to recover from 
the devastation caused by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida.  During a 
series of meetings that WHA DAS Julissa Reynoso had with senior 
GOES leaders, the government  prioritized El Salvador's  urgent 
needs  for assistance with reconstruction, rehabilitation, and 
disaster mitigation.  Post strongly urges beyond the aid delivered 
in the emergency relief phase, additional resources to allow USAID 
and MILGROUP/SOUTHCOM to relocate and construct houses, rebuild 
strategic bridges and other vital government services (e.g. 
schools, health clinics potable water, etc...), and revitalize 
crops and livelihoods affected by the storm.  Our vigorous response 
will validate President Funes's view of the U.S. as the strategic 
partner of choice for El Salvador.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.       (U) The November 7-8 torrential rains associated with 
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida (Reftels) destroyed over 3000 homes 
and left thousands more at high risk of danger and in need of 
relocation.  Schools and health clinics were destroyed or are in 
danger. Crops and livelihoods were affected, leaving the potential 
for a significant humanitarian disaster in the coming months as 
agricultural jobs in the sugar, bean, and coffee fields expire and 
families who rely on subsistence agriculture in between harvests 
find their food security jeopardized. 
 
 
 
¶3.       The attached Microsoft Excel spreadsheet summarizes the 
information detailed in paragraphs 4-8 below. 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
Focusing Existing Resources on Hardest Hit Areas 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
 
 
¶4.       (U) In response to the Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida 
disaster, both USAID and MILGROUP/SOUTHCOM shifted the focus of 
certain bilateral assistance programs into the affected area to 
maintain a continuing stream of USG aid.  USAID redirected 
approximately USD 1.5 million of existing funds to restore 
livelihoods affected by the storm.  In addition, USAID is working 
with the GOES to change the geographic focus of USD 10 million of 
anti-financial crisis funds to the affected area.  USAID's Office 
of Foreign Disaster Assistance is finalizing two grants totaling 
USD 1 million to provide potable water, temporary housing, and 
revitalization of livelihoods. 
 
 
 
¶5.       MILGROUP/SOUTHCOM also shifted FY2010 Phase III Beyond the 
Horizon (BTH) projects, including 3 Medical Readiness Training 
Exercises (MEDRETEs) and an engineering exercise, into areas hit by 
the storm.  MILGROUP maintains access to Joint Task Force - Bravo 
assets and plans to schedule additional Medical Civil Action 
Programs (MEDCAPs), about one per quarter, in the affected area. 
MILGROUP is also managing several minimal cost Humanitarian 
Assistance projects, including minor repairs to schools and 
clinics, restoring water to affected communities and other 
projects.  SOUTHCOM plans to conduct a Phase I BTH exercise in 
early 2011, maintaining the focus on these same areas. 
MILGROUP/SOUTHCOM is redirecting USD 650,000 of prior-year approved 
Overseas Humanitarian Disaster Assistance and Civil Aid (OHDACA) 
funds toward drilling wells for potable water and reconstruction of 
a school.  MILGROUP/SOUTHCOM  is also providing USD 1 million for 
the construction of an emergency operations center and warehouse. 
 
 
 
¶6.       The GOES has requested an estimated USD 8 million in FY 
2010 funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food 
for Progress (FFP) program.  The main objective of the program is 
to implement trade-capacity-building and economic-development 
activities which will create opportunities for micro, small, and 
 
SAN SALVAD 00001117  002 OF 003 
 
 
medium agricultural, industrial, and services enterprises, with a 
focus on the affected area.  During a November 12 meeting in 
Washington with El Salvador's Minister of Agriculture, Manuel 
Sevilla, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said USDA would work 
to expedite El Salvador's request for FPF funds, given the severity 
of the Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida disaster.  USDA's review of El 
Salvador's FFP request remains pending. 
 
 
 
------------------------------------ 
 
More Funds Urgently Needed 
 
------------------------------------ 
 
 
 
¶7.       (U) In close coordination with the GOES and other donors, 
Post offers the following list of priorities for additional USG 
assistance to El Salvador: 
 
 
 
*         USD 1 million to build 10,000 permanent homes: With a 
focus on disaster mitigation, the USG would contract the rebuilding 
of homes that were destroyed by the storm, and move or reconstruct 
other homes currently located in high-risk areas.  This project 
would provide local employment and significant economic stimulus. 
These funds could come from SOUTHCOM or via a USAID supplemental 
appropriation. 
 
*         USD 5 million to reconstruct four major bridges: 
Complementing a Japan International Cooperation Agency commitment 
of USD 3.1 million to rebuild the Melara bridge in La Libertad 
Department, Post recommends that USG funds, be directed to the 
reconstruction of the 34.5 meter Acahuapa bridge, with an estimated 
cost of USD 1.5 million, as well as the San Antonio bridge, at a 
cost of USD 1.3 million.  Both bridges were  identified by the GOES 
as urgent priorities for reconstruction to reopen key economic 
arteries.  Post recommends that additional funds be allocated for 
the reconstruction of the  Jiboa 1B bridge (USD 1.3 million) and 
the Verapaz bridge (USD 900,000).  These funds could come from 
SOUTHCOM or via a USAID supplemental appropriation. 
 
*         USD 2 million to provide transportation for 43 modular 
bridges purchased by the GOES: The GOES plans to purchase 43 
temporary modular bridges at a cost of USD 12 million from up to 
three U.S. companies to replace bridges destroyed or damaged by the 
storm.  The GOES has requested that the USG assist with 
transporting these bridges from their place of manufacture to El 
Salvador.  The GOES requested air transportation to expedite 
reconstruction of the bridges, but land and sea transport may be 
more cost-effective solutions.  DOD air or sea assets could 
transport the bridges, or additional DOD/SOUTHCOM resources could 
pay for part or all of the transportation costs. 
 
*         USD 4.5 million to relocate six schools and three medical 
clinics: The GOES has identified six schools and three medical 
clinics currently located in high-risk areas.  USG funds from 
SOUTHCOM or an additional USAID supplemental would be used to 
relocate or reconstruct these schools and clinics in safer areas. 
 
*         USD 750,000 for early warning systems and disaster 
prevention training at the national, departmental, and local 
levels: GOES officials repeatedly make reference to a municipality 
in the affected area that suffered severe material damages, but not 
a single loss of life.  A functioning early warning system and well 
trained relief officials in government decisively mobilized and 
saved lives.  The GOES is looking to replicate disaster prevention 
best practices.  This could be a joint SOUTHCOM/USAID effort with 
funding from SOUTHCOM and USAID/OFDA. 
 
*         USD 5 million for the construction of integrated regional 
emergency operations centers and warehouses: These funds would be 
used to construct five regional-level emergency operations centers 
and warehouses.  The aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida 
revealed a lack of coordination between the national government and 
departmental relief coordinators, as well as vulnerabilities 
related to the lack of stockpiled relief supplies on site at the 
affected areas. The funds could be provided through a USAID 
supplemental request or from additional SOUTHCOM funds. 
 
 
 
¶8.       (U) If additional DOD or other sources of funding are made 
available beyond levels to pay for projects described in paragraph 
 
SAN SALVAD 00001117  003 OF 003 
 
 
6, Post recommends committing those funds to the following 
strategic priorities: 
 
 
 
*         Reconstruct/Relocate additional homes away from high-risk 
areas - approximately USD 10,000 each 
 
*         Reconstruct additional bridges - ranging from USD 50,000 
to 2.5 million each 
 
*         Relocate/reconstruct additional schools and health 
clinics - approximately USD 500,000 each 
 
*         Construct additional emergency operation centers and 
warehouses - approximately USD 500,000 each 
 
*         Stockpile emergency relief supplies in warehouses - 
approximately USD 750,000 across the network 
 
*         Offer additional training for first responders and 
disaster relief coordinators - USD 1.2 million 
 
*         Additional Anti-financial crisis stimulus funds for job 
reactivation in affected areas  - USD 8 million 
 
 
 
¶9.       (SBU) Comment: The GOES, up to and including President 
Funes, has seen the USG response to this recent natural disaster as 
justification and reinforcement of Funes's decision to prioritize 
relations with the USA.  Moving forward with the projects described 
above will leave a long-lasting impact. 
BLAU