VZCZCXRO9247
PP RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHDF RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHNH RUEHROV
DE RUEHKO #1261 1300721
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 090721Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4090
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 4451
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3233
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 9652
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2336
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 9250
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 9730
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3313
UNCLAS TOKYO 001261
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS:AARON COPE; PLEASE PASS TO AID/OFDA:ROB
THAYER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL BM JA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO
CYCLONE NARGIS
REF: SECSTATE 48651
1.(SBU) As of May 9, the Government of Japan has decided to
extend emergency assistance up to USD 10 million to Burma in
response to the catastrophe caused by the large scale cyclone
Nargis. MOFA International Cooperation Bureau Deputy
Director General Masato Watanabe informed AID Counselor that
the bulk of these funds would be channeled through UNICEF,
UNHCR, and WFP.
2. (SBU) DDG Watanabe expressed the concern that the entry
restrictions on these UN and country relief organizations are
a major barrier, inhibiting assistance reaching the people in
need. He said that MOFA Deputy Minister Kenichiro Sasae
meeting May 9 with the Burma's Ambassador to Japan, Hla
Myint, said Japan expects Burma to accept international
organization and other countries' assistance and relief staff
without discrimination, so that this and other emergency
assistance can be delivered to the people in need. This same
message, Watanabe said, is being delivered to the Government
of Burma by the Japanese Ambassador in Rangoon.
3. (SBU) Prior to the May 9 announcement of USD 10 million of
emergency assistance, the Government of Japan delivered on
May 7 approximately USD 250,000 in generators and tents by
commercial aircraft to Rangoon. MOFA through its Ambassador
in Rangoon (Nogawa) informed the Burmese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs that the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) stands ready to send its emergency medical teams.
This offer of emergency medical teams was again repeated in
Burma when the first tranche of assistance was delivered to
Burma's Ministry of Social Affairs.
4. (SBU) Also on May 7, the GOJ decided to provide a second
tranche of in-kind assistance (blankets, plastic sheets,
plastic canteens, portable water tanks and sleeping mats)
equivalent to approximately USD 320,000. These supplies are
at JICA's Singapore warehouse. DDG Watanabe said that this
tranche would be arriving by commercial aircraft on May 9,
but could not confirm during his meeting with AIDCouns hat it
had indeed arrived.
5. (SBU) Again DDG Watanabe raised his concern that UN and
donor country relief organizations must have access to assist
the Burmese people. Japan Platform, Japan's NGO emergency
relief umbrella organization similar to the U.S. NGO
InterAction, has prepared an emergency response package, but
is also being denied entry.
DONOVAN