Cablegate: Nepal: Two Nepal Army Battalions Assisting In

VZCZCXRO2865
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKT #0046 0201238
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201238Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1284
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7273
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7616
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2966
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 5657
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6753
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3432
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0057
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4912
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3798
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000046

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR STACY WILLIAMS, MELISSA ROSSER, MAURA ONEILL,
HAITI TF ONE.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON HA KDEM MARR NP PGOV PHUM PREF PREL
SUBJECT: NEPAL: TWO NEPAL ARMY BATTALIONS ASSISTING IN
HAITI RESCUE EFFORTS

REF: SECSTATE 004854

1. (U) SCA PDAS Patrick Moon discussed the earthquake in
Haiti with Chief of the Army Staff Gurung on January 19.
General Gurung reported that Nepal had two battalions serving
in the UN Peace Keeping operation, MINUSTAH, in Haiti when
the earthquake struck. One soldier was injured and two Nepal
Army vehicles were damaged.

2. (U) Since the earthquake, the Nepal Army has provided
significant assistance in the rescue and relief operations.
The 1,079 army personnel in Haiti have established temporary
medical and evacuation centers in their battalion locations.
Doctors from the battalions are treating injured in the
wreckage and in medical centers. Army troops are patroling
and providing general law and order as the security situation
deteriorates. Other troops have been mobilized for general
relief assistance and to escort and distribute relief
materials to victims. The Nepal Army is also providing
temporary shelter to some of the UN personnel who have been
displaced.

3. (SBU) Other than its involvement in the UN Mission, Nepal
has not offered additional humanitarian support.
Should the UN request additional troops for the Haiti
mission, Nepal would consider such a request but would
require logistical support to transport troops and equipment.
ORDWAY

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