WikiLeaks
TFHA01: AUSTRALIA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HAITI
Jan. 19, 2010, 10:05 p.m.
B. SECSTATE 4854 C. CANBERRA 37 1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4. 2. (SBU) Australia's initial contribution to the Haiti relief effort - A$10 million (ref C) will be completed this week. Econoff conveyed message in ref B to Ausaid's Thanh Le, Manager for Humanitarian and Emergency Response on January 19. Le said that Australia's contribution breaks down as follows: -- A$4.5 million already provided to the World Food Program; -- A$2.5 million to Australian NGOs, to be provided by the end of this week; -- A$1 million already provided to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; -- A$1 million to be provided to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; -- A$1 million to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. 3. (SBU) Le said that Ausaid and DFAT will request additional funding from FM Smith for use in the upcoming reconstruction phase. According to Le, Australia will coordinate with CARICOM and other partners before determining the scope of follow-on reconstruction assistance. 4. (SBU) Le asked for clarification of the proposed Friends of Haiti Group meeting in Canada on January 25. He said the GOA was unclear whether this meeting was intended to serve as a coordination meeting for a larger pledging conference later in the year, in which case Ministerial representation would not be needed, or the actual pledging meeting itself. If the latter, Smith or another senior delegate would likely attend. Post requests any additional detail about the scope and purpose of the proposed meeting. Point of contact is MDRO David Atkinson, 61 02 6214-5810, atkinsondr@state.gov. BLEICH