Provision of Emergency Disaster Relief Assistance to Twelve Countries Affected by the Asian Tsunami, including the Drawdown Under Section 506(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as Amended, of Articles and Services

President George W. Bush authorized up to $65 million in Defense Department articles and services for emergency disaster relief to twelve countries affected by the December 2004 Asian tsunami. The determination directs the Secretaries of Defense and State to coordinate assistance and invokes section 506(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act for the drawdown.

Federal Register Open PDF 70 FR 1787

Impact dates

Date TBD
Provide disaster assistance and drawdown articles/services
Date TBD
Report determination to Congress and arrange Federal Register publication

Key directives

Secretary of Defense to provide disaster assistance to 12 countries as determined necessary with Secretary of State
Drawdown of up to $65 million of defense articles and services from DOD inventory
Secretary of State to report determination to Congress
Secretary of State to arrange Federal Register publication

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Disaster relief assistance authorized
Drawdown of up to $65 million in DOD articles and services

Near term (90d)

Implementation of relief operations by DOD
Coordination between Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State on assistance determinations

Long term

Congressional reporting by Secretary of State
Federal Register publication

Risks & tensions

Coordination required between Defense and State on 'as determined' language creates potential interagency tension
No explicit deadline for assistance delivery or congressional reporting
Burma (Myanmar) included among recipients despite governance concerns; document predates major U.S. sanctions shifts