HURRICANE RIPPLE EFFECTS CONTINUE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001418

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: HURRICANE RIPPLE EFFECTS CONTINUE

PORT AU PR 00001418 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Summary: Crippling post-hurricane fuel shortages
in both the north and the south of Haiti are showing some
signs of abatement, but the ramifications continue in
beleaguered storm zones. Haiti's reliance on Port-au-Prince
as its sole petroleum distribution point highlights the need
for decentralized fuel storage and distribution and reliable
transportation routes. The towns of Les Cayes and Cap
Haitien continue to experience the ripple effects of scarce
resources: food is more expensive, electricity is more
unreliable than ever, and already-delayed school openings
scheduled for October 6 promise additional challenges for
regional authorities and residents. End summary.

WASHED-OUT ROADS IMPEDE RECOVERY
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2. (U) The four hurricanes and tropical storms that
battered eighty percent of Haiti in August and September also
destroyed roads and bridges used for fuel transport from the
capital to the regions. The main land transport routes from
the capital leading north and south remain treacherous,
allowing only large trucks with high clearances to reach
their destination. The nearly complete lack of fuel in Cap
Haitien in the north and Les Cayes in the south affects
nearly every basic necessity of life in these and surrounding
areas, from basic hospital care to recharging cell phone
batteries.

CAP HAITIEN
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3. (U) Cap Haitien Departmental Police Chief Joanny Caneus
told Embassy political specialist September 30 that the
little fuel available in the city remains very expensive and
costs as much as USD 15.00 USD per gallon, up from the
pre-storm price of about USD 6 per gallon. (Note: Cap
Haitien Mayor Michel St. Croix said in an October 3 press
conference that gasoline costs 500 Haitien gourdes * USD
12.50 per gallon, and diesel fuel 275 Haitian gourdes * USD
7.00 per gallon. End note.) Traffic in the city is far
below normal levels. Though the numbers of cars and trucks
on the streets have increased over the last couple of weeks,
they are mainly commercial, not privately-owned vehicles.
Caneus also said that electricity in Cap-Haitian is
''non-existent.'' Cap-Haitien parents increasingly tell him
that they can no longer afford school fees and thus, will not
be able to send their children to school. Konbit Sante, a
Maine-based health care NGO based in Cap Haitian, told the
Portland Press Herald on September 25, ''Without power, the
one well servicing the largest hospital in the north of Haiti
cannot pump water, the operating room cannot function and the
hospital's ability to provide even basic care is crippled.''

LES CAYES
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4. (U) To the south, Les Cayes faces similar issues.
Haitian National Police Departmental Director of the South,
Henriot Toussaint, reported October 1 that fuel remains
nearly unobtainable, except at exorbitant prices on the black
market. He estimates, too, that electricity flows for
approximately three hours per week. Located in an
agriculturally-rich province, Les Cayes has seen floods
destroy many of its crops and drowned much livestock.
Residents have depleted their food stores since the storms
and prices for staple food items such as rice are rising.


5. (U) In Les Cayes, which has a reputation for scholastic
achievement and participation, parents are telling Toussaint
they still plan to send their children to classes when
schools open October 6. This is, no doubt, partly due to
parochial school programs which provide free school lunches
to students.

TO SCHOOL OR NOT TO SCHOOL
--------------


6. (U) Despite many parents' best intentions, the first day

PORT AU PR 00001418 002.2 OF 002


of school promises problems. Haitian media notes that many
schools are functioning as IDP shelters whose inhabitants
refuse to leave due to the lack of alternative housing
options. Teachers have also suffered losses of and damage to
property and may face difficulties returning to work.


7. (U) Comment: Neither Cap Haitien nor Les Cayes suffered
serious storm damage or flooding. However, damage to Haiti's
vulnerable roads and bridges is starving these cities of
fuel, electricity, and other supplies, and impeding hurricane
recovery efforts. This situation points to the need not only
to decentralize fuel distribution, but also to reduce the
vulnerabilities in Haiti's ground transport network.
SANDERSON