TFHA01: COLOMBIA COORDINATING CLOSELY WITH USG ON HAITI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 000053 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON KPKO PREL PGOV CO HA SUBJECT: TFHA01: COLOMBIA COORDINATING CLOSELY WITH USG ON HAITI RELIEF REF: STATE 4854; STATE 4909; BOGOTA 136 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The ChargC) thanked President Uribe for Colombian disaster assistance to Haiti on January 19. Uribe acknowledged the importance of aiding Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake and said that Colombia is sending Colombian National Police (CNP) search and rescue teams, additional police through MINUSTAH, and a deployable field medical detachment. President Uribe publicly called for clarification regarding the responsibilities of each country during the reconstruction effort. Uribe stressed that the GOC will continue to coordinate fully with U.S. authorities on assistance efforts. A Colombian Navy ship departed on January 19, carrying 333 long tons of relief supplies. An additional 1,200 tons of privately donated assistance via the Colombian Red Cross will begin to depart for Haiti on January 21. Colombian aircraft capable of airlifting supplies are on standby. Colombian assets in Haiti will be under the Joint Task Force (JTF) HQ for Unified Response tactical control (TACON) at GOC request. USSOUTHCOM has approved the use of MILGRP support flights to transport Colombian assistance to Haiti, using what would have been the empty return leg of travel back to the U.S. with a capacity of up to 120,000 pounds of cargo. End Summary. CHARGC0 THANKS PRESIDENT FOR AID EFFORTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The ChargC) thanked Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for Colombian disaster assistance to Haiti (per ref A) during a meeting at the presidential palace on January 19. He added that Colombia's assistance demonstrated its progress from aid recipient to donor and regional partner. The ChargC) also complimented the generosity of the Colombian people in providing private donations to Haiti. Uribe acknowledged the importance of helping Haiti in the wake of the devastation caused by the earthquake. He reported that Colombia is providing police through MINUSTAH, police search and rescue teams (with dogs),and a deployable field medical detachment. Uribe also said the Colombian Navy is sending a ship, ARC Cartagena de Indias, loaded with approximately 333 tons of humanitarian assistance supplies. (Note: The search and rescue teams have yet to depart due to delays in obtaining landing slots in Port au Prince. End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) Colombia mobilized military and police assistance almost immediately after the earthquake occurred, including five flights carrying 50 tons of humanitarian assistance. President Uribe indicated that Colombia's military hospital would stay in Haiti as long as it is needed and remain under the command and control of the JTF Unified Response. The President added that Colombian assistance has been and will continue to be coordinated with the USG. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior and Justice are the key contacts for Colombian assistance efforts. DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON REGISTERING AID WITH UN -------------- ¶4. (U) We requested that the GOC register all government and private sector assistance through the Financial Tracking System of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) per ref B. Ministry of Foreign Affairs North America Director Adriana Maldonado said she would pass the information along to the appropriate GOC authorities. ¶5. (SBU) Maldonado requested clarification regarding the responsibilities of each country during the reconstruction efforts. President Uribe publicly called for a coordination mechanism that assigns specific tasks to each donor. He proposed replicating the assistance effort used in Colombia's coffee region after an earthquake in 1999. BOGOTA 00000053 002 OF 002 COLOMBIAN MILITARY SENDS LOGISTICS SHIP WITH SUPPLIES -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) The Colombian Navy ship, ARC Cartagena de Indias, departed on January 19 for Haiti loaded with relief supplies (food, medicine, cleaning supplies, blankets, mattresses, and coffins). The Ministry of Interior and the Red Cross of Colombia coordinated on the supplies aboard the vessel, which is carrying 333 long tons of cargo, including 58,000 gallons of potable water, and 110,000 gallons of diesel. The ship -- which has a working water plant and a helicopter deck -- is transporting 13 Colombian Red Cross volunteers, including four doctors and four nurses. The ship is expected to arrive in Haiti in just over two days. COLOMBIAN RED CROSS MOBILIZING SUPPLIES AND CASH DONATIONS -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) Officials from the Colombian Red Cross report that 1,200 tons of humanitarian assistance, mostly food, is destined for Haiti, departing approximately January 21. Additionally, the Red Cross has received approximately $600,000 in cash donations from Colombian donors. Private Colombian donations in kind and cash continue to flow into the Colombian Red Cross. MILGROUP COORDINATING LOGISTICS WITH MOD -------------- (SBU) MILGROUP is facilitating Colombian aid efforts in several ways. It is coordinating Colombian humanitarian assistance efforts with USSOUTHCOM and the Joint Task Force (JTF) HQ for Unified Response. This includes the deployment of a Colombian Military field medical detachment, the embarkation of the Colombian logistics ship, and assistance in coordinating the entry of Colombian aircraft at the airport in Port au Prince. The MILGROUP has also facilitated the authorization of U.S. Air Force cargo planes, which regularly fly into Colombia, to carry Colombian personnel and cargo to Haiti. These planes can carry up to 120,000 pounds of cargo. NICHOLS