BELGIUM: DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO HAITI: OVER 70

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000043 SIPDIS STATE FOR TASK FORCE-1 STATE FOR EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI BE HA SUBJECT: BELGIUM: DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO HAITI: OVER 70 EMERGENCY WORKERS IN COUNTRY ¶1. A 58-person team of emergency workers from the Belgian Government arrived in Haiti the afternoon of January 14, according to the GOB's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The B-FAST team (Belgian First Aid and Support Team) consists of medical aid workers and specially-trained agents, equipped to service a field hospital and to provide search and rescue assistance; the team brought four search dogs, along with the field hospital equipment and a water purification unit. In addition, the Airbus A330 from Belgium's Ministry of Defense carried 13 volunteers (medical aid workers and firemen) from the Flemish regional government, along with one consular officer from the GOB's Ministry of Foreigh Affairs. Belgium has no embassy in Port-au-Prince, only an honorary consul. Press reports have indicated an estimated 60 to 100 Belgians were in Haiti at the time of the earthquake; as of the evening of January 14, there had been no reports of casualties yet. The B-FAST team is expected to remain approximately 10 days. ¶2. The cost of Belgium's effort is approximately 451,750 euros. The Walloon regional government and French-language community of Belgium are contributing 100,000 euros towards that cost. According to unconfirmed press reports, Belgian Minister for Cooperation and Development Charles Michel also pledged one million euros in immediate relief, mostly to UNICEF and the International Red Cross. ¶3. Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere is scheduled to inform House members of the Belgian Parliament about the Belgian response sometime the evening of January 14. GUTMAN