Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRUSSELS43
2010-01-15 05:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO HAITI: OVER 70
how-toVZCZCXRO8627 OO RUEHIK DE RUEHBS #0043 0150513 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 150513Z JAN 10 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9905 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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
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
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