HAITI: RESCUE CONTINUES WHILE RELIEF AND LOGISTICAL ISSUES

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000060

SIPDIS
STATE FOR PRM, HA
NSC FOR CPRATT
USAID FOR USAID/A
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OTI, DCHA/CMM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PTER PREF HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: RESCUE CONTINUES WHILE RELIEF AND LOGISTICAL ISSUES
ARE ADDRESSED

REF: PORT AU PRINCE 54; PORT AU PRINCE 58


1. (U) Summary. After a record-breaking 12 rescues on January 17,
American search and rescue teams continue to search for survivors
in Port-au-Prince. Progress has been made in the last 48 hours to
address several limiting logistical issues, namely airport traffic
and management and a plan to provide fuel for organizations
transporting relief commodities. In addition, a recent U.S.
Government assessment of the capital's seaport indicates that the
likelihood of using the port to receive medium-sized shipments is
good. Due to limited and damaged infrastructure in Haiti, the U.N.
is also developing a significant support capacity in the Dominican
Republic to provide the humanitarian community with alternate
relief supply routes. End Summary.



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SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

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2. (U) To date, international urban search and rescue (USAR) teams
have rescued a total of 72 individuals throughout Port-au-Prince.
As of 2300 hours local time on January 18, American USAR teams had
performed 40 live rescues, including a two-year old child rescued
on January 18.




3. (U) According to the U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination
team, although international USAR teams have completed
reconnaissance missions in 100 percent of assigned areas in
Port-au-Prince, search and rescue activities will continue until
the Government of Haiti (GoH) officially decides to cease
operations.



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EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES

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4. (U) On January 18, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) consigned the following emergency relief
supplies to the International Organization for Migration: 8,448
hygiene kits, 48 kitchen sets, 400 rolls of plastic sheeting, 2,050
10-liter collapsible water containers, and 48 tents. The tents
were provided from U.S. Department of Defense excess property
stock. On January 18, a USAID/OFDA-funded flight arrived with 120
rolls of plastic sheeting; two additional USAID/OFDA relief supply
flights are scheduled to land shortly before midnight.



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FUEL SUPPLIES

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5. (U) At a January 18 U.N. Logistics Cluster meeting, U.N.
representatives indicated that WFP is working on a plan to import
and sell fuel to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for relief
operations. To organize the fuel distribution process, the U.N. is
establishing a coupon system, primarily for NGOs, and will announce
a fuel collection location on January 19. The U.N. has informed
NGOs not to attempt to import fuel on their own, indicating that
fuel has been barred by customs officials on multiple occasions.


In addition, the private sector is actively importing fuel from the
Dominican Republic - the primary reason cited for disallowing
small-scale importation.



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THE AIRPORT

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5. (U) According to participants in a January 18 U.N. Logistics
Cluster meeting, a more organized system at the airport is in
place, resulting in fewer delayed and diverted flights. NGOs
chartering flights have received specific instructions to arrange
and confirm a landing slot, assigned in 20-minute intervals, prior
to departure. The U.N. continues to work with airport authorities
to resolve outstanding issues, but confirms that priority has been
given to flights carrying food and water.




6. (U) The GoH has also positioned a representative at the airport
to assist in moving commodities and equipment to and from the
facility. NGOs have been asked to complete cargo forms and include
the license plates of trucks entering the airport to facilitate the
process. As of January 18, the GoH indicated that only vehicles
listed will be allowed on airport grounds.



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THE SEAPORT

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7. (U) On January 18, USAID/Haiti staff visited the seaport in
Port-au-Prince, accompanied by U.S. Navy port operations
specialists and U.S. Army security and logistics specialists.
According to USAID/Haiti staff, the docking area and facility have
sustained limited earthquake damage, namely cracks, but remain in
overall good condition. The assessment team also reported that the
port's dock is now submerged, in addition to two offloading cranes
that fell into the water.




8. (U) U.S. Navy engineers assessed the remaining dock handling
platform and noted that it remains operable for medium-sized
shipments. However, engineers reported some uncertainty, due to
potentially unseen underwater damage to the loading dock and piers.
As a result, a Navy dive team of engineers immediately evaluated
the loading dock and piers' structural integrity to further assess
the weight capacity. The dive team will release assessment
findings on January 19. If the dock and piers are found to be
stable and useable, a new crane will be installed to hasten
offloading.



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THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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9. (U) Due to limited and damaged infrastructure in Haiti, the
U.N. has begun developing a significant support capacity in the
Dominican Republic to provide the humanitarian community with
additional ports of entry. The U.N. has also established and
staffed a logistics cluster in Santo Domingo to assist with the


receipt and transfer of relief supplies into Haiti's
earthquake-affected areas. The cluster has obtained a warehouse in
Santo Domingo for this purpose and hired security personnel.
According to U.N. officials, the U.N. Stabilization Mission in
Haiti (MINUSTAH) will escort Haiti-bound relief supply vehicles
from the border to Port-au-Prince. In addition, NGO World Vision
has established an eight-passenger shuttle to transport support
staff to and from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince.
MERTEN