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. -------------- SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS -------------- ¶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. -------------- EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES -------------- ¶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. �A; -------------- FUEL SUPPLIES -------------- ¶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. -------------- THE AIRPORT -------------- ¶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. -------------- THE SEAPORT -------------- ¶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. -------------- THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC -------------- ¶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