TFHA01: EMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE EARTHQUAKE SITREP as of 1800,

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000074 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT HA PGOV AID EAID SUBJECT: TFHA01: EMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE EARTHQUAKE SITREP as of 1800, Day 9 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Money transfer companies begin to deliver remittances. Ten thousand refugees camped on the Champs de Mars, with help from France and the U.S. Road congestion is reduced on the road corridor between the DR and Port-au-Prince, but travel time is still lengthy. The business community asked MINUSTAH to provide security for reopened factories, and pledged to re-open in weeks. The military estimates that the main port will operating at full capacity in six to eight weeks, and a private port says it will open in 10 days. All military and civilian hospital facilities in the Port-au-Prince area are filled with quake victims. End summary. CITY RESIDENTS BEGIN TO HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDS ¶2. (SBU) Some money transfer companies opened today, with huge crowds in front of several sites. These companies are the primary conduit for remittances sent to Haiti from the Haitian Diaspora abroad. The crowds were orderly and no MINUSTAH or PNH security were present. Banks plan to open January 23 and will allow withdrawals up to USD 2500 for essential purchases only. 10,000 REFUGEES CAMPED ON THE CHAMPS DE MARS ¶3. (SBU) On January 21, Ambassador Merten visited the Champs de Mars (the main avenue and park area adjacent to the Presidential Palace and Port-au-Prince's equivalent to the Washington, DC mall) with French Ambassador to Haiti Didier Le Bret and JTF Haiti Commander General Ken Keen. The Champs de Mars now houses earthquake refugees numbering approximately 10,000. The French and U.S. Governments are providing resources and supplies to improve conditions in this temporary community in the historic heart of Port-au-Prince. Ambassador Le Bret praised U.S. relief efforts and told Ambassador Merten that the French Embassy's efforts could not succeed without U.S. support. Merten assured Le Bret that U.S. support will continue. ROAD CONGESTION REDUCED BETWEEN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND PORT-AU-PRINCE ¶4. (SBU) The manager for the shipping company transporting relief supplies by land to Port-au-Prince from the Dominican border reported that traffic congestion on the route improved today. On January 20, the trip took five hours, and now it requires three. Normally, it is a one-hour trip. PRIVATE SECTOR REACHES OUT TO GOH, MINUSTAH ¶5. (SBU) The private sector reinforced its message of getting back to business in meetings with President Preval and UN Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Edmond Mulet on January 20. Business leaders met with Preval to express their support for his leadership and the GOH in its relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. They also met with SRSG Mulet to request MINUSTAH's help in maintaining security for their businesses. Businessman Richard Coles spoke on a radio broadcast and discussed the business community's plans to re-start and re-create the jobs lost due to the earthquake, particularly in the textile industry. Coles told EmbOff that he hopes the GOH and the Haitian population will realize they have the full support of the Haitian business community. Garment factory owner Alain Villard, who lost up to 500 workers under one of his factories that collapsed, told EmbOff that he could re-open his factory next week. However, Villard requires assistance retrieving remains and clearing debris from the building site. Rebuilding this factory would re-employ 500 to 1500 people in long-term jobs, according to Villard. Andy Apaid, who owns six garment factories, said that he expects to re-open his factories by the end of next week. MAIN PORT TO OPEN IN SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS ¶6. (SBU) The military unit responsible for re-constructing and reopening the main port in Port-au-Prince estimated that it would be restored to full capacity within six to eight weeks. The private Terminal Vareaux estimated that will be operational in 10 days. LA GONAVE ALSO SUFFERING ¶7. (SBU) A helicopter from the Carl S. Vinson visited the island of La Gonave on January 21 and found a village with 1,000 people without fuel or food. The aircraft distributed food and water to them and evacuated three patients for medical treatment. Food distribution went off without a hitch, with local residents organizing distribution of the aid among themselves. This again confirms that social structures in the countryside are still intact. ALL MEDICAL FACILITIES FILLED WITH QUAKE VICTIMS ¶8. (SBU) The military reported that all of its medical facilities, including its ships offshore, were full with quake victims. The Ministry of Health told the military to cease transporting patients to other hospitals outside of Port-au-Prince because, according to the Ministry, all of the country's hospitals were full. MERTEN