Chilean Response to Haitian Earthquake

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000038 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR PREL CI HA SUBJECT: Chilean Response to Haitian Earthquake ¶1. (U) Chile has taken or will take the following efforts in response to the earthquake that hit Port au Prince, Haiti. Initial Chilean Actions ¶2. (U) Chile has more than 500 troops in Chile as part of MINUSTAH. The Chilean armed forces operated their three helicopters in Haiti through the night to evacuate people to an Argentine field hospital. Chilean General Ricardo Toro, the deputy commander of MINUSTAH, acted as commander of MINUSTAH in the absence of the Brazilian commander, who was in Brazil. Offers of Assistance ¶3. (SBU) Chile has announced that it will send two airplanes, a 767 and a C-130, with doctors, medical supplies, and other emergency equipment to Haiti. The first of the flights is schedule to arrive in Port au Prince at 9 am on January 14. According to the commander of the Chilean army, one of the planes will first stop in Miami to acquire earth removal equipment for use by the Chilean engineering company in Haiti. The Chilean Navy has an amphibious ship, LST Valdivia, on standby to send to Haiti, pending guidance from the Chilean government; if it goes, it will carry medical supplies. ¶4. (U) According to an announcement from the President's office, Chile is sending more than 20 doctors, two victim identification experts, six search and rescue specialists, and two dogs. It is also sending 12 tons of non perishable food, tents, bedding, disposable diapers, three tons of medicine and medical supplies. Request for U.S. Coordination/Logistical Assistance ¶5. (U) Foreign Minister Fernandez called the Ambassador on January 13 to inform him that the first plane will depart Chile at 2 am on January 14, arriving in Port au Prince at 9 am. The Foreign Minister said that Chile is concerned about distribution of the supplies after arrival, and requested USG assistance with distribution. The Foreign Minister's office subsequently clarified that Chile's principal concern is transportation from the airport to distribution centers, given the poor state of roads in Port au Prince. Contact information in the Foreign Minister's office was provided to the Department's Haiti Task Force. Senior Chilean Officials ¶6. (U) President Bachelet announced that she has designated Juan Gabriel Valdes as the Presidential Delegate to Haiti. Valdes was the first head of MINUSTAH. Valdes will travel on the Chilean plane arriving on January 14. Lt. General Avedano, the new Chief of Defense Staff, will also travel to Haiti to assess the situation. Missing Chileans ¶7. (U) Maria Teresa Dowling, the wife of General Toro, was visiting her husband when the earthquake struck. The building where she was staying collapsed, and she is missing. Andrea Loi, a UN employee, is also missing. Presidential Statement SANTIAGO 00000038 002 OF 002 ¶8. (U) President Bachelet expressed "in the name of my government and all the Chilean people, our solidarity and support for Haiti in these difficult hours that it is living as a result of an earthquake that has devastated it. The images have been devastating." She also highlighted the efforts of the Chilean Armed Forces in Chile, and noted her concern for the two missing Chileans. SIMONS