SDO Sit Rep 10 - Haiti Earthquake response

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000148 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID CMGT AMGT MARR DR HA SUBJECT: SDO Sit Rep 10 - Haiti Earthquake response REF: A) SDO 132, B) SDO 134 ¶1. Embassy Santo Domingo Sitrep 10, further to reftels A and B: ¶2. Border issues update: a) Many entities are working on the DR-Haiti border at Jimani, including the United Nations (including the International Organization for Migration, IOM),the Red Cross, and several GoDR agencies, including the Migration Service (DGM),the Specialized Frontier Corps (CESFRONT),Civil Defense, Public HEALTH and Social Assistance (SESPAS) and Santo Domingo Firemen. Several CESFRONT and Dominican military personnel oversee and control distribution from at least ONE civilian gas station in town. b) A source from IOM reports that, while "nobody is counting," it appears that more people "than normal" are crossing the border from Haiti to the DR at Jimani. IOM reports this is also happening in other places (e.g., Pedernales, Dajabon) along the border. At the same time, a majority of those coming in via Jimani seem to be moving on to Santo Domingo. We have heard a few reports of minor rent-seeking from officials at checkpoints on both sides of the border, a practice that is reportedly not uncommon in normal ties. c) Relations between the GoDR, civil society and multilateral agencies remain good, but IOM warns that this is because "nobody has done anything hard yet." The next phase, involving the issue of repatriation may prove more difficult. IOM will seek a written agreement with the GoDR to serve as a basis for how to manage the voluntary repatriation phase. At the same time, there is a need for "assets" (tents, among other items) and a need to ascertain who will provide security (MINUSTAH or Haitian police?),if camps are established (at the Fond Parisien site, or closer to the Haitians' original homes). (Note: There will be, and probably has been, some "spontaneous" repatriation already, i.e., Haitians going back on their own. End Note) d) As regards security, MINUSTAH escorts convoys, but the process is haphazard and the timing often uncertain. Moreover, MINUSTAH provides minimal, possibly inadequate, numbers of soldiers for these convoys. USG-related convoys receive Diplomatic Security escorts to/from Jimani to Embassy Port-au-Prince. e) Media sources report that more than 15,000 victims of the earthquake have been / are receiving medical attention in Dominican hospitals. Concerned about infectious diseases, the DR military is vaccinating those personnel entering Haiti, while medical personnel who may have been exposed to the blood of patients from Haiti are being placed in prophylaxis treatment for HIV. Injured patients are tested for HIV, but no positive results have been reported thus far. ¶3. Evacuees / Consular: a) Last night, four buses arrived in Santo Domingo (about 1:00 AM local time) and checked some 150 evacuees into local hotels. All but 24 of those evacuees were boarded today onto military flights bound for CONUS; the remaining 24 were booked commercially for travel. However, at the request of Port-au-Prince, SDO has suspended bus evacuation runs, until Monday, January 25, because potential evacuees are awaiting humanitarian parole decisions from DHS. In the meantime, SDO stands ready to resume our efforts as needed. ¶4. Other: a) Embassy SDO has been trying, so far unsuccessfully, to get confirmation from the GODR of media reports that the UN spokesman in New York said the GOH agreed to the incorporation of 150 Dominican troops into MINUSTAH, to be attached to the Peruvian contingent. Earlier today, EcoPol Counselor spoke to MFA Vice Minister Trullols who said he would try to obtain further info and get back to us. FonMin Morales is in Port au Prince today, perhaps working out the details of any such deployment, among other issues. DATT reports that the Dominican military continues to prepare for a MINUSTAH mission. b) US Embassy SDO facilitated the departure from Jacmel of a French team of doctors and firemen (with dogs) that provided both search and rescue and medical help. (Note: These teams arrived unannounced last week and sought US Embassy help in getting to Jacmel, which was provided. End Note) The team reported today that a Canadian vessel has now arrived on the scene and is off-loading a considerable amount of medical supplies. The team said that some residents of Jacmel were getting irritated (presumably with the pace of assistance),but that the local hospital is still standing (despite a media report to the contrary). c) USAID reports that it has placed on hold a purchase of chlorine because the WASH Cluster in Haiti has verified that another organization has secured chlorine and is sending it. Minimize Considered. Lambert