Santo Domingo - Haiti Earthquake Sit Rep 6

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000096 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AMGT ASEC EAID DR HA SUBJECT: Santo Domingo - Haiti Earthquake Sit Rep 6 REF: A) SDO 19; B) SDO 92 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. Embassy Santo Domingo Earthquake Sitrep 6, further to reftels: ¶2. (SBU) As indicated in reftel A, there have been no signs of tension between Dominicans or displaced Haitians who are seeking medical assistance near the border. On 16 JAN, it was reported by Dominican authorities that 409 non-Dominicans entered into the DR through the border town of Jimani. Because of poor coordination by Dominican authorities and ineffective security controls by MINUSTAH, some credible sources, however, are becoming concerned that these problems will eventually hamper the flow of goods and other international aid from Jimani to Haiti. ¶3. (U) A/S Arturo Valenzuela arrived in Santo Domingo on 17 JAN. He is scheduled to attend a preparatory donors' conference with President Fernandez at 11:00 a.m. on 18 JAN and afterwards will attend a bilateral meeting with President Fernandez. ¶4. (U) Embassy Santo Domingo met and assisted more evacuees on 17 JAN. A C-130 arrived today carrying a group of 50 Amcits. The group is scheduled to depart Santo Domingo on 18 JAN. Embassy Santo Domingo has sent a total of 5 Consular Officers to support American Citizen Services and other consular functions in Port-au-Prince. The Consular Section has also coordinated the arrival and onward travel of 21 TDY Consular Officers to Port-au-Prince. ¶5. (U) USAID is purchasing water and other supplies and shipping them directly to Haiti. One small shipment arrived in PAP on 17 JAN. Constant flow of shipments will begin on 18 JAN and will increase over the next few days until all resources are exhausted. USAID is helping to set up distribution networks in Haiti through NGO partners that operate on both sides of the border (USD 1,000,000 has been provided so far for these efforts). USAID has also reprogrammed its health resources to support three Dominican Public Hospitals closest to the Haiti border crossing at Jimani with much needed medications and supplies (USD 1,000,000 completed and USD 1,000,000 more in process to support NGO partners addressing health issues). ¶6. Minimize considered. Lambert