TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 011282 SENSITIVE C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (REPLACE PARAGRAPH 2) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT, HA SUBJECT: TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 58 STATE 00011282 001.4 OF 003 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (U) French President Sarkozy is expected to visit Haiti February 17. (Lenouvelliste.com) EVACUATIONS/AMERICAN CITIZEN ISSUES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Forty-two adoptees, forty-six escorts and/or adoptive parents and sixty-two other American citizens arrived in Florida on two flights from Haiti overnight. (TF1/Embassy Port-au- Prince e-mails). ¶3. (SBU) One hundred seventy American evacuees and family members have departed Port-au-Prince since February 2 at 2000 EST; a total of 14,954 have been evacuated to date. A total of 22,500 potential evacuees have been accounted for. There are 26 Americans and family members at the airport, 27 at the alternate landing zone, and none at the Embassy. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶4. (SBU) As of 2000 EST February 3, there are 76 confirmed American citizen fatalities, with another 22 American citizen deaths reported. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶5. (U) Haitian authorities will announce on February 4 whether they will pursue a case against the 10 American citizens accused of illegally trying to take children out of Haiti. (Reuters) HUMANITARIAN UPDATE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Thirteen of 16 international food distribution sites were operational February 3, targeting 132,600 beneficiaries. Relief agencies plan to distribute food at all 16 sites on February ¶4. The World Food Program aims to provide a two-week food ration to 2 million people. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, USAID SitRep #44, USAID-DCHA Fact Sheet #22) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶7. (SBU) As of February 3, HHS has assisted 24,570 patients in Haiti. (TF1/HHS SitRep) ¶8. (SBU) An Italian aircraft carrier is en route to STATE 00011282 002.4 OF 003 SUBJECT: TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. waters off Port-au-Prince and is expected to serve as a medical facility and logistics hub. (TF1/JTF-Haiti e-mail) SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The capacity of the Port-au-Prince South Pier has increased from 200 to 720 containers per day. (TF1/USCG e-mail) ¶10. (SBU) Haiti's emergency response infrastructure was destroyed, but FCC and Embassy Port-au-Prince recommend not establishing an emergency phone line, since there would be no capability to respond to calls. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶11. (SBU) Electrical repair crews report that they are not able to work without security teams. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶12. (SBU) A food distribution site did not distribute coupons February 3 because of concerns about staff security. Following an agreement with the Government of Haiti and MINUSTAH, all sites should be operational February 4. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶13. (SBU) Approximately 1000 people gathered in Petionville on February 3 to protest the mayor's alleged theft of food aid. All protests have remained peaceful, and security incidents remain sporadic. (Port-au-Prince 120) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶14. (SBU) Haitian National Police (HNP) Director General Andresol reports that no police units have been paid to date, despite reports that several specialized HNP units were already paid. (Port-au- Prince 120) ¶15. (SBU) Prime Minister Bellerive attended a senate hearing to defend the government's response to the earthquake. Embassy Port-au-Prince comments his appearance signals an intention to cooperate with the legislative branch. Parliament is meeting on the grounds of the Police Academy. (Port-au-Prince 120) OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶16. (U) Prime Minister Bellerive said over 200,000 people have died due to the earthquake, with another 300,000 injured. The UN said at least 482,000 people have left Port-au-Prince for areas outside the capital. (AFP, Xinhua News Agency) ¶17. (U) Ecuadorian President Correa called a summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) February 9 to discuss regional aid coordination. STATE 00011282 003.4 OF 003 ¶18. (U) President Preval extended the state of emergency an additional 15 days. Additional extensions will require parliamentary approval. (Port-au-Prince 120) ¶19. (U) American private donations to major relief organizations totaled $644 million as of February 3. (Boston Globe) ¶20. (U) Additional updates are available through our classified Intellipedia portal at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Cris isHAITI . ¶21. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON