TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 012235 SENSITIVE 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. 62 STATE 00012235 001.2 OF 002 EVACUATIONS / AMERICAN CITIZEN ISSUES -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Since February 6 at 2000 EST, 215 American evacuees and family members departed Port-au-Prince; a total of 15,706 have been evacuated to date. A total of 23,000 potential evacuees have been accounted for. There are 65 American evacuees at the airport. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶2. (SBU) As of 1200 EST February 7, there are 77 confirmed American citizen fatalities, with another 28 American citizen deaths reported but unconfirmed. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶3. (SBU) Four milair evacuation flights with 155 people, including 11 adoptees, departed Port-au-Prince the evening of February 6. The flights were bound for Charleston, Miami, Orlando, and McDill AFB in Tampa. No orphans are expected to depart February 7. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince telcon) ¶4. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince delivered a diplomatic note February 6 to the Government of Haiti requesting permission to deconstruct sites known to have the entombed remains of American citizens. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶5. (U) Jorge Puello, the Dominican lawyer retained by 10 U.S. missionaries jailed in Haiti, told the media February 6 that he fired their Haitian counsel Edwin Coq, claiming Coq had asked for $60,000 to bribe the missionaries? way out of jail. Coq denied the charge, calling the sum his legal fee. (AP, AFP) HUMANITARIAN UPDATE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) NGOs distributed food to more than 166,000 people at all 16 distribution sites in Port-au-Prince February 6 without incident. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, USAID SitRep #49) ¶7. (SBU) Two of the food distribution sites, which are located on church property, will not operate February 7. Local authorities and communities requested religious services not be disrupted. However, NGOs still expect to distribute more food than yesterday. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, USAID SitRep #49) ¶8. (SBU) Food prices, including those of wheat and bread, have increased in several areas outside of Port-au-Prince. WFP is increasing assistance to provincial areas hosting large populations displaced from Port-au-Prince. (SOUTHCOM SitRep, USAID SitRep #49) ¶9. (SBU) According to the IFRC, an estimated 80,000 people in Leogane and 30,000 individuals in Jacmel require shelter assistance. To meet ongoing shelter needs, USAID/OFDA is providing plastic sheeting for transitional shelter construction. (DCHA/OFDA Fact Sheet #25) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) A National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) evacuated three Haitians to Atlanta February 6. The flight brings the total of NDMS medical evacuations to 24. (TF1/HHS telcon) SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Based on security assessments, armed DS/ICE escorts of USG convoys between Port-au-Prince and the Dominican Republic will cease as of February 8. Convoys and shuttle services will continue with Embassy Port-au-Prince local guards patrolling routes as necessary. (TF1/Embassy Port-au- Prince telcon) ¶12. (SBU) The Japanese Self-Defense Force dispatched 160 troops, including engineers and logisticians, to augment MINUSTAH February 6; the troops were expected to arrive February 7. (TF1/SOUTHCOM e-mail) ¶13. (SBU) Significant congestion at the Jimani border crossing between Haiti and the Dominican Republic continues to slow overland deliveries of emergency relief commodities. (UDCHA/OFDA Fact Sheet #25) ¶14. (SBU) Embassy Santo Domingo reports the border roads near Jimani are deteriorating. USAID is evaluating options for repairs. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶15. (SBU) The Royal Bahamian Defense Force (RBDF) intercepted a 40-foot sailboat at sea near the Exumas with 62 Haitian migrants on board. Because the Haitians' boat began taking on water, the RBDF has begun transferring them to other vessels. USCG is investigating. (TF1/Embassy Nassau telcon and e-mail, SOUTHCOM SitRep) ¶16. (U) Additional updates are available through our Intellipedia portal on the unclassified system at: http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/Portal:Crisis_Ha iti_Earthquake. ¶17. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON