TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 013121 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. 68 STATE 00013121 001.2 OF 002 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (U) House Speaker Pelosi and eleven other Members of Congress reviewed earthquake damage and humanitarian response during a one-day visit to Port-au-Prince February ¶12. The delegation also held a meeting with President Preval to discuss relief and reconstruction efforts. (AP) ¶2. (SBU) General Fraser, SOUTHCOM, and Administrator Shah, USAID, traveled to Port-au-Prince February 13. (TF1/USAID Sitrep #55) EVACUATIONS/AMERICAN CITIZEN ISSUES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince has received verbal confirmation of the identification of the remains of the last Lynn University student. DMAT reports the remains of eight individuals will be transported to Dover via milair at 0215, February 14. (TF1/Consular Affairs conference call) ¶4. (SBU) Since February 12 at 2000, 85 American evacuees and family members have departed Port-au-Prince on four flights bound for Charleston and Miami. A total of 16,493 have been evacuated to date. There are no potential American evacuees or family members at the Embassy. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶5. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince estimates approximately 55 percent of those evacuated February 12 arrived in Haiti after the earthquake. At least one person has been evacuated twice. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) HUMANITARIAN UPDATE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Nearly $19 million has been reprogrammed to support the earthquake response effort, bringing total USAID Mission Haiti-provided funding to more than $30 million. The total from all USAID sources for earthquake response to date is nearly $323 million. (OFDA Fact Sheet No. 31) ¶7. (SBU) The World Food Program food surge will end February 13. The next phase of emergency food assistance will be needs-based and likely will include food vouchers for vulnerable groups. (TF1/USAID Sitrep #55) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶8. (SBU) SOUTHCOM and JTF-Haiti confirm that Amcits awaiting evacuation at the Port-au-Prince airport may receive emergency medical assistance at the airport field hospital once the HHS medical unit has closed. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) STATE 00013121 002.2 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) USNS Comfort conducted 11 major surgeries, evacuated two patients to the United States, and transferred 44 patients ashore to three local hospitals February 12. (TF1/SOUTHCOM Sitrep) SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Diving operations continue off of South Pier despite heavy pollution. Pier repair operations are expected to conclude April 10. (TF1/SOUTHCOM Sitrep) ¶11. (SBU) An Australian team of air traffic controllers arrived February 12. They will augment U.S. and Haiti assets. (TF1/SOUTHCOM Sitrep) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶12. (SBU) President Preval delivered an address at the outset of three official days of mourning commemorating those killed in the earthquake. (TF1/SOUTHCOM Intel Summary) OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶13. (SBU) DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue operations at the Port-au-Prince airport until American Airlines resumes service February 19. State asked CBP to ensure their operations include screening of all passengers, in lieu of spot checks. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶14. (SBU) FedEx has resumed deliveries to Haiti. (TF1/SOUTHCOM Sitrep) ¶15. Additional updates are available through our unclassified Intellipedia portal at http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/Portal:Crisis_HA ITI_Earthquake. ¶16. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON