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
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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