TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 003675 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. 5 STATE 00003675 001.2 OF 002 SOUTHCOM'S SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF THE AIRPORT -------------- -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The tower is now fully operational and the airport can conduct 24-hour operations. Lights function on the runway and in half of the terminal. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) UN ASYG MULET AND DELEGATION EN ROUTE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The UN delegation will be transported by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) C-130 and arrive in Port-au-Prince by 0900 EST to begin an assessment of the situation and to stand up UN relief efforts. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS/EVACUATIONS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) USCG C-130s evacuated 42 official American Citizens and 72 private American citizens to Santo Domingo January 13. ¶4. (SBU) The USCG is sending two C-130s January 14 with the capacity to evacuate 140. The flights are scheduled to depart Port-au-Prince for Santo Domingo at 1000 EST and may be able to conduct two additional evacuations each during the day. ¶5. (SBU) Iceland Air delivered a Search and Rescue (SAR) team and then transported approximately 50 private Americans to Nassau. U.S. Embassy Nassau provided assistance on their arrival. ¶6. (SBU) One hundred and fifty Americans are currently waiting at the embassy to be evacuated. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE UPDATE/DART TEAM ARRIVES -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Seven DART team members and 72 members of the Fairfax County SAR arrived the evening of January 13. Fairfax SAR set up a base of operations at the embassy, conducted an initial survey, and identified priority targets for January 14. Fairfax SAR cleared one American embassy residence but found no remains or survivors, attempted to visit MINUSTAH headquarters but could not enter the compound, and could not reach the Hotel Montana because of blocked roads. ¶8. (SBU) DART and mission personnel met with Haitian government officials to coordinate disaster response. ¶9. (SBU) The four DART members who were not granted landing clearance now are scheduled to arrive at 0230 EST via USCG helicopter. The initial cause of landing clearance denial has been remedied. ¶10. (SBU) A reception center has been set-up at the airport for incoming SAR teams. ¶11. (SBU) Miami and Los Angeles SAR teams will be arriving early January 14. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE EFFORTS -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson is due to arrive January 14 with fourteen helicopters. ¶13. (SBU) The Marine Expeditionary Wing will arrive on January ¶15. ¶14. (SBU) The U.S. Army 82nd Airborne is due to arrive on January 15. ¶15. (SBU) The U.S. Navy Destroyer USS Higgins will arrive January 16. ¶16. (SBU) The U.S. Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort will arrive on January 22. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) SPANISH AMBASSADOR BEING EVACUATED -------------- ¶17. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince reports the Spanish Ambassador to Haiti is injured and is at the U.S. Embassy. As he appears to be exhibiting neurological problems, the USCG plans to evacuate him on the helicopter that is delivering the remaining DART team members expected to arrive at 0230 EST. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶18. (U) Additional updates are available through our Intellipedia portal on the classified system at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Cris is_Haiti. CLINTON