TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 004775 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. 11 STATE 00004775 001.2 OF 002 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) No updates at this time. SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Prime Minister Bellerive said he is concerned about the lack of SAR operations outside of Port-au- Prince, the possibility of epidemics, and the perception rescue efforts are focused on foreigners rather than Haitians. Seven Americans were rescued from the Hotel Montana. Fifteen SAR teams are in Haiti; six additional teams are standing by to deploy. UNDAC reports no new teams are needed due to lack of in-country support. Chances of survival are drastically reduced after 72 hours, approximately 1700 EST January 15. (TF1/Embassy Port-Au-Prince telcon, TF1/Interagency Conference Call) COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Shipments from Homestead AFB have begun. Several flights have been planned over the next ten days, and coordination is in progress on distribution sites and flight clearances. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) EVACUATIONS/AMERICAN CITIZEN AND LES WHEREABOUTS -------------- --- ¶4. (SBU) Media report more than 160 Americans at the airport. Post notes it is difficult to estimate the exact number. As of 0900, approximately 200 people were awaiting evacuation at the Embassy. Numbers are expected to increase. A four-person consular team is at the airport. Consular teams will assist at Miami Airport and Homestead AFB. Florida Governor Crist requested a USAID liaison for Florida's Emergency Operations Center in anticipation of a mass migration of refugees. Legislative Affairs is responding to 700 Congressional inquiries. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, TF1/Miami Passport Office e-mail, TF1/FEMA e-mail, TF1/H e-mail, AP) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Under a new agreement between Haiti and the United States, U.S. physicians will be allowed to treat quake victims. Experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Disaster Response Team are establishing a field office in Jimani, Dominican Republic, near the Haitian border and will work to distribute supplies to health centers. Warehouses in the Dominican Republic lack space for supplies and donations. Thirteen Western Hemisphere countries have deployed medical teams. (TF1/Embassy Port-Au-Prince telcon, TF1/WHO/PAHO Situation Report) STATE 00004775 002.2 OF 002 INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Senior UN officials Boldue and Mulet have taken charge of MINUSTAH, which expects to deliver 60,000 meals/day. The UN will launch its flash appeal for Haiti at 1600 EST. (TF1/Embassy telcon, TF1/IO e- mail) DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Seven Diplomatic Security personnel are en route to Port-au-Prince from Santo Domingo. Approximately 600 military personnel are on the ground to provide humanitarian assistance and support logistics. Approximately 4,000 U.S. military personnel will be in Haiti by January 16 and 10,000 personnel by January 18. USS Carl Vinson arrived and is conducting operations. (TF1/DS,TF1/Interagency Conference Call, TF1/DoD telcon,TF1/SOUTHCOM) HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Haiti granted airport control to the United States. Airport capacity could reach 90 planes per day. Embassy expects gas stations to run out of fuel January 15 and food supplies in stores to be depleted January 18 or 19. Media report 4,000 escaped inmates are roaming the streets. The Embassy comments there is no Haitian police presence in Port-au-Prince and there are increasing reports of looting and other security problems. MINUSTAH is patrolling the streets. Looting of UN food supplies in Port-au-Prince was limited, media report. A spokesperson said the UN would soon distribute 6,000 tons of food, 40 percent of pre-quake stocks in Haiti. Haitian cellular network Voila is operating at 70 percent. (TF1/Embassy Port-Au-Prince telcon, TF1/Interagency Conference Call, TF1/EEB e-mail, AP) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Former Haitian President Aristide said he wants to return to Haiti to help with the catastrophe, but did not indicate concrete plans. (AP) CLINTON