TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 004777 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. 13 STATE 00004777 001.2 OF 002 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Secretary Clinton and Administrator Shah will arrive in Haiti in the morning of January 16. The Spanish VP and the Minister of Development intend to travel to Haiti the morning of January 16. (TF1/IO telcon, DOS press release) SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶2. (U) No updates at this time. COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Haiti Disaster Relief EXORD was approved by the Secretary of Defense and authorizes up to $20 million in overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid funds. 600,000 Humanitarian Daily Rations were expected to arrive from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on January 15.(DOD Support, Executive Summary) AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS/EVACUATIONS -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) USG American personnel: Fatalities: 1 confirmed; Injuries: 4 serious; Unaccounted: 3. Private Americans: Fatalities: 12 confirmed, 17 presumed; Injuries: 19 serious. UN personnel: Fatalities 37 (36 UN, 1 WFP); Missing: 330 hundred Americans have been evacuated and are currently in the air (on two separate flights) to McGuire AFB. The first flight is expected to arrive at 0200 January 16. Embassy Port-au-Prince credits improved communication and in-processing at the chancery for increased numbers of Americans at the Embassy. 250 Americans were awaiting transport at 1700. This number had risen to 400 by 1830. At 2200, 75 of those had departed to the airport. Communication between the four-person Embassy consular team and the airport has improved marginally as cellular coverage has become (sporadically) available. (CA 1/15 1844, OCA 1/15 1847, UN 1/14 2011, TF1/CA) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Argentina's Air Force Hospital at the southeast corner of the Port-au-Prince airport is operational and currently the most capable in the city, with generators, refrigeration containers, and water purification units. The Government of Argentina is sending two surgical teams and additional supplies. St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Petionville is reportedly the only other STATE 00004777 002.2 OF 002 SUBJECT: TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. operational hospital in the capital though its capabilities are unknown. The Air Force will provide a medical support team to meet those evacuees traveling with Secretary Clinton's aircraft when it arrives at Andrews AFB, January 16. (Defense Intelligence Note, DIA-16-1001-015) TF1/OSD Telcon) INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶6. (U) No updates at this time DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- ¶7. There are currently 28 Diplomatic Security agents in country. The 18th Airborne Corps Assault Command Post arrived in Port-au-Prince January 15. The remaining 3000 soldiers are scheduled to arrive by January 18. The BATAAN Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are due to arrive January 18 and will add 2200 military personnel. The oiler USNS Big Horn and salvage ship USS Grasp are due to arrive January 17. (DOD Support, Executive Summary, DS) HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶8. (SBU) JTF Commander Gen. Keane met with the MINUSTAH commander at 2100, January 15 to discuss the cooperation and interaction of MINUSTAH and USG forces. FAA has now approved the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and Tindall AFB is now scheduling landings for flights into Haiti. Tyndall can be contacted at (850) 283-5639. Reporting indicates survivors are becoming increasingly desperate. Violence is expected to increase in the next few days due to the lack of relief supplies. The fuel delivery pier in Port-au-Prince harbor has been damaged and no fuel can be delivered to the tank farm at the port. An estimated two days' supply remains in bulk storage before fuel becomes scarce. President Preval, in a meeting this morning, placed fuel delivery as a priority after medical and humanitarian relief. This pier also serves as the delivery point for bulk cooking oil. Water points using the commercial power grid are not functioning. Some hand pumps are available but insufficient. Water has become a critical problem in some areas of the city. (TF1/DAO Telcon, TF1/Tyndall Operations Telcon, DOD Support, Executive Summary, USDAO Sitrep #12) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶9. (U) No updates at this time. CLINTON