TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 004819 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. 17 STATE 00004819 001.2 OF 002 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Secretary has departed Haiti en route to Andrews AFB. SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Embassy notes the window for successful rescue is narrowing; the sections of Hotel Montana that remain to be searched are extremely dangerous. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince telcon) ¶3. (SBU) The Urban Search and Rescue deployment schedule will maintain ten teams in Haiti through January 19, nine teams through January 24, and eight teams through January 31. (TF1/FEMA e-mail) COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The UN has identified the four largest commodity needs to be vehicles, fuel, water, and food. Haitian Prime Minister Bellerive reports that fuel supplies are sufficient for over a week. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince telcon) ¶5. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince, Washington agencies, and SOUTHCOM continue to address obstacles to disaster relief supply flow through air and sea routes.(TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince telcon) AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS/EVACUATIONS -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Post reports 670 American citizens are at the Embassy; 560 were evacuated January 16; the total number of evacuees to date is ¶1760. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶7. (U) No updates at this time. INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Dominican President Fernandez has approved a larger U.S. presence in the Dominican Republic in order to assist Haiti. (TF1/Embassy Santo Domingo e- mail) DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- STATE 00004819 002.2 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) There are now 959 U.S. military personnel on the ground. (TF1/OSD telcon) HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Embassy reports increased instability. An assistance convoy from the Dominican Republic was attacked at 1530 on January 16. The police force is reportedly weakened as a result of its own casualties (and that of family members) in the earthquake. Concerns persist about escaped prisoners; many of whom are gang members. Post estimates that perhaps only 40 percent of the capital's police force has returned to duty. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince telcon) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶11. (SBU) SYG Ban Ki Moon confirmed the deaths of SRSG Annabi, Deputy SRSG de Costa, and Acting Political Commissioner Coates. (TF1/USUN e-mail) ¶12. (SBU) The SYG will brief the Security Council on Haiti at 1000 January 18. (TF1/USUN e-mail) ¶13. (SBU) The UN released an updated flash appeal for $575 million (up from $562 million). Eight million dollars of this increase is slated for UNICEF. (TF1/USUN e-mail) ¶14. (SBU) The Secretary will participate in a January 17 ministerial teleconference of the Canadian-led Group of Friends of Haiti. (TF1/USUN e- mail) ¶15. (U) Additional updates are available through our Intellipedia portal on the unclassified system at: http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/Portal:Crisis_Ha iti_Ear thquake. ¶16. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON