TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 004843 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. 20 STATE 00004843 001.2 OF 003 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) UNSYG Ban arrived in Port-au-Prince, and visited the destroyed UN Headquarters. (TF1/IO rep) ¶2. (SBU) Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL) flew to the Dominican Republic and drove overland to Haiti; he overflew the capital with Ambassador Merten. (TF1/H rep) ¶3. (SBU) Senator Dodd (D-CT) has asked to visit Haiti as soon as possible. (TF1/H rep) SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶4. (SBU) As of 1400 EST, U.S. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams had performed 29 live rescues. To date, international USAR teams have rescued a total of 61 individuals throughout Port-au-Prince. (TF1/USAID 17Jan 1400 sitrep) ¶5. (SBU) However, a U.N. Spokesperson has stated that SAR workers have rescued more than 70 people. (AP) COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Six additional water treatment units from the USAID/OFDA stockpile in Dubai are in the commodity pipeline. (TF1/USAID 17Jan 1400 sitrep) AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS/EVACUATIONS -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) As of 1430, 145 Americans have departed Port-au- Prince. A total of 2086 Americans have been evacuated to date. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶8. (SBU) As of 1430, 300 Americans are at the airport; 288 Americans are at the Embassy; 374 are outside the Embassy awaiting screening. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶9. (SBU) Confirmed private American citizen deaths remain at ¶15. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) reported that U.S. military personnel had escorted a U.S. HHS Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and a USAID health officer to the General Hospital to provide medical personnel, supplies, food, and water. (TF1/USAID 17Jan 1400 sitrep) ¶11. (SBU) USNS Comfort is scheduled to arrive in Haitian waters on January 20. (TF1/USAID 17Jan 1400 sitrep) INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Oman has committed to provide aid. While the amount is unknown, the aid is likely to flow via Red Cross/Crescent. (TF1/Muscat 21) ¶13. (SBU) Poland has offered the Presidential medical aircraft; the specifications will be assessed by SOUTHCOM for a response. (TF1/Embassy Warsaw telcon) DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- ¶14. (SBU) U.S. troop levels on the ground are expected to reach 3300 by January 19. (TF1/SOUTHCOM telcon) ¶15. (SBU) 15 Diplomatic Security Special Agents will arrive in Port-au-Prince January 17 to provide additional security to Post. (TF1/DS rep) HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶16. (SBU) The security situation is worsening; escaped inmates have formed gangs to kidnap and perpetuate other crimes. Embassy Port-au-Prince has authorized additional security coordination steps with Haitian police and MINUSTAH. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶17. (SBU) SOUTHCOM will have more than 43,000 small hand crank radios at Homestead AFB by January 20, and is developing a distribution plan. (TF1/SOUTHCOM e-mail) ¶18. (SBU) The public hospital in the Domican border town of Jimani is disorganized yet functional, with hundreds of Haitians seeking urgent medical assistance. A growing concern is that Haitians displaced have nowhere to go after receiving treatment. (TF1/Santo Domingo 19) ¶19. (SBU) The Port of Port-au-Prince is still not operational. (TF1/PRM rep) ¶20. (SBU) The GOH has requested that MINUSTAH provide security at all distribution sites and that military personnel from other countries coordinate with MINUSTAH. (TF1/USAID 17Jan 1400 sitrep) ¶21. (SBU) The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports only a limited number of functioning medical centers, most run by international NGOs. (TF1/USAID 17Jan 1400 sitrep) ¶22. (SBU) USAID partners will begin to assess the piped water network capacity on January 18. (TF1/USAID 17Jan 1400 sitrep) ¶23. (SBU) A UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) assessment team will travel to the Haiti/DR border on January ¶19. PRM will monitor the situation and work closely with UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). (TF1/PRM Humanitarian Update #6) ¶24. (SBU) UNICEF is distributing water purification tablets, rehydration salts and other supplies to counter diarrheal infections/diseases. (TF1/PRM Humanitarian Update #6) ¶25. (SBU) IOM estimates that 200,000 families (up to one million people) are in need of immediate shelter and non-food assistance. (TF1/PRM Humanitarian Update #6) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶26. (U) No updates at this time. ¶27. (U) Additional updates are available through our Intellipedia portal on the unclassified system at: http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/Portal:Crisis_Ha iti_Earthquake. ¶28. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON