TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 005829 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. 29 STATE 00005829 001.2 OF 003 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Pan American Health Organization Director Dr. Roses will travel to Haiti January 21. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Seventeen SAR teams continue operations in the field. Los Angeles County rescue workers made one rescue on January 20. To date, SAR teams have rescued over 122 people. SAR teams also uncovered the bodies of two Americans from the Hotel Montana. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Supplies are reaching primary distribution centers but are not effectively getting to secondary sites. The biggest distribution bottleneck is vehicular traffic in Port-au-Prince. Improving distribution is a high priority for TF-Haiti. The private sector is beginning to return, with some food markets and gas stations reopening. Airport operations continue to increase, with 153 flights clearing the airport January 20. However, a backlog of flights continues due to high demand. Some aircraft have been turned around in-flight by air traffic control because of mismatched tail numbers or lack of detailed cargo manifests (flights are prioritized based on cargo). All slots for large aircraft are booked through February 10. There also continue to be delays caused by congestion on the ground. SOUTHCOM has invited the UN to coordinate on flight prioritization and scheduling. SOUTHCOM is proposing the co- location of JTF-H with representatives from the UN, Government of Haiti, and USAID in the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center. Under this arrangement, USAID will vet U.S. civilian flight requests and the UN will vet international flight requests. To date, 25 percent of the flight slots allocated have gone to the international community. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, SOUTHCOM SitRep) EVACUATIONS/AMERICAN CITIZEN AND LE STAFF WHEREABOUTS -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) As of 0500 EST, approximately 400 Americans were inside the Embassy compound and an additional 200 were outside. There are 38 confirmed American fatalities and another 25 reported, which remain unconfirmed. On January 20, 927 people, including 772 Americans, were evacuated by air and bus. According to post, to date 7660 Americans have been evacuated from Haiti. The arrival of passport reading machines and baggage screening equipment (donated by American Airlines) has expedited on-the-ground processing and improved security. Convoys continue to shuttle between Santo Domingo and Port-au- Prince. A convoy with 88 Amcits arrived in Santo Domingo at 0120 EST. A DS-escorted convoy left Santo Domingo at 0300 EST with four passenger buses and a fuel truck. Embassy Santo Domingo is planning on send four buses on January 21 and six on January 22. (TF1/CA-TF, TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince SitRep, TF1/Interagency Conference Call, TF1/CA e-mail) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Haitian Ministry of Health does not have the capacity to distribute supplies to hospitals. A SOUTHCOM senior surgeon is taking inventory of the requirements at Haitian hospitals and will coordinate support with USAID. The USNS Comfort is receiving patients from 10 hospital sites and has treated 237 patients. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, TF1/DOD SitRep) INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶6. (U) No updates at this time. DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit began operations in Leogane, located nine miles west of Port-au-Prince. (DOD SitRep) HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶8. (SBU) There are no major changes to the overall security situation. The GOH is getting more police on the street, including 50 of the 67 police assigned to Cite de Soleil. A prison break in Les Cayes (400-500 inmates) and lack of pay for the police are adding to concerns about crime. At current troops levels, MINUSTAH will not be able to keep pace with the growing demand for security. Generals Fraser and Keen have agreed that U.S. support for MINUSTAH should be in place by January 22, pending completion of the Statement of Principles. In addition, Brazil has offered a battalion, and UNHQ noted that other countries are offering troops. DOD delivered 43,000 radios to Port-au-Prince for use by U.S. officials and other relief workers. JTF-Haiti noted that the January 21 reopening of banks will be a test for security forces. The port is operating at 30 percent capacity due to pier damage and insufficient logistical support on shore. SOUTHCOM estimates three weeks will be needed to finish port repairs. Nevertheless, Dutch and French naval ships off-loaded cargo January 20. Two USN ships will be next to unload. The fuel pier should be operational by January 25. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, TF1/IO-USUN SitRep, DOD SitRep) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) SOUTHCOM Commander General Fraser will brief Haiti relief issues, including flight coordination efforts, at the Pentagon Foreign Press Center at 1000 EST. (TF1/DOD Public Affairs SitRep) ¶10. (U) Additional updates are available through our Intellipedia portal on the unclassified system at: http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/Portal:Crisis_Ha iti_Earthquake. ¶11. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON