TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 006419 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. 31 STATE 00006419 001.2 OF 004 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran arrived in Haiti. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶2. (SBU) USGS experts expect strong aftershocks to continue. (TF1/SOUTHCOM telcon) ¶3. (SBU) U.S. SAR teams are conducting final sweeps through Port-au-Prince, using search dogs and sonar equipment. As of 1200 EST January 21, SAR teams had not recovered survivors in over 24 hours. Six U.S. SAR teams remain in country. (TF1/USAID SitRep #17, Embassy Port-au-Prince e- mail) ¶4. (SBU) Haiti will declare an end to the rescue phase late January 22, but some U.S. SAR teams will continue to operate, including at Hotel Montana. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶5. (SBU) Once operations have finished, U.S. SAR teams will leave behind their equipment as a donation to Haiti's SAR teams and other institutions. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Red Cross activated 19 Emergency Response Units, 11 of which are now operating, delivering medical care, water, logistics, and communications support. Distribution of relief supplies to secondary sites remains limited. (TF1/Red Cross e-mail, SOUTHCOM telcon) ¶7. (SBU) The American Red Cross is coordinating shipments of blood and blood products to Haiti at the request of PAHO. (TF1/Red Cross e-mail) ¶8. (SBU) French oil company Total is making fuel deliveries to retail gas stations. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶9. (SBU) There is a waiting list of 1400 requests for slots at the airport, while the current capacity is only 140 slots per day. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) 10.(SBU) WFP plans to deliver emergency food assistance to approximately 108,000 people at 29 sites on January 22. As of January 21, nearly 500,000 people have received food assistance. STATE 00006419 002.2 OF 004 SUBJECT: TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. Approximately 950 rolls of plastic sheeting have arrived to date, and an additional 3200 are scheduled to arrive by January 30 to address immediate shelter needs. USAID has provided water containers, hygiene kits, chlorination tablets, and purification units able to produce 15,000 liters of clean water per hour. (USAID SitRep #18) AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS/EVACUATIONS -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶11. (SBU) As of 0500 EST January 22, a total of 9288 American citizens have been evacuated to date. There are presently 200 Americans inside the embassy and 150 outside. ( TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶12. (SBU) 156 evacuees traveled to Santo Domingo via four buses; three additional buses will arrive for evacuees January 22. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, Embassy Santo Domingo Consular Command Center) ¶13. (SBU) Embassy Santo Domingo is receiving requests to help American citizens evacuate from Jacmel, Haiti. Post is working with private aviation firms, the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo, and Dominican immigration authorities to assist. (Embassy Santo Domingo Consular Command Center SitRep #5) ¶14. (SBU) Santo Domingo Defense Attache reports an uptick in border traffic from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. IOM officials are surveying a site on the Dominican side of the border for possible use as a refugee facility. (TF1/SOUTHCOM telcon) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶15. (SBU) As of 2000 EST January 21, 161 patients were receiving treatment aboard USNS Comfort; 12 are in intensive care. HHS teams have seen 2162 patients during the past 24 hours, and 7266 patients total. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, USAID SitRep #18) ¶16. (SBU) Twelve containers of medical and surgical supplies from USAID/OFDA are due to arrive January ¶23. (USAID SitRep #18) ¶17. (SBU) TRANSCOM airlifted three Haitian burn patients to Miami. (TF1/TRANSCOM e-mail) INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶18. (SBU) French and Dutch ships are currently unloading commodities in Port-au-Prince. (TF1/SOUTHCOM telcon) STATE 00006419 003.2 OF 004 ¶19. (SBU) Cote d'Ivoire has donated one million dollars for Haiti earthquake relief. (TF1/Office of African Regional Security Affairs e-mail) ¶20. (SBU) The Dominican Republic's electric distribution company offered to assist in standing up Haiti's electrical grid, but they are requesting security assistance. (Embassy Santo Domingo SitRep #9) ¶21. (SBU) The EU Foreign Affairs Council will meet January 25 to authorize a coordinated response to the UN's request for an increase in MINUSTAH personnel. Many EU countries indicated they will provide new troops, with France ready to offer 100 gendarmes. (TF1/WHA e-mail) ¶22. (SBU) According to IOM, a Brazilian battalion deployed with MINUSTAH is leveling land near Croix- des-Bouquets to establish a large tented camp. (USAID SitRep #17) DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- ¶23. (SBU) There are currently over 11,000 U.S. military personnel on the ground in Haiti. (TF1/SOUTHCOM HA/DR SitRep) ¶24. (SBU) USNS HENSON arrived to conduct survey operations at the main port in Port-au-Prince. (TF1/DOD e-mail) ¶25. (SBU) CBP provided 90 officers to assist with border inspections, and DHS made additional officers available to help process adoptions. (TF1/INL e- mail, TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶26. (SBU) DOD distributed 1000 hand-cranked radios. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶27. (SBU) UN sources report as many as 500,000 IDPs have gathered at 447 sites; conditions are generally calm, but reports of criminality persist. U.S. and French governments are providing resources and supplies to approximately 10,000 displaced residents camped near the National Palace. (TF1/SOUTHCOM telcon, Embassy Port-au-Prince SitRep) ¶28. (SBU) As of January 21, USAID/DART estimates 500,000 victims have received assistance, including food assistance, water, and hygiene kits. The Haitian government has Haiti has prioritized the provision of family tents and assistance to areas outside Port-au-Prince. (TF1/USAID SitRep #17) ¶29. (SBU) The main port in the capital is running at 30 percent capacity due to pier damage and insufficient logistical support. Dive teams conducted a reassessment of the pier, which is STATE 00006419 004.2 OF 004 SUBJECT: TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. operating with load restrictions. (DHS SitRep #18, USCG NCC Daily Briefing, OSD Executive Summary) ¶30. (SBU) Money transfer companies and some banks have resumed partial service. (TF1/Port-au-Prince SitRep, SOUTHCOM telcon) ¶31. (SBU) Thirty radio stations are currently operational, but only two of 18 TV stations are broadcasting. (DHS SitRep #18) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶32. (SBU) Business sector leaders met with President Preval to express their support for relief and recovery efforts. They also met with UN Special Representative Mulet to request MINUSTAH's help in maintaining security for their businesses. (Embassy Port-au-Prince SitRep) ¶33. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON