TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 007069 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. 36 STATE 00007069 001.2 OF 002 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (U) No updates at this time. SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Government of Haiti is continuing search and rescue efforts. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Local water tankers have restarted limited delivery of potable water supplies. JTF-Haiti reports a water purification device should arrive January 25. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶4. (SBU) A barge with 88,000 tons of medical and food supplies has departed Puerto Rico and is scheduled to arrive January 26 at 0530 EST. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶5. (SBU) USAID is collaborating with NGOs wanting to assist with food distribution. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) EVACUATIONS/AMERICAN CITIZENS AND LE STAFF WHEREABOUTS -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Since 2000 EST January 23, 124 American evacuees and family members departed Port-au-Prince. The latest reconciled figures state Embassy Port-au- Prince has evacuated 10,901 individuals to date. There are 130 Americans and family members inside the embassy and 400 outside. A total of 16,000 Americans have been accounted for. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶7. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince reports nearly 3,000 people have gathered across the street from the embassy compound. While the situation remains secure, concerns regarding crowd control continue. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶8. (SBU) Until further notice, due to sufficient air transport, overland bus evacuation to the Dominican Republic has been discontinued. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶9. (SBU) USNS Comfort has 283 patients and the capacity to accommodate another 757 patients. To date, 262 surgeries were conducted and 2,800 patients treated. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶10. (SBU) China will bring a new medical team and relief supplies at 1500 EST on January 25 and withdraw the Chinese SAR team. (TF1/SOUTHCOM e-mail) STATE 00007069 002.2 OF 002 ¶11. (SBU) The Government of Kuwait and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society have donated 150 tons of medical, food, and relief supplies. Department of State and USAID are working to prioritize the supplies and coordinate delivery with the Department of Defense. (TF1/WHA/FO e-mail) DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- ¶12. (SBU) There are currently 18,802 U.S. military personnel in Haiti or on vessels nearby. (TF1/JCS e- mail) ¶13. (SBU) The Air Force is arranging the shipment of a TPN-19 landing control radar to Port-au-Prince. The equipment will allow air traffic controllers to better identify, sequence, and separate aircraft and provide final approach guidance. (TF1/PM/ISO e-mail) HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶14. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince stated there were few reports of looting January 23. SOUTHCOM reports 48 percent of the police force has reported for duty. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶15. (SBU) Haiti Electric Company intends to finalize the overview of the electric infrastructure January ¶25. More in depth sectional analysis has begun and when possible, surveyors conducted repair work. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, TF1/Department of Energy telcon) ¶16. (SBU) Local gas stations are open and providing fuel. The South Pier Port anticipates receiving a delivery of liquefied petroleum gas January 27. An 800,000-gallon fuel tanker will arrive from Venezuela January 30. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶17. (SBU) Banks and money transfer agents opened January 24. While long lines were reported, there were no reports of unrest or violence. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶18. (SBU) Over 50,000 solar and hand-crank radios were distributed. Six television stations and 30-40 radio stations continue to broadcast six to twelve hours per day. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶19. (SBU) Haitian local airlines are seeking to resume service from Cap Haitien. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶20. (SBU) No updates at this time. ¶21. (U) Additional updates are available through our Intellipedia portal on the classified system at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Cris is_Haiti. ¶22. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON