TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 009852 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. 52 STATE 00009852 001.2 OF 002 VIP TRAVEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) No updates at this time. SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) -------------- ¶2. (SBU) A contingent of 15 Fairfax and LA Country SAR staff remain on standby in Port-au-Prince. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶3. (SBU) The remains of one Dutch and one Canadian citizen were recovered January 31 at the Hotel Montana. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶4. (SBU) Diplomatic Security agents are searching for American citizens at addresses relatives have provided to the Department's Consular Affairs Bureau; they have confirmed nine American citizens deceased and thirteen safe. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) COMMODITY FLOW -------------- ¶5. (SBU) WFP has shifted from distributing MREs to dry food. On February 1, relief agencies plan to distribute food at 12 sites, benefiting 102,000 people. There were no major security incidents during January 31 distributions; relief workers observed counterfeit coupons at one site. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call, USAID Sitrep #38) EVACUATIONS/AMERICAN CITIZEN AND LE STAFF WHEREABOUTS -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) As of 2000 EST, 574 American evacuees and family members departed Port-au-Prince January 31; a total of 14,331 have been evacuated to date. There are 75 Americans and family members inside the Embassy and 200 people outside seeking consular services. A total of 22,500 potential evacuees have been accounted for. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶7. (SBU) There are 75 confirmed American fatalities and another 20 reported. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶8. (SBU) There are no updates on LE Staff whereabouts. (TF1/Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail) ¶9. (SBU) The remains of three American citizens arrived at Dover AFB January 31 at 1845 EST. (TF1/TRANSCOM e-mail) MEDICAL RESPONSE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Medical evacuations have resumed. (DCO Conference Call) ¶11. (SBU) DOD will soon begin construction of a 250-bed patient recovery facility in Port-au-Prince. (DCO Conference Call) ¶12. (SBU) DOD is seeking to improve common assessment of the medical situation and requirements, and will seek to establish an operational logistics cell with USAID and UN. (SOUTHCOM 2/1/10 Sitrep) ¶13. (SBU) SOUTHCOM reports some injured Haitians are reluctant to visit U.S. doctors because they think injured appendages will be amputated. (SOUTHCOM 2/1/10 Sitrep) INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS -------------- ¶14. (SBU) The governments of Cuba, Colombia and Mexico have expressed interest in providing medical treatment to quake victims. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS -------------- ¶15. (U) No updates at this time. HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE -------------- ¶16. (SBU) According to the Ministry of Interior, more than 482,000 people have departed Port-au-Prince for cities in surrounding departments, a significant increase from previously reported numbers. Approximately 700,000 people have reportedly sought shelter in spontaneous settlements within Port-au-Prince. (USAID/DCHA Fact Sheet #19) ¶17. (SBU) FCC is working with DOE to restore broadcasting towers. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶18. (U) President Preval was confronted by angry crowds at the gates of the National Palace during a January 30 public appearance. (Miami Herald, Radio Metropole website) ¶19. (U) Prime Minister Bellerive declared the 10 Americans detained on suspicion of trafficking 33 Haitian children to the Dominican Republic were engaged in "kidnapping." (ABC News) ¶20. (SBU) Ambassador Merten plans to meet President Preval and PM Bellerive February 1 to discuss a range of issues and inquire about payment of police salaries. Ambassador Merten does not expect non-payment to affect police morale in the short term. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call) ¶21. (U) Additional updates are available through our Intellipedia portal on the unclassified system at: http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/Portal:Crisis_Ha iti_Earthquake. ¶22. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON