Cablegate: Portugal: Demarche in Response to Humanitarian

VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLI #0031 0201130
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201130Z JAN 10 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8075

UNCLAS LISBON 000031

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/FO STACY WILLIAMS
DEPT ALSO FOR S/ES-O TFHA01 MELISSA ROSSER AND AID/A MAURA
O'NEILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PREL PREF HA PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: DEMARCHE IN RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE OFFERS FOR HAITI

REF: STATE 4854

1. On January 19, Poleconoff delivered reftel demarche to
Joao Batista, Deputy Director of the Americas Department at
the Portuguese MFA, thanking the government for its
humanitarian assistance to Haiti and stressing the areas of
immediate focus during the initial phase of relief efforts.

2. Batista confirmed that Portugal sent an Air Force C-130 to
Haiti with a team of medical personnel, rescue operation
specialists, and members of Portuguese NGO International
Medical Assistance Foundation, which is conducting a needs
assessment for a follow-up trip with additional supplies.
The emergency responders have established a camp for
displaced persons and a temporary medical station. Batista
noted that they have been trying to provide medical
assistance, primarily in Port au Prince, but have been faced
with logistical difficulties. He said the C-130 is prepared
to travel to Venezuela to pick up water and additional
supplies pre-positioned by Portugal. He did not know when it
would reland in Haiti but said that it would depend on the
U.S., which is managing the airspace. (Note: The Portuguese
C-130 has a landing time on January 24, which the Portuguese
would like to move to an earlier date. End Note.)

For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal,
please see our Intelink site:

http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal
REITER

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