Cablegate: Tfha01: Haiti Earthquake Task Force Situation Report

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 007039

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. 35

STATE 00007039 001.2 OF 002

VIP TRAVEL
----------

1. (SBU) Representative McGovern (D-MA) and the Lynn
University delegation departed Haiti at 2252 EST January 23
for Ft Lauderdale, FL. (TF1/ Embassy Port-au-Prince e-mail)

2. (SBU) Embassy reported that the visit of Representative
McGovern and the Lynn University delegation went well. The
delegation observed the site and conversed at length with SAR
workers, whom they thanked for their efforts. Embassy
officers believe the family left the site with a sense of
closure that they did not have before the visit. (TF1/Embassy
Port-au-Prince e-mail)

3. (SBU) On January 23, USAID Administrator Shah and FEMA
Administrator Fugate visited Port-au-Prince. They attended
the funeral of the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, toured the
State University hospital with the Minister of Health, met
with Ambassador Merten, and visited distribution sites.
(USAID SitRep)

SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR)
----------------------

4. (U) No updates at this time.

COMMODITY FLOW
--------------

5. (SBU) Three flights carrying emergency relief supplies
from OFDA warehouses landed in Port-au-Prince January 23.
Commodities included 500 rolls of plastic sheeting for 25,000
people, 18,000 ten-liter water containers, and 10,176 hygiene
kits. (USAID SitRep)

AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS/EVACUATIONS
--------------------------------------------- ---

6. (SBU) Post reports 650 evacuees departed January 23. As
of 0500 EST January 24, ten American citizens remain inside
the Embassy and 400 outside. A total of 15,666 passengers
have been evacuated to date, of which 12,497 are American
citizens.
(Embassy Port-au-Prince SitRep)

7. (SBU) The remains of four private American citizens and
three USG family members arrived at Dover AFB 0414 EST January
24. (TF1/DOD e-mails)

MEDICAL RESPONSE
----------------

8. (SBU) USNS Comfort has 304 patients on board and capacity
to accommodate another 636 as of 0415 EST. Twenty surgeries
were conducted January 23, and the mission has treated more
than 1100 patients to date. (TF1/Interagency Conference
Call, SOUTHCOM DCO)

INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION/REQUESTS
-----------------------------------

9. (SBU) Haiti Electric Company (EDH) formed an international
committee, composed of the United States, the Republic of
Korea, and Haiti, to address reconstruction efforts. The
committee is headed by the EDH Director. Seven teams are
inspecting substations. They expect to determine the capacity
within four days. (SOUTHCOM SitRep)

DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSETS
------------------------------------

10. (SBU) DOD activated two high-speed ferries, the MV Alakai
and the MV Huakai, January 23. Each is capable of carrying
up to 450 metric tons of cargo, and are scheduled to arrive in
Port-au-Prince January 28. (SOUTHCOM SitRep)

HUMANITARIAN/SECURITY/INFRASTRUCTURE
------------------------------------

11. (SBU) As of January 23, the Haitian government reported
approximately 210,000 people had left the capital for other
parts the country. (USAID SitRep)

12. (SBU) The UN reported two trucks carrying emergency
relief commodities in Port-au-Prince were looted January 23.
The DART reported two attempted break-ins at relief agency
compounds. (USAID SitRep)

13. (SBU) One FAA control tower arrived in Port-au-Prince and
will be operational by January 24. (SOUTHCOM SitRep)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
----------------------

15. (U) No updates at this time.

16. (U) Additional updates are available through our
Intellipedia portal on the unclassified system at:
http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/Portal:Crisis_Ha iti_Earthquake.

17. (U) Minimize considered.
CLINTON

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