VZCZCXRO7803
OO RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1256 2521607
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081607Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8785
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 2047
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO PRIORITY 0225
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1823
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 2411
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL PRIORITY 0316
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 1248
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001256 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: MCHHJO1: INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO HAITI'S 
HURRICANE EMERGENCY 
 
REF: PORT AU PRINCE 1252 
 
¶1.  This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please 
protect accordingly. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Post has received the information in para 3 from 
local Embassies concerning the international response to the 
aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Begin list of emergency aid pledges: 
 
-- The European Commission has appropriated 3.8 million euros 
in emergency aid.  This is made up of one 1.8 million 
allocation (from a 2-million euro allocation for four 
affected Caribbean countries) following Hurricane Gustav and 
a second 2 million euro appropriation pledged on September 3. 
 
 
-- Canada will respond to the UN's Flash appeal (which is 
expected to total USD 90 million; in the past Canada has 
usually contributed 5-10 percent).  Canada already has 
appropriated just over 600,000 dols Canadian in emergency 
assistance.  Of this, 40,000 dols Canadian is going to 
Medecins du Monde, and 100,000 dols Canadian to the 
International Red Cross.  Canada is also sending a plane with 
non-food items include blankets, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, 
and other items for 2000 families expected to arrive the 
morning of September 10.  The Canadian Ministry of Defense is 
considering sending a hospital ship and a team of civil 
engineers. 
 
-- France has had a five-member team from Guadeloupe and 
Martinique on the ground in Haiti since September 5, composed 
of four disaster assessment experts and one military 
logistician.  Some of this team will be flown to Gonaives 
September 8 in a MINUSTAH helicopter.  The French Embassy 
reported that the French frigate ''Ventose'' is to arrive in 
Haiti September 8 carrying one six-passenger reconnaissance 
helicopter (too small to ferry supplies).  The ship will dock 
in Jacmel, from where the helicopter will carry out damage 
assessment flights in the south of Haiti.  Based on these 
assessments, France will decide on an aid package by 
September 9.  The French Embassy says their package will 
probably include materiel, humanitarian aide personnel, and 
direct financial assistance.  The French Minister of 
International Cooperation is scheduled to visit September 8. 
 
-- Germany has pledged up to 150,000 euros to buy relief 
supplies on the local market.  Germany will reevaluate the 
situation over the next days to decide whether they will give 
more. 
 
-- Spain sent a plane with humanitarian supplies that arrived 
September 4, and another is arriving September 7 or 8. The 
total value of these commodities is approximately USD 
417,000. 
 
-- Switzerland has pledged approximately USD 1 million, 
including USD 650,000 for food assistance through the UN 
World Food Program, USD 90,000 for non-food assistance, and 
the deployment of three logisticians to the Swiss Red Cross. 
 
-- Japan is providing USD 156,000 in non-food items, 
including plastic sheeting, water purifiers, water 
containers, tents, bedding, and generators. 
 
-- Brazil has provided USD 100,000 in food and water 
assistance through the Brazilian battalion in MINUSTAH. 
 
-- MINUSTAH has a bailey bridge and is seeking to identify 
the best location to deploy it. 
 
End list of emergency aid pledges. 
SANDERSON