VZCZCXRO9624
OO RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1418/01 2801820
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061820Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8957
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 2087
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0250
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1857
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2431
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL 0340
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 1277
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001418 
 
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: HURRICANE RIPPLE EFFECTS CONTINUE 
 
PORT AU PR 00001418  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary:   Crippling post-hurricane fuel shortages 
in both the north and the south of Haiti are showing some 
signs of abatement, but the ramifications continue in 
beleaguered storm zones.  Haiti's reliance on Port-au-Prince 
as its sole petroleum distribution point highlights the need 
for decentralized fuel storage and distribution and reliable 
transportation routes.  The towns of Les Cayes and Cap 
Haitien continue to experience the ripple effects of scarce 
resources: food is more expensive, electricity is more 
unreliable than ever, and already-delayed school openings 
scheduled for October 6 promise additional challenges for 
regional authorities and residents.  End summary. 
 
WASHED-OUT ROADS IMPEDE RECOVERY 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  The four hurricanes and tropical storms that 
battered eighty percent of Haiti in August and September also 
destroyed roads and bridges used for fuel transport from the 
capital to the regions.  The main land transport routes from 
the capital leading north and south remain treacherous, 
allowing only large trucks with high clearances to reach 
their destination.  The nearly complete lack of fuel in Cap 
Haitien in the north and Les Cayes in the south affects 
nearly every basic necessity of life in these and surrounding 
areas, from basic hospital care to recharging cell phone 
batteries. 
 
CAP HAITIEN 
----------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  Cap Haitien Departmental Police Chief Joanny Caneus 
told Embassy political specialist September 30 that the 
little fuel available in the city remains very expensive and 
costs as much as USD 15.00 USD per gallon, up from the 
pre-storm price of about USD 6 per gallon.  (Note: Cap 
Haitien Mayor Michel St. Croix said in an October 3 press 
conference that gasoline costs 500 Haitien gourdes * USD 
12.50 per gallon, and diesel fuel 275 Haitian gourdes * USD 
7.00 per gallon.  End note.)  Traffic in the city is far 
below normal levels.  Though the numbers of cars and trucks 
on the streets have increased over the last couple of weeks, 
they are mainly commercial, not privately-owned vehicles. 
Caneus also said that electricity in Cap-Haitian is 
''non-existent.''  Cap-Haitien parents increasingly tell him 
that they can no longer afford school fees and thus, will not 
be able to send their children to school.  Konbit Sante, a 
Maine-based health care NGO based in Cap Haitian, told the 
Portland Press Herald on September 25, ''Without power, the 
one well servicing the largest hospital in the north of Haiti 
cannot pump water, the operating room cannot function and the 
hospital's ability to provide even basic care is crippled.'' 
 
LES CAYES 
--------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  To the south, Les Cayes faces similar issues. 
Haitian National Police Departmental Director of the South, 
Henriot Toussaint, reported October 1 that fuel remains 
nearly unobtainable, except at exorbitant prices on the black 
market.  He estimates, too, that electricity flows for 
approximately three hours per week.  Located in an 
agriculturally-rich province, Les Cayes has seen floods 
destroy many of its crops and drowned much livestock. 
Residents have depleted their food stores since the storms 
and prices for staple food items such as rice are rising. 
 
¶5.  (U)  In Les Cayes, which has a reputation for scholastic 
achievement and participation, parents are telling Toussaint 
they still plan to send their children to classes when 
schools open October 6.  This is, no doubt, partly due to 
parochial school programs which provide free school lunches 
to students. 
 
TO SCHOOL OR NOT TO SCHOOL 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U)  Despite many parents' best intentions, the first day 
 
PORT AU PR 00001418  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
of school promises problems.  Haitian media notes that many 
schools are functioning as IDP shelters whose inhabitants 
refuse to leave due to the lack of alternative housing 
options.  Teachers have also suffered losses of and damage to 
property and may face difficulties returning to work. 
 
¶7.  (U)  Comment:  Neither Cap Haitien nor Les Cayes suffered 
serious storm damage or flooding.  However, damage to Haiti's 
vulnerable roads and bridges is starving these cities of 
fuel, electricity, and other supplies, and impeding hurricane 
recovery efforts.  This situation points to the need not only 
to decentralize fuel distribution, but also to reduce the 
vulnerabilities in Haiti's ground transport network. 
SANDERSON