VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0256/01 0252245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD14E08F TOQ8552-695)
O R 252242Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2243
INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000256 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION 
1TFK@STATE.GOV, WHA/CAR FOR V DE PIRRO AND IO/UNP FOR B NARANJO 
AND M GARUCKIS 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL PGOV MARR KPAO AEMR CO HA
SUBJECT: TFHA01: COLOMBIA TAKES LEADERSHIP ROLE IN HAITI RELIEF 
 
REF: A) BOGOTA 55; B) BOGOTA 198 
 
¶1.      (SBU)  Summary.  Colombia has responded comprehensively to 
the tragic earthquake in Haiti, providing personnel, donations, and 
much needed supplies.  The Colombian military was averaging one to 
two flights to Haiti per day during the initial week of the crisis 
and is flying sustainment flights as needed, loaded with 
humanitarian relief and personnel.  The Colombian Navy ship, "ARC 
Cartagena," arrived in Haiti on January 22, and a second ship, the 
"ARC Buenaventura," is expected to depart, loaded with supplies, on 
January 25.  These efforts complement the GOC's mobile military 
hospital and deployment of search and rescue teams and police teams 
(ref A).  The Colombian Red Cross has 50 personnel in Haiti running 
two stabilization and triage units, distributing supplies, and 
operating one emergency telecommunications team.  MILGROUP 
continues to coordinate with the Colombian military on the 
logistics and delivery of supplies to Haiti.  A U.S. military C-17 
cargo plane is scheduled to stop in Colombia on January 27 to pick 
up and deliver Colombian-donated supplies for Haiti.  A second U.S. 
plane, C-130, is expected to carry out a similar mission on or 
about January 30.  This plane will also deliver USG donated 
firefighting equipment to one of the seven bases identified in the 
Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) en route to Haiti.  The 
Ambassador is publicly highlighting U.S. assistance to Haiti and 
coordinated U.S.-Colombian relief efforts.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
COLOMBIAN SHIP ARRIVED IN HAITI, SECOND TO SAIL THIS WEEK 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2.       (SBU)  The Colombian military was averaging one to two 
flights to Haiti per day during the initial week of the crisis and 
is flying sustainment flights as needed, loaded with humanitarian 
relief and personnel.  Its Navy ship "ARC Cartagena de Indias" 
arrived in Haiti on January 22 with 228 tons of perishable 
supplies, 20 tons of hygiene items, 108 tons of bottled water, 110 
tons of potable water, 1529 pounds of medicine, 85 coffins, and 1.2 
tons of mattresses and other items.  The "ARC Buenaventura" is 
planning to sail for Haiti on January 25. 
 
 
 
COLOMBIAN RED CROSS MOBILIZING AND SENDING DONATIONS, PERSONNEL 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
 
 
¶3.      (U)  The Colombian Red Cross (CRC) has been extremely busy 
marshaling Haiti relief efforts.  The CRC reported it has collected 
from private Colombian citizens more than 1,900 tons of food, 
bottled water, and non-food aid.  An estimated 400 tons of this aid 
is already in Port-Au-Prince, and 1,000 tons will be sent over the 
next three days aboard two ships departing from Buenaventura and 
Cartagena.  Additional aid will be delivered during the next 
several days.  The CRC has collected 12 tons of medications, seven 
of which are already in Haiti and are being distributed to 
hospitals. 
 
 
 
¶4.      (U)  In total, 50 Colombian Red Cross personnel are in 
Haiti supporting relief efforts.  Two CRC stabilization and triage 
units with nine health experts are in Haiti providing emergency 
assistance.  One Red Cross emergency telecommunications unit is 
operating in Port-Au-Prince.  CRC personnel in Port-Au-Prince 
neighborhoods of Maitee and Cit???? de Soleil are distributing 20,000 
liters of water per day.  A CRC team is evaluating how to 
distribute additional aid to other communities. 
 
 
 
¶5.      (U)  The CRC plans to distribute food aid to 20,000 
families for two months, distribute non-food aid to 20,000 families 
for one month, provide 10,000 people with water for three months 
(15 liters per day), assist with re-establishing contact among 
families, and provide medical assistance and psychological support 
to 500 people for two months.  The CRC expects to continue to 
 
provide technical assistance and counseling in shelters during the 
next three to 12 months during the recovery phase of relief 
efforts. 
 
 
 
COLOMBIANS DONATING SUPPLIES AND FUNDS FOR VICTIMS 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
------------------------------ 
 
 
 
¶6.      (U)  Colombia's large grocery stores, such as Olimpica, 
Carrefour, and Exito -- Colombia's largest retail chain -- have set 
up collection sites for donated Haiti relief supplies.  The 
donation campaign is supported by national newspapers El Tiempo, El 
Colombiano, and El Pais.  Colombians have donated approximately US$ 
1.2 million to the Colombian Red Cross. 
 
 
 
MILGROUP COORDINATING WITH GOC TO USE BASES FOR HUMANITARIAN 
EFFORTS 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
--------------------------------------------- -------------------- 
 
 
 
¶7.      (SBU)  MILGROUP is facilitating the delivery and 
coordination of donated Colombian supplies to Haiti.  Post intends 
to publicize a scheduled U.S. airlift that will fly from Colombia 
to Haiti.  A C-17 cargo plane is expected to pick up and deliver up 
to 120,000 lbs of Colombian humanitarian relief supplies for 
delivery to Haiti.  Additionally, on January 30, there is a C-130 
cargo plane scheduled to deliver up to 50,000 lbs of relief 
supplies.  On its way to Haiti, the C-130 cargo plane will include 
on its pay load a portion of the U.S.-donated fire-fighting 
equipment currently in Bogota (bought with USG emergency funds) to 
the Palanquero base, one of seven identified in the Defense 
Cooperation Agreement.  The delivery would highlight U.S.-Colombian 
coordination in support of humanitarian efforts in Haiti and here 
in Colombia, as well as serve as an example of the type of military 
assistance permitted under the recently-signed DCA. 
 
 
 
¶8.      (U)  The Ambassador has engaged the local media to 
highlight U.S. support for Haiti and coordinated U.S.-Colombian 
relief efforts following the tragic earthquake (ref B). 
BROWNFIELD