VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPU #0060/01 0190448
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190446Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0041
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0223
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE
INFO HAITI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000060 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR PRM, HA 
NSC FOR CPRATT 
USAID FOR USAID/A 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OTI, DCHA/CMM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PINR PREL PTER PREF HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: RESCUE CONTINUES WHILE RELIEF AND LOGISTICAL ISSUES 
ARE ADDRESSED 
 
REF: PORT AU PRINCE 54; PORT AU PRINCE 58 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary. After a record-breaking 12 rescues on January 17, 
American search and rescue teams continue to search for survivors 
in Port-au-Prince.  Progress has been made in the last 48 hours to 
address several limiting logistical issues, namely airport traffic 
and management and a plan to provide fuel for organizations 
transporting relief commodities.  In addition, a recent U.S. 
Government assessment of the capital's seaport indicates that the 
likelihood of using the port to receive medium-sized shipments is 
good.  Due to limited and damaged infrastructure in Haiti, the U.N. 
is also developing a significant support capacity in the Dominican 
Republic to provide the humanitarian community with alternate 
relief supply routes.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
---------------------------- 
 
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS 
 
---------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2.  (U) To date, international urban search and rescue (USAR) teams 
have rescued a total of 72 individuals throughout Port-au-Prince. 
As of 2300 hours local time on January 18, American USAR teams had 
performed 40 live rescues, including a two-year old child rescued 
on January 18. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (U) According to the U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination 
team, although international USAR teams have completed 
reconnaissance missions in 100 percent of assigned areas in 
Port-au-Prince, search and rescue activities will continue until 
the Government of Haiti (GoH) officially decides to cease 
operations. 
 
 
 
------------------------- 
 
EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES 
 
------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶4.  (U) On January 18, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) consigned the following emergency relief 
supplies to the International Organization for Migration: 8,448 
hygiene kits, 48 kitchen sets, 400 rolls of plastic sheeting, 2,050 
10-liter collapsible water containers, and 48 tents.  The tents 
were provided from U.S. Department of Defense excess property 
stock. On January 18, a USAID/OFDA-funded flight arrived with 120 
rolls of plastic sheeting; two additional USAID/OFDA relief supply 
flights are scheduled to land shortly before midnight. 
 
 
 
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FUEL SUPPLIES 
 
------------- 
 
 
 
¶5.  (U) At a January 18 U.N. Logistics Cluster meeting, U.N. 
representatives indicated that WFP is working on a plan to import 
and sell fuel to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for relief 
operations.  To organize the fuel distribution process, the U.N. is 
establishing a coupon system, primarily for NGOs, and will announce 
a fuel collection location on January 19.  The U.N. has informed 
NGOs not to attempt to import fuel on their own, indicating that 
fuel has been barred by customs officials on multiple occasions. 
 
 
In addition, the private sector is actively importing fuel from the 
Dominican Republic - the primary reason cited for disallowing 
small-scale importation. 
 
 
 
----------- 
 
THE AIRPORT 
 
----------- 
 
 
 
¶5.  (U) According to participants in a January 18 U.N. Logistics 
Cluster meeting, a more organized system at the airport is in 
place, resulting in fewer delayed and diverted flights.  NGOs 
chartering flights have received specific instructions to arrange 
and confirm a landing slot, assigned in 20-minute intervals, prior 
to departure.  The U.N. continues to work with airport authorities 
to resolve outstanding issues, but confirms that priority has been 
given to flights carrying food and water. 
 
 
 
¶6.  (U) The GoH has also positioned a representative at the airport 
to assist in moving commodities and equipment to and from the 
facility.  NGOs have been asked to complete cargo forms and include 
the license plates of trucks entering the airport to facilitate the 
process.  As of January 18, the GoH indicated that only vehicles 
listed will be allowed on airport grounds. 
 
 
 
----------- 
 
THE SEAPORT 
 
----------- 
 
 
 
¶7.  (U) On January 18, USAID/Haiti staff visited the seaport in 
Port-au-Prince, accompanied by U.S. Navy port operations 
specialists and U.S. Army security and logistics specialists. 
According to USAID/Haiti staff, the docking area and facility have 
sustained limited earthquake damage, namely cracks, but remain in 
overall good condition.  The assessment team also reported that the 
port's dock is now submerged, in addition to two offloading cranes 
that fell into the water. 
 
 
 
¶8.  (U) U.S. Navy engineers assessed the remaining dock handling 
platform and noted that it remains operable for medium-sized 
shipments.  However, engineers reported some uncertainty, due to 
potentially unseen underwater damage to the loading dock and piers. 
As a result, a Navy dive team of engineers immediately evaluated 
the loading dock and piers' structural integrity to further assess 
the weight capacity.  The dive team will release assessment 
findings on January 19.  If the dock and piers are found to be 
stable and useable, a new crane will be installed to hasten 
offloading. 
 
 
 
---------------------- 
 
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 
 
---------------------- 
 
 
 
¶9.  (U) Due to limited and damaged infrastructure in Haiti, the 
U.N. has begun developing a significant support capacity in the 
Dominican Republic to provide the humanitarian community with 
additional ports of entry.  The U.N. has also established and 
staffed a logistics cluster in Santo Domingo to assist with the 
 
 
receipt and transfer of relief supplies into Haiti's 
earthquake-affected areas.  The cluster has obtained a warehouse in 
Santo Domingo for this purpose and hired security personnel. 
According to U.N. officials, the U.N. Stabilization Mission in 
Haiti (MINUSTAH) will escort Haiti-bound relief supply vehicles 
from the border to Port-au-Prince.  In addition, NGO World Vision 
has established an eight-passenger shuttle to transport support 
staff to and from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince. 
MERTEN