VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDG #0148/01 0230011
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 230010Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0609
INFO RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0060

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000148 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID CMGT AMGT MARR DR HA
SUBJECT: SDO Sit Rep 10 - Haiti Earthquake response 
 
REF: A) SDO 132, B) SDO 134 
 
¶1.  Embassy Santo Domingo Sitrep 10, further to reftels A and B: 
 
 
 
¶2. Border issues update: 
 
a) Many entities are working on the DR-Haiti border at Jimani, 
including the United Nations (including the International 
Organization for Migration, IOM), the Red Cross, and several GoDR 
agencies, including the Migration Service (DGM), the Specialized 
Frontier Corps (CESFRONT), Civil Defense, Public Health and Social 
Assistance (SESPAS) and Santo Domingo Firemen.  Several CESFRONT 
and Dominican military personnel oversee and control distribution 
from at least one civilian gas station in town. 
 
b) A source from IOM reports that, while "nobody is counting," it 
appears that more people "than normal" are crossing the border from 
Haiti to the DR at Jimani.  IOM reports this is also happening in 
other places (e.g., Pedernales, Dajabon) along the border.  At the 
same time, a majority of those coming in via Jimani seem to be 
moving on to Santo Domingo.  We have heard a few reports of minor 
rent-seeking from officials at checkpoints on both sides of the 
border, a practice that is reportedly not uncommon in normal ties. 
 
c) Relations between the GoDR, civil society and multilateral 
agencies remain good, but IOM warns that this is because "nobody 
has done anything hard yet."  The next phase, involving the issue 
of repatriation may prove more difficult.  IOM will seek a written 
agreement with the GoDR to serve as a basis for how to manage the 
voluntary repatriation phase.  At the same time, there is a need 
for "assets" (tents, among other items) and a need to ascertain who 
will provide security (MINUSTAH or Haitian police?), if camps are 
established (at the Fond Parisien site, or closer to the Haitians' 
original homes).  (Note:  There will be, and probably has been, 
some "spontaneous" repatriation already, i.e., Haitians going back 
on their own.  End Note) 
 
d) As regards security, MINUSTAH escorts convoys, but the process 
is haphazard and the timing often uncertain.  Moreover, MINUSTAH 
provides minimal, possibly inadequate, numbers of soldiers for 
these convoys.  USG-related convoys receive Diplomatic Security 
escorts to/from Jimani to Embassy Port-au-Prince. 
 
e) Media sources report that more than 15,000 victims of the 
earthquake have been / are receiving medical attention in Dominican 
hospitals.  Concerned about infectious diseases, the DR military is 
vaccinating those personnel entering Haiti, while medical personnel 
who may have been exposed to the blood of patients from Haiti are 
being placed in prophylaxis treatment for HIV.  Injured patients 
are tested for HIV, but no positive results have been reported thus 
far. 
 
 
 
¶3. Evacuees / Consular: 
 
a) Last night, four buses arrived in Santo Domingo (about 1:00 AM 
local time) and checked some 150 evacuees into local hotels. All 
but 24 of those evacuees were boarded today onto military flights 
bound for CONUS; the remaining 24 were booked commercially for 
travel.  However, at the request of Port-au-Prince, SDO has 
suspended bus evacuation runs, until Monday, January 25, because 
potential evacuees are awaiting humanitarian parole decisions from 
DHS.  In the meantime, SDO stands ready to resume our efforts as 
needed. 
 
 
 
¶4. Other: 
 
a)  Embassy SDO has been trying, so far unsuccessfully, to get 
confirmation from the GODR of media reports that the UN spokesman 
in New York said the GOH agreed to the incorporation of 150 
Dominican troops into MINUSTAH, to be attached to the Peruvian 
contingent.  Earlier today, EcoPol Counselor spoke to MFA Vice 
Minister Trullols who said he would try to obtain further info and 
get back to us.  FonMin Morales is in Port au Prince today, perhaps 
working out the details of any such deployment, among other issues. 
DATT reports that the Dominican military continues to prepare for a 
 
MINUSTAH mission. 
 
b) US Embassy SDO facilitated the departure from Jacmel of a French 
team of doctors and firemen (with dogs) that provided both search 
and rescue and medical help.  (Note:  These teams arrived 
unannounced last week and sought US Embassy help in getting to 
Jacmel, which was provided. End Note)  The team reported today that 
a Canadian vessel has now arrived on the scene and is off-loading a 
considerable amount of medical supplies.  The team said that some 
residents of Jacmel were getting irritated (presumably with the 
pace of assistance), but that the local hospital is still standing 
(despite a media report to the contrary). 
 
c) USAID reports that it has placed on hold a purchase of chlorine 
because the WASH Cluster in Haiti has verified that another 
organization has secured chlorine and is sending it. 
 
 
 
Minimize Considered. 
Lambert