VZCZCXRO1701
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHROV #0010/01 0191217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191217Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1237
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0124
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0088
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 0008
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 1276

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000010 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM PGOV PREL PREF HA VT
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CHARITIES ESTABLISH AID PLAN FOR HAITI; REPORTS ON 
AREAS STILL LARGELY UNREACHABLE 
 
VATICAN 00000010  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
Summary 
 
------- 
 
¶1.  (U)    Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based federation 
of Caritas humanitarian assistance national chapters, is 
supporting Catholic Relief Services (Caritas USA) and Caritas 
Haiti response to the earthquake in Haiti.  A Caritas 
Internationalis team is on the ground in PAP.  Caritas is 
focusing on medical services, particularly in areas where no aid 
has yet arrived, and is in contact with UN coordinating 
agencies.   It is also providing food relief.  Caritas' goal is 
to provide medical and nutrition aid to about 100,000 people. 
To do so, it has issued a flash appeal to Caritas chapters 
around the world.  Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal 
Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras is hoping to travel to PAP as 
soon as possible.   End summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Poloff spoke with Patrick Nicholson, responsible for 
Caritas' external communications, and Monsignor Bob Vitillo, 
Caritas' point person on healthcare issues, on January 20.  CRS 
and Caritas Haiti had established a permanent presence 
throughout the Island prior to the disaster.  Caritas 
Internationalis, with Caritas Haiti and CRS, are managing all 
Catholic-based relief efforts.   Caritas is working with the 
UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
and other UN agencies.  Caritas is not/not working with World 
Food Program distribution sites in PAP, citing tense situations 
and violence.  Instead, it has established distribution points 
in PAP, Leogane, Petit & Grade Goave, Jacmel and 
Gronmore/Gonaives.  Local Caritas volunteers report internally 
that many areas affected outside of PAP have not yet seen 
government or INGO relief on the ground.  Working through its 
faith-based community groups, Caritas is managing to get food 
and aid to areas largely unreached by others. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The situation in Leogane is particularly dramatic, 
according to Alistar Dutton, Caritas' international disaster 
relief specialist.  Dutton reports that 85% of the city is 
destroyed and 20% of families have casualties that are not 
receiving medical aid.  Confirming media reports of a looming 
health crisis, Caritas is focusing its efforts on reviving 
hospitals.  Dutton tells us St Francois de la Salle Hospital 
(NFI) reopened two operating rooms on January 17 and will 
completely reopen all pre and post operating care facilities 
shortly. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Caritas Internationalis' leadership team arrived in 
PAP January 16 to manage the international Catholic aid 
response.  Staff from six Caritas organizations (Holland, 
Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Canada) will arrive 
shortly to help CRS and Caritas Haiti.  When they arrive, 
Caritas will have 21 personnel on the ground to support those 
who were already in the country before the earthquake.  Father 
Serge B. Chadic (Haiti) and Bill Canny (USA) are acting points 
of contact for personnel and logistical coordination, 
respectively.  Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Oscar 
Rodriguez Maradiaga (based in Honduras) is working to secure 
transportation to PAP on a Honduran government plane.  Beyond 
these people, Caritas is not seeking to send additional 
international staff or leaders to Haiti at this time.  Instead, 
it is encouraging Catholic aid organizations and individuals to 
support its flash appeal. 
 
 
 
Flash Appeal 
 
------------ 
 
 
 
¶5.  (U)  Caritas is urging international Catholic Charities to 
make in-kind donations to meet needs in Haiti for the next four 
weeks: primarily focusing on food, water (purification, storage 
and distribution capabilities), and medical supplies.  Caritas 
is planning to meet the needs of 100,000 people with this aid, 
and could expand its efforts if required.  Most goods are 
arriving in Santo Domingo and being transported via trucks 
donated by Caritas Santo Domingo.  Caritas is working with DoD 
to manage security and fuel issues but reports ongoing problems 
 
VATICAN 00000010  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
procuring fuel and growing security concerns at its storage 
facilities. 
DIAZ