Cablegate: Tfha01: Haiti Earthquake Task Force Situation Report

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 003675

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT HA
SUBJECT: TFHA01: HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT
NO. 5

STATE 00003675 001.2 OF 002

SOUTHCOM'S SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF THE
AIRPORT
--------------------------------------------- ------------

1. (SBU) The tower is now fully operational and the airport
can conduct 24-hour operations. Lights function on the runway
and in half of the terminal. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call)

UN ASYG MULET AND DELEGATION EN ROUTE
------------------------------------

2. (SBU) The UN delegation will be transported by U.S. Coast
Guard (USCG) C-130 and arrive in Port-au-Prince by 0900 EST to
begin an assessment of the situation and to stand up UN relief
efforts. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call)

AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS/EVACUATIONS
------------------------------------

3. (SBU) USCG C-130s evacuated 42 official American Citizens
and 72 private American citizens to Santo Domingo January 13.

4. (SBU) The USCG is sending two C-130s January 14 with the
capacity to evacuate 140. The flights are scheduled to depart
Port-au-Prince for Santo Domingo at 1000 EST and may be able to
conduct two additional evacuations each during the day.

5. (SBU) Iceland Air delivered a Search and Rescue (SAR) team
and then transported approximately 50 private Americans to
Nassau. U.S. Embassy Nassau provided assistance on their
arrival.

6. (SBU) One hundred and fifty Americans are currently waiting
at the embassy to be evacuated. (TF1/Interagency Conference
Call)

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE UPDATE/DART TEAM ARRIVES
---------------------------------

7. (SBU) Seven DART team members and 72 members of the Fairfax
County SAR arrived the evening of January 13. Fairfax SAR set
up a base of operations at the embassy, conducted an initial
survey, and identified priority targets for January 14.
Fairfax SAR cleared one American embassy residence but found no
remains or survivors, attempted to visit MINUSTAH headquarters
but could not enter the compound, and could not reach the Hotel
Montana because of blocked roads.

8. (SBU) DART and mission personnel met with Haitian
government officials to coordinate disaster response.

9. (SBU) The four DART members who were not granted landing
clearance now are scheduled to arrive at 0230 EST via USCG
helicopter. The initial cause of landing clearance denial has
been remedied.

10. (SBU) A reception center has been set-up at the airport
for incoming SAR teams.

11. (SBU) Miami and Los Angeles SAR teams will be arriving
early January 14. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call)

U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE EFFORTS
------------------------------------

12. (SBU) The U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson is
due to arrive January 14 with fourteen helicopters.

13. (SBU) The Marine Expeditionary Wing will arrive on January
15.

14. (SBU) The U.S. Army 82nd Airborne is due to arrive on
January 15.

15. (SBU) The U.S. Navy Destroyer USS Higgins will arrive
January 16.

16. (SBU) The U.S. Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort will arrive
on January 22. (TF1/Interagency Conference Call)

SPANISH AMBASSADOR BEING EVACUATED
------------------------------------

17. (SBU) Embassy Port-au-Prince reports the Spanish
Ambassador to Haiti is injured and is at the U.S. Embassy. As
he appears to be exhibiting neurological problems, the USCG
plans to evacuate him on the helicopter that is delivering the
remaining DART team members expected to arrive at 0230 EST.
(TF1/Interagency Conference Call)

18. (U) Additional updates are available through our
Intellipedia portal on the classified system at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Cris is_Haiti.
CLINTON

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