U.S. Government Response to Haitian Earthquake
(Information provided by Lynda E. Co-Director of Events and Outreach)
U.S. Government Response to Haitian Earthquake
Day 7—Tuesday, January 19, 2010
KEY MESSAGES
Supporting our partners—We are in Haiti at the request of the Haitian government and are supporting its efforts, along with those of the UN, which is leading the relief effort. We are coordinating closely with more than 30 nations and hundreds of NGOs to deliver food and water quickly to 100 distribution sites.
Distributing relief— Approximately 14,000 U.S. civilian and military personnel are supporting efforts to distribute urgently needed water and food rations to Haitians, and hundreds of medical personnel are providing basic and acute care to the injured. More American resources continue to arrive on the scene every day.
A difficult environment—We are working as swiftly as we can in a difficult environment. There are immense needs, devastated infrastructure, and a massive logistics challenge. We have distributed hundreds of thousands of food rations and water, and continue to ramp up our efforts
A coordinated civilian-led effort—At the direction of President Obama, this is a whole-of-government effort, and USAID has the lead in this swift, aggressive and coordinated response. Military personnel are playing an indispensable role in supporting this humanitarian effort, including making the logistics chain possible and distributing life-saving assistance.
Long-term commitment—Building on the immediate U.S. commitment of more than $134 million[1] in humanitarian aid, we will continue to work with the Haitian government, the UN and other international partners on Haiti’s long-term recovery and rebuilding. This will take years.
Americans can help— We are all deeply affected by the devastation in Haiti. Our common humanity demands that we act, as does America’s leadership and deep ties with Haiti. At the request of President Obama, former Presidents Bush and Clinton are coordinating private assistance and urging Americans to help at www.clintonbushhaitifund.org
PRESIDENT OBAMA
On Tuesday, President Obama continued to closely monitor the situation on the ground in Haiti and worked with the United Nations and international partners to ensure a swift, coordinated and aggressive response to the earthquake. The President:
Continued to oversee the Administration’s unified approach to relief efforts as National Security Advisor Jones conveyed a meeting at the White House of the members of the President’s national security team including Vice President Biden, Secretaries Clinton, Gates and Napolitano and Sebelius, USAID Administrator Shah, FEMA Administrator Fugate, UN Ambassador Rice and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Cartwright.
Welcomed the passage of a UN resolution drafted by the United States authorizing additional security forces and police requested by the Secretary-General to support UN, which had lead responsibility for security in Haiti.
Continued to forge a coordinated international response, speaking by phone Tuesday with
Prime Minister Brown of Great Britain and expressing appreciation for British cooperation in rescue and relief efforts.
Received an update on the situation on the ground from his NSC Deputy Director Denis McDonough, who returned from Port au Prince.
STATUS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
The highest priority of the U.S. government remains accounting for and ensuring the safety of the approximately 45,000 Americans who live and work in Haiti. Americans trying to locate family and friends are encouraged to call 888-407-4747 or go to www.state.gov/haitiquake
Government personnel—U.S. Ambassador Merten and embassy personnel in Port Au Prince continue to work to account for all official personnel and their families. As of Tuesday, one U.S. Embassy officer has been confirmed killed.
American citizens—The State Department and embassy staff continue to work to account for American citizens in Haiti. As of Tuesday, 27 private American citizens have been confirmed killed.
Americans evacuated—As of Tuesday, more than 4,500 private American citizens have been safely evacuated to the Dominican Republic and the United States, and evacuations are continuing.
RESCUE & RELIEF OPERATIONS
At the request of the Haitian government and in support of UN-led relief efforts, more than 14,000 U.S. civilian and military personnel are supporting rescue and relief efforts. To date, U.S. humanitarian relief exceeds $134 million, including:
Search & rescue teams at work—Six U.S. search and rescue teams, with more than 500 personnel, continue to partner with more than 1,700 rescue workers from 43 international teams to pull survivors from the rubble—Haitians and Americans—and continue to search where there are signs of life.
Evacuation of foreign nationals—In addition to American citizens, we are also evacuating Haitians and other foreign nationals, including patients and orphans, including those that arrived in Pittsburgh today.
24/7 airlift operation—With U.S. personnel operating the Port au Prince airport at the request of the Haitian government, relief flights are landing and taking off 24 hours a day. An airport than normally handles 3 flights per day is now accommodating 120 aircraft per day, receiving flights from governments, the United Nations and numerous international aid organizations such as the Red Cross, the World Food Program, Save the Children and many others.
Overland Convoys—In cooperation with the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the U.S. is now operating convoys, with diplomatic security, carrying food, water and fuel from the Dominican Republic to Port au Prince.
Food— In support of the UN World Food Program, which has lead responsibility for food distribution, the U.S. is operating one of four major distribution hubs, and U.S aircraft—including more than 49 aircraft—continue to deliver relief and distribute food and supplies. As of Monday, this includes more than 300,000 meals distributed by U.S. military personnel, 4,000 pounds of food and water delivered by helicopter to the city of Jacmel, and 14,500 meals air delivered by C-17 cargo aircraft Monday. Overall, the U.S. continues to transfer, deliver and distribute enough meals to meet nearly 70 percent of meals required, as estimated by the WFP. This includes 16 million meals ready-to-eat approved Monday by the Defense Department for transfer to the WFP and the contribution of 2.5 million meals by USAID, which is contributing $48 million to fund 19 million meals as part of its plan to address Haitian food needs over the next six months.
Water—On Tuesday, the Coast Guard cutter Oak delivered nearly 63,000 bottles of water to the Haitian government, and USAID delivered more than 40,000 ten-liter water containers, 6 water treatment units and related water supplies. This follows the air delivery Monday of 15,000 liters of water by C-17 cargo aircraft. To date, more than 400,000 bottles of water and 3,000 water bladders have been delivered by U.S. military personnel and 10,000 water containers have been delivered for more than 19,000 people. In addition, three water treatment units—capable of meeting the daily requirement of 30,000 individuals —are operational, four additional units are scheduled to arrive Tuesday and more are en route. Water purification continues aboard the USS Carl Vinson.
Medical—As of Tuesday, more than 1,800 patients have been treated aboard U.S. ships and by hundreds of American medical personnel operating in mobile hospitals and providing basic and acute medical care to the injured. This includes five disaster medical assistance teams deployed to local hospitals and more than 350 doctors, nurse, paramedics and emergency medical personnel activated by HHS. More than 12,000 additional health professionals are available to help, along with 22,000 pounds of medical equipment and supplies. CDC personnel continue to assess food and water supplies, and more medical teams will be deployed in the coming days. In addition, USAID will be directing $2 million to support hospitals and NGOs treating Haitians in the Dominican Republic.
Shelter and hygiene—On Tuesday, the U.S. continued to deliver needed supplies, including: 13,000 hygiene kits and plastic sheeting for shelter. This is in addition to supplies delivered Monday, including nearly 8,000 USAID hygiene kits to benefit 38,000 people for two weeks. Additional supplies, as well as blankets, cots and traps are en route.
Evacuees and migrants—An evacuee receiving station has been established at Orlando-Sanford International Airport. Approximately 10,000 beds are being prepared for evacuees at Homestead Air Force Base and Opalocka in Florida.
Major military assets on the scene—As of Tuesday, nearly 13,000 military and Coast Guard personnel were on the scene (4,000 on land; 9,000 afloat), including 18 ships and 49 helicopters, supporting civilian-led rescue and relief efforts and delivering humanitarian aid, including:
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit—Following the arrival Monday of the 3-ship Bataan Amphibious Ready Group carrying more than 2,000 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and multiple helicopters, Marines began coming ashore Tuesday to assist with relief efforts;
USS Carl Vinson—The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, with 3,000 personnel and 19 helicopters, continues relief flights and operations, including the production and distribution of clean drinking water. Additional Navy ships are on the scene supporting relief efforts, including the destroyer USS Higgins, the USS Normandy; the salvage ship USS Grasp and oiler USNS Big Horn.
82nd Airborne—Soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division continue to arrive, with more than 1,000 on the ground, and a total of 3,000 scheduled to be on the ground by Thursday.
Coast Guard—Nine Coast Guard vessel are on the scene or in the region, delivering humanitarian relief, transporting search and rescue teams, evacuating the injured, providing command and control for U.S. operations and working to reopen ports so that more relief can be delivered.
More military assets are on the way, including:
Hospital ship Comfort—The U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort, with a 600 medical personnel and crew, is en route and is scheduled to arrive in Haiti Wednesday morning;
Additional ships and aircraft are scheduled to arrive this week, including: the USN Ship and the USNS Lummus.
A limited number of reserve medical personnel—called-up in an executive order issued by President Obama—will replace those deployed on the Navy hospital ship Comfort and will assist with port security in Haiti
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
First Lady Michelle Obama PSA—In a public service announcement now running across the country, First Lady Michelle Obama says that “we can all do something” to help and encourages people to make a contribution to the American Red Cross.
Haitian Americans—Following Vice President Biden and Secretary Napolitano’s visit to South Florida over the weekend, the Administration continues to work with Haitian American leaders and elected officials in cities and states with large Haitian populations to help them locate family in Haiti, respond to questions and to share information and coordinate relief efforts.
Temporary Protective Status for Haitians—Temporary Protected Status has been granted to Haitians who were already in the United States before Jan. 15, for the next 18 months, providing refuge for those whose safety would be endangered if they were forced to return home immediately.
Community outreach—Building on its outreach to more than 700 leaders from across the country—including Haitian American community groups—the White House continues to work with grassroots organizations to coordinate and focus relief efforts.
Whitehouse.gov—The White House website continues to serve as a focal point for information for about the relief effort, including accounting for family and friends in Haiti and contributing to the relief effort.
HOW AMERICANS CAN HELP
Following his visit to the American Red Cross Monday, President Obama continues to encourage Americans to support their Haitian neighbors, both at home and abroad. Among the ways that Americans can help save lives:
www.ClintonBushHaitiFund.org–
American Red Cross—Individuals can contribute to the American Red Cross using their cell phones by texting “HAITI” to 90999. As of Tuesday, nearly 3 million people have donated more than $23 million to the Red Cross through text messaging—the most ever for a humanitarian effort.
www.whitehouse.gov–As we begin a long-term effort to help the Haitian people recover and rebuild, Americans can learn more about how to help by going the White House website.
ON TRAVEL TO HAITI
This is a complex and difficult environment. All of our efforts have to be focused on moving the right resources into Haiti that can save lives and provide relief. The airport at Port au Prince is overtaxed, and can only handle high priority military and civilian flights at this point.
That is why we are encouraging private citizens to focus their efforts on supporting those aid organizations who are deploying resources to Haiti, and to hold off on traveling there themselves.
[1] $114 million from USAID + $20 million from DOD Haiti Disaster Relief Executive Order = $134 million.
