U.S. Response To Haiti Earthquake

Facts On U.S. Government's Haiti Earthquake Response Covers Safety, Health, Rescues, Food And Water, More

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
January 20, 2010

United States Government Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response Update

On January 12, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince.  President Obama has said, "at this moment, we are moving forward with one of the largest relief efforts in our history -- to save lives and to deliver relief that averts an even larger catastrophe.  In these difficult hours, America stands united.  We stand united with the people of Haiti, who have shown such incredible resilience, and we will help them to recover and to rebuild."

The United States Government has mobilized resources and people to aid in the relief 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.  Aid workers are working around the clock to deliver more aid more quickly and more effectively to more people in need.

Below, please find some key facts and examples of government actions to date.  All numbers below are accurate as of 2 p.m., Wednesday, January 20.

International Coordination

At the request of the Haitian government, the U.S. continues to coordinate America's relief efforts with the United Nations and the international community.  We are coordinating closely with more than 30 nations and hundreds of NGOs to deliver food and water quickly throughout the country.

• Tuesday evening, the President's National Security Advisor convened a Principals Committee meeting with the Vice President, Secretaries of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, our Ambassador to the UN, the Administrators of USAID and FEMA, and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to discuss ongoing efforts and coordination.
• Afterwards, Dr. Shah said the meeting was an opportunity "to take stock of the performance and to make sure we were doing everything we possibly could to accelerate our efforts and do even better by reaching more people in Haiti with needed and critical supplies of food, water, shelter, and other critically needed items like medical kids and access to medical services."
• Secretary Clinton spoke with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Moreno on January 19 about ongoing relief efforts. 

Health/Medical

• The USNS Comfort arrived in Haiti today. The Comfort brings a hospital with a capacity for over 1,000 beds on board and has already started to receive patients by helicopter.
• Department of Defense personnel have treated over 200 patients and supported the movement of more than 29,000 lbs of medical supplies to date.
• As of January 20, more than 5,000 patients have been treated by Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Airports and Ports

• The airfield is open for 24/7 operations - 153 flights were expected for today. The U.S. was using 38 of those slots. 
• U.S. Transportation Command reports that since commencing air operations, a total of 136 missions have been flown that have carried more than 2,400 tons of equipment and more than 1,900 passengers into Haiti. 
• U.S. Army/Navy dive teams with underwater construction teams continued to assess port structural damage with the goal of reopening as quickly as possible. 
• As of today, there are 20 U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels and 51 helicopters deployed. 
• The San Isidro airfield in the Dominican Republic is now open for C-130 operations to assist in the Haiti relief effort.

 Safety and Security

• The major focus of military efforts is establishing water distribution sites, and delivering fuel, food, and medicine. 
• As of January 20, approximately 11,500 military personnel (2,000 ashore and 9,500 afloat) are a part of the relief effort. 
• The BATAAN Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG)/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit with 1,960 Marines and Sailors arrived and began moving forces ashore yesterday. The Marines began relief operations in the vicinity of Leogane. 
• The Coast Guard has approximately 516 service members on site assisting with the Haiti recovery effort (24 ashore, 422 afloat, and 70 aircrew). On January 19, Secretary Napolitano authorized the activation of up to 900 reserve U.S. Coast Guard service men and women in to (mission: replace those deployed on the Comfort? And to assist with port security?). 

Evacuations and Rescues

• Evacuations: The U.S. is conducting evacuations 24 hours a day. 88 American evacuees departed Port-Au-Prince this morning (1/20). On January 19, 1328 were evacuated. To date, more than 6,174 Americans have been evacuated. 
• Search and Rescue: On January 19, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from Virginia Beach and New York rescued two children. And a USAR team from Fairfax worked with locals as well a French USAR team to rescue a female Haitian who had been trapped for seven days without food or water in a supermarket in the Bois Verna neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. 
• Currently, 43 international USAR teams, comprised of 1,739 rescue workers, with 161 dogs, are working in Haiti. 6 of those teams are from the United States - with 511 rescue workers from Fairfax County, Los Angeles County, Miami, Miami-Dade, Virginia Beach, and New York. 
• To date, U.S. USAR teams have rescued 43 people from collapsed buildings, while international and U.S. USAR teams together have rescued a total of 122 people. 

Food and Water

• U.S. military aircraft, helicopters, and vessels are giving the highest priority to the shipment of water. 
• 152,000 liters bulk water and more than 165,000 water bottles were delivered yesterday (1/19). 
• The USS Carl Vinson is producing 100,000 gallons of potable water daily - 2,000 gallons were distributed yesterday. 
• Water tanks are being installed in each zone of the city. Potable water is now available at 45 distribution points. 
• There are currently four established food and water distribution hubs and 190 distribution sites active and serving 96,000 people. 
• The U.S. Coast Guard has distributed a total of 38.5 tons of water (62,880 bottles ) to date. 
• Over the past several days, JTF-Haiti has distributed more than 400,000 meals/humanitarian rations and more than 600,000 bottles of water. 
• C-17 air delivery of food and water will resume Thursday (1/21) -- approximately 15,000 water bottles and 14,500 MREs/Humanitarian Rations are slated for delivery. 
• The first C-17 air delivery was conducted Monday, consisting of 14,000 1-liter bottles and 14,000 packages of daily rations. 
• The vessel Americas departed Port Everglades today with 500,000 MREs, 290,000 liters of drinking water, 8,400 cots, 19,500 blankets, 41,800 tarps, 560 rolls of sheeting, and 70,000 comfort kits provided by FEMA, as well as medical supplies provided by USAID. 
• On January 19, two USAID/OFDA funded flights carrying emergency relief supplies arrived in Port-au-Prince. Commodities included: 
• 40,200 water containers that provide water for 80,400 people, 
• 13,056 hygiene kits, which will serve 65,280 people, 
• 200 rolls of plastic sheeting that will provide shelter for 10,000 people, 
• 5 U.N. World Health Organization medical kits, 
• 8 water bladders, 
• 6 water purification units - each unit produces 100,000 liters of water per day and will provide water to a total of 60,000 people, 
• 3 industrial air-conditioning units, and 
• 1 generator.  
• As of January 19, total USAID/OFDA commodities delivered to Port-au-Prince included: 
• 9 water treatment units to provide 900,000 liters of safe drinking water for 90,000 individuals per day; 
• 71,000 ten-liter water containers to benefit 142,000 people;  
• nearly 24,500 hygiene kits to serve more than 121,000 beneficiaries; 
• 700 rolls of plastic sheeting to support the shelter needs of approximately 35,000 people; 
• 18 water bladders, each with a capacity of 10,000 liters, and  
• five U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) medical kits capable of supplying medical supplies for up to 10,000 individuals for a two-month period. 

Adoptions

• As Secretary Clinton said today at the State Department, "We are coordinating closely with the Haitian government, the United Nations, our other international partners, and NGOs on the ground to ensure that aid reaches Haiti's orphanages and that newly orphaned children are accounted for and cared for...We will also do everything we can to reunite the many children and families who have become separated in the aftermath of the earthquake. And this is a crucial point: we have to be very careful not to exacerbate this difficult situation by removing children from Haiti who might have surviving family members. We will not let red tape stand in the way of helping those in need, but we will ensure that international adoption procedures to protect children and families are followed." 
• The State Department is heading up a joint task force with the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services to streamline this process and ensure that these families are united as quickly as possible while still ensuring that proper safeguards are in place to protect children in our care. 
• An interagency working group has been established to focus on the humanitarian needs of highly vulnerable children. And the Administration is also working closely with the many Members of Congress who are understandably very concerned about this process. 

Assistance

• As of today, in FY 2010, the U.S. Government has provided nearly $171 million in humanitarian assistance for the Haiti earthquake: 
• Secretary of Defense Gates signed the Haiti Disaster Relief Execution Order authorizing up to $20 million in humanitarian, disaster and civic aids funds, 
• USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) contribution of nearly $82 million, 
• USAID's Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) assistance valued at $68 million, and 
• USAID Dominican Republic (USAID/DR) health assistance valued at $1 million. 

How to Support Relief Efforts

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 

• Funding raised through Text Message Program (keyword "Haiti", and short code number "90999"): $25 million from over 2.5 million people.  
• You can also contribute online through ClintonBushHaitiFund.org. 
• Text "QUAKE" to 20222 to charge a $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill). 
• Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information (www.cidi.org). 

Get Information about Friends or Family 

• The State Department has set up a web page that will serve as a clearinghouse for information on Haiti: state.gov/haitiquake, including a new tool, the "Person Finder," to allow people to find and share information on missing loved ones in Haiti. 
• The State Department Operations Center has set up the following phone number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording). You can also send an email to the State Department. Please be aware that communications within Haiti are very difficult at this time. 
• The State Department has also partnered with the tech community to launch a free SMS relief information service to help people in Haiti. The text message program allows people with service from Digetel and Voila to text their location and needs to a free short code: "4636." Since the initiative was launched on January 18, NGO partners have received over 2,000 messages, including on food distribution, missing persons, water. 
• 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.

Text-Message Service Launched For Haiti Earthquake Help

Haitians Can Request The Help They Need With A Cell Phone

Engineers from the technology community have launched a free SMS information service to help people in Haiti. The program allows Digicel and Voila customers to text their location and their needs to a cost-free short code: "4636" (INFO).

In Haiti: Those with Digicel or Voila service can text "I need water" or "I need medical help" with their location. The messages will be routed to aid organizations and emergency responders on the ground. The service is available in locations only where telecommunications systems are working. Friends, family and volunteers may sign up someone else's phone number by texting REGISTER or REGISTRE and their location and number to 4636. 

Outside of Haiti: The service is available internationally. Users may text REGISTER or REGISTRE to +4673 749 4535 with the number and location of the person affected in Haiti. (Note: For those texting internationally, including from the United States, regular international rates will apply.)

Haitian-American Muslim Collects Relief Supplies For Haiti

Abu Bakr Xavier Partners With Mosques And Churches 

By M. Scott Bortot, Staff Writer 

Washington - Abu Bakr Xavier, a Muslim American of Haitian descent, is having trouble communicating with fellow Muslims in Port-au-Prince since it was shattered by the January 12 earthquake. But with what little contact he has made, Xavier knows the situation is dire for Haitians of all faiths. 

"They have become a center for the community," Xavier told America.gov about the relief efforts being carried out by the Al-Fatiha mosque (Mosquée Al-Fatiha) in Port-au-Prince. "They are helping Muslim brothers and Christians - they are helping everyone they can." 

Founder of Haitian American Islamic Community Inc., located in south Florida, Xavier said he is working with a number of organizations in the Miami area - including local mosques, churches and the Red Cross - to collect supplies needed by Haitian earthquake victims. 

Americans of Haitian descent number approximately 800,000, according to press reports. Xavier said in the United States the Muslim Haitian community is concentrated mostly in Miami, New York, Boston and Chicago. In Haiti, the Muslim community numbers around 10,000, with about a dozen mosques throughout the country. 

Xavier founded Haitian American Islamic Community in 2009 to help needy Muslims in Haiti and to educate Muslim Americans and Americans of other faiths about Islam in Haiti. 

"We are in the process of getting more things set up," Xavier said about his organization's efforts to collect and later help deliver relief supplies to Haiti. "As a Haitian-American Muslim, I believe that it is my duty to help." 

Rather than collect funds, Xavier said, his organization is asking donors to send their money to organizations such as Islamic Relief USA. Meanwhile, Xavier is collecting donated supplies such as water, shoes and blankets and delivering them to a local warehouse to be shipped to Haiti. 

"Delivery of supplies to Haiti will be going on for weeks and months," Xavier said.

The son of Haitian immigrants to the United States, Xavier speaks Haitian Creole and is very familiar with Port-au-Prince - two attributes that will be helpful once he reaches Haiti. Although currently unable to travel and help directly with relief efforts in Haiti, Xavier expects to soon find transportation to the earthquake-ravaged country.

"It is not a time to differentiate between people, between Muslim and Christians," Xavier said. "It is a time to act." 

USAID Fact Sheet: Response To Haiti Earthquake

Outlines key developments, U.S. disaster relief and food assistance 

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)

OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) 

FACT SHEET 

HAITI - Earthquake 

Fact Sheet #7, Fiscal Year (FY) 2010

January 19, 2010

Note: The last fact sheet was dated January 18, 2010.

Key Developments

• On January 18, Haitian Prime Minister Bellerive noted that the Government of Haiti (GoH) has declared a countrywide state of emergency and one month of mourning. The GoH is working to stabilize the situation in the country and has requested that banks, including at least 30 in Port-au-Prince, reopen on January 19, allowing businesses to distribute employees' salaries and restart operations. 
• On January 18, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) distributed emergency food items to approximately 100,000 people inside and outside Port-au-Prince, bringing the total number of food aid beneficiaries since the earthquake to 200,000 people. Within the week, WFP aims to distribute 10 million ready-to-eat meals through four humanitarian hubs and at approximately 30 additional locations across Haiti. 
• The GoH is prioritizing a rapid return to economic activities through the establishment of food- and cash-for-work programs, including efforts to re-establish power and remove debris from roads, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 
• The U.N. Protection Cluster, headed by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children, began meeting on January 18. Partners are establishing a system for displaced children, and the cluster will issue guidance on management of displaced children in the coming days. The cluster plans to establish child-friendly centers soon. In addition to the protection cluster, the U.N. has activated new clusters in early recovery and education. 

 1 International Organization for Migration 

FY 2010 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED TO DATE 

Total FY 2010 USAID/OFDA Assistance to Haiti for the Earthquake: $81,864,571

Total FY 2010 USAID/FFP Assistance to Haiti for the Earthquake: $48,000,000

Total FY 2010 USAID/DR Assistance to Haiti for the Earthquake: $1,000,000

Total FY 2010 USAID Humanitarian Assistance to Haiti for the Earthquake: $130,864,571 

Current Situation

 Search and Rescue Operations 

• As of 2000 hours local time on January 18, U.S. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams had rescued a total of approximately 40 individuals from collapsed buildings, including 12 people rescued on January 17. As of January 18, international and U.S. USAR teams had rescued 90 individuals throughout Port-au-Prince, according to UNDAC. Search and rescue activities will continue until the GoH officially decides to cease operations. 

Emergency Food Assistance and Relief Supplies 

• In the coming week, WFP aims to move the equivalent of 10 million ready-to-eat meals. To achieve this, WFP is establishing four humanitarian hubs to deliver food assistance in Port-au-Prince and at least 30 others at locations across Haiti. 
• According to USAID/Haiti staff, USAID partner World Vision plans to distribute food commodities and emergency relief supplies to 25,000 families over the next 1.5 months. World Vision will distribute P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities, kitchen kits, water purification tablets, and hygiene kits. Distribution sites in Port-au- Prince will include Petitonville, Canape Vert, Juvenat, Bourdon, Turgeau, and Peguy Ville. 
• On January 18, the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) consigned to IOM the following emergency relief supplies: 8,448 hygiene kits, 48 kitchen sets, 300 rolls of plastic sheeting, 2,460 ten-liter Defense's (DoD) excess property. 
• To date, USAID/OFDA commodities delivered to Port-au-Prince include nine water treatment units to provide at least 900,000 liters of safe drinking water for 90,000 individuals per day; more than 71,000 10-liter water containers to benefit 142,000 people; nearly 19,000 hygiene kits to serve approximately 94,000 beneficiaries; 700 rolls of plastic sheeting to support the shelter needs of approximately 35,000 people; and 18 water bladders each with a capacity of 10,000 liters, and five U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) medical kits capable of supplying medical supplies for up to 10,000 individuals for a two-month period. Relief commodities have been consigned to implementing partners on the ground and distribution is ongoing. 

Logistics 

• According to participants in the January 18 U.N. logistics cluster meeting, a more organized system is currently in place at the airport, resulting in improved flight operations. The U.N. confirmed that priority has been given to flights carrying food and water. The GoH has positioned a representative at the airport to assist in moving commodities and equipment to and from the facility. On January 18, WFP began operating a 3,500 square meter warehouse at the airport that NGOs can use to store emergency relief supplies. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is providing security for the warehouse. 
• 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, MINUSTAH will escort Haiti-bound relief supply vehicles from the border to Port-au-Prince. 
• The USAID/DART is collaborating with USAID/Haiti staff to facilitate the rental of additional commodity transportation trucks to supplement the so far inadequate MINUSTAH fleet. 

Health 

• The GoH Ministry of Health (MoH) has created a National Health Commission to coordinate the local and international response, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). PAHO reports that the MoH has defined three levels of health care: mobile health clinics, fixed health centers for individuals with minor health problems, and hospitals with surgical capacities. The U.N. health cluster is working to support these GoH priorities, including by coordinating the arrival and deployment of field hospitals. At present, multiple field hospitals are operating in Haiti, and additional hospitals are en route. Members of the health cluster are assessing the capacity of existing hospitals to identify priorities and needs. 

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) 

• Currently a USAID/OFDA-funded Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and an International Medical Surgical Response Team are providing patient care using temporary medical stations set up in a soccer field near a Port-au-Prince medical clinic. As of 0700 hours on January 19, HHS medical professionals had reported a cumulative total of 3,763 patient encounters since arrival in-country, including 3,145 encounters on January 18. 
• The USAID/DART reported a sufficient number of water treatment systems in metropolitan Port-au-Prince. The WASH cluster-the only cluster led by the GoH-together with the private sector, is capable of pumping 1 million gallons of water per day, a sufficient amount to service metropolitan Port-au-Prince. However, the USAID/DART anticipates greater need for water treatment systems outside metropolitan Port-au-Prince, a prediction that the humanitarian community is working to assess. The USAID/DART WASH expert has received reports that tanker trucks are available in Port-au-Prince but lack fuel to move the water. The USAID/DART will examine the need for water bladders and latrines on January 20, while USAID/OFDA works to secure latrines and latrine platforms. 
• According to the U.N. WASH Cluster, many displaced persons sites have not received the necessary quantity of water for distributions due to the lack of fuel. UNICEF and the GoH's National Direction for Potable Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) are working jointly to solve this problem. On January 18, UNICEF and DINEPA provided 7,000 gallons of fuel to assist with water distributions. On January 18, relief agencies distributed water at 80 points, a two-fold increase from the previous day. According to the GoH's Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, water purification units have been established in the city. At the January 19 Humanitarian Forum meeting, UNICEF reported the arrival of a sufficient number of water purification units and noted that relief agencies should not send additional units at this time. 

Population Movement 

• According to the USAID/DART, the GoH Minister of Interior reports that residents of Port-au-Prince are traveling to less-affected cities. The USAID/DART notes that the magnitude of this movement from the capital to other cities is unclear. At a meeting with President Préval, municipalities were encouraged to take the lead in supporting these displaced persons. The GoH Minister of Interior noted that municipal authorities will play a significant role in planning relief distribution and identifying land for provisional resettlements. 

U.S. Government Humanitarian Assistance

• To date in FY 2010, USAID has provided nearly $131 million in humanitarian assistance for the Haiti earthquake, including a USAID/OFDA contribution of approximately $82 million, USAID/FFP food assistance valued at an estimated $48 million, and a USAID/DR reprogramming of $1 million in funding. 
• On January 12, USAID/OFDA activated a Washington D.C.-based Response Management Team (RMT) to support the USAID/DART that deployed to Haiti early on January 13 to assess humanitarian conditions and coordinate activities with the humanitarian community. The 30-member USAID/DART continues to assess priority humanitarian needs and identify emergency relief supplies for immediate delivery to Port-au-Prince from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Miami. 
• DoD has authorized $20 million in overseas humanitarian and disaster assistance appropriations in support of the Haiti earthquake relief effort. DoD has been supporting the humanitarian response through transportation of emergency relief personnel and commodities into Haiti. In addition, several U.S. military ships are currently positioned near Haiti to provide tactical and operational support to the emergency response operation. 
• On January 13, U.S Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth H. Merten declared a disaster due to the effects of the earthquake. In response, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince for the implementation of an emergency response program. USAID/OFDA is providing additional assistance in accordance with the findings of USAID/DART and humanitarian community assessments, as access to affected groups expands over the coming days. 

USAID Humanitarian Assistance to Haiti for the Relief Effort

1. USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of January 19, 2010.
2. Estimated value of food assistance. 

Public Donation Information

• The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Information on organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Haiti may be available at www.reliefweb.int. 
• USAID encourages cash donations because they allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; and ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.