Following are some facts about the U.S. USAR response to Haiti that USAID released in its Saturday briefing:

As of 1500 hours local time on January 16, U.S. urban search and rescue (USAR) teams—working in concert with other international teams—had rescued 22 individuals from collapsed buildings, according to the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART).

On January 15 and 16, two additional USAR teams arrived in Haiti—from Virginia Beach and New York, respectively—bringing the total number of U.S. teams to seven and the total number of U.S. USAR members to 506.

As of January 16, two of five U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) had commenced field hospital operations. A third DMAT team, a Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT), and an International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT) also arrived on January 15.

Favorable climate conditions and certain structural qualities have enhanced the survival chances of individuals trapped in collapsed buildings, indicating the search and rescue phase may continue beyond the standard timeframe, with remaining opportunities for live extractions, as reported by OSOCC.

Twenty-seven international USAR teams, comprising approximately 1,500 rescue workers and 115 rescue canines, are operating in Haiti, according to the OSOCC report. USAR teams had searched approximately 60 percent of the most-affected areas of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas as of January 15.

Security concerns, communications, and transport and fuel shortages present the primary challenges to USAR operations.

Two USAID/OFDA-funded U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) communications specialists arrived in Port-au-Prince at approximately 0900 hours local time on Friday to develop a command and control communication network to support USAR teams and facilitate expanded search and rescue operations.

On January 15 at 1800 hours local time, four of the five 35-member U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) arrived in Port-au-Prince to commence rapid- response medical care operations, as had a 35-member International Medical Surgical Response Team and a 35- member Incident Response Team. The aircraft transporting the remaining DMAT and a Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team was diverted to Turks and Caicos due to air traffic congestion. The group is scheduled to depart for Haiti later on January 15.

According to PAHO, at least eight hospitals and/or health centers are unable to function due to earthquake-related damage. Functioning health facilities are overwhelmed, forcing individuals to seek treatment in makeshift areas. At least 13 countries in North and South America have confirmed the deployment of medical teams, and 24 international search and rescue teams are operating in Haiti, with four additional teams en route.

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.

More information can be found at:
USAID: www.usaid.gov – Keyword: Donations
The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or (703) 276-1914
Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.int