Consular Affairs and Special Citizen Services

1. Consular Affairs and Special Citizen Services Elizabeth Cherry CA Crisis Management Coordinator CA-Crisis-Mgt@state.gov

2. Consular Affairs and Family Assistance • Foreign Disasters • Shipment of Remains • Domestic Disasters • Medical Escorts • Evacuations • Other situations

3. Foreign Disasters Crash of Ethiopia Air, Comoros, 1996

4. Post Response • Phone bank • SitReps to Washington • Travel to crash site/airport/morgues • Victims’ assistance • Logistical support • Forward request for NTSB or forensic assistance

5. Post Response (cont.) • Family Morgue or Crash Site Visits • Identification and Return of Remains • Disposition of Unidentified Remains

6. Department Response • Focus on victim assistance • Public inquiries • NOK notification • Check for dual nationals • Expedite passport/visas

7. Return of Remains • Ensure remains are properly prepared • Place U.S. and foreign funeral homes in contact • Communicate to the foreign funeral home appropriate American proprieties and respect for human remains • Obtains shipment waybill number

8. Required Documents • Consular Mortuary Certificate • Certificate of Death • Affidavit by the Local Funeral Director • Transit Permit • Laissez-Passer for a Corpse

9. Other Requirements • Quarantine • Customs • Transit Label

10. Domestic Disasters Crash of Egypt Air, 1999

11. Domestic Disasters • MOU with NTSB • State notifies foreign governments • At NTSB’s request, State can • Use passport and registration records to identify and notify U.S. citizen NOK residing abroad • Assist the airline, federal support staff, and others to maintain contact with foreign-based family members

12. Domestic Disasters (cont.) • Facilitate entry into U.S. of foreign air carrier employees and families of foreign victims by expedited issuance of visas to eligible applicants • Provide on-scene liaison officer for Department-related issues • Obtaining dental records and x-rays from families residing abroad • Responding to family requests for assistance

13. Domestic Disasters (cont.) • Provide translation services to facilitate communications • Assist effort to provide medical examiner information on foreign victims to complete death certificates

14. Domestic Disasters (cont.) • Assist foreign governments to obtain U.S. death certificates for families of foreign victims • Advise on and facilitate consular and customs services for return of remains and personal effects into country of destination

15. Medical Escorts • Handoffs of patient to local authorities • All the way to the final U.S. destination • Medical license valid for U.S. • If not, HHS escort from POE • Language Ability

16. Escorts for Mental Patients • Air carriers determine conditions under which may be allowed onboard • DOS alerts DHS, TSA if a history of violence • Escort details • Sedation or physical restraint • Reception officials briefed about diagnosis, dosage, etc.. • Escort stays with patient until at final destination and in care of reception officials

17. Passengers with Communicable Diseases Liaise with CDC to • Notify passengers located in vicinity • Notify governments of foreign passengers • No Flight List if alerted to potential case

18. Evacuations Hurricane Wilma, October 2005 Lebanon Evacuation 2006

19. Evacuations • Receipt of evacuees • HHS • DOS • Baggage handling • Family assistance • Media considerations

20. Other Special Circumstances Release of Iran Hostages, 1981

21. Questions? CA-Crisis-Mgt@state.gov