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(Trends Wide) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that he has appointed two diplomats to lead efforts to deal with the anomalous health incidents known as the “Havana syndrome”, which have affected diplomats, their families and other employees. federal.Jonathan Moore will be the new head of the State Department’s health incident response task force, Blinken announced Friday. He also said that Ambassador Margaret Uyehara, a career foreign service official with three decades of experience, will act as coordinator of care for those affected by the mysterious attacks.
The announcement comes nearly two months after the last person to hold the coordinator position left the department, prompting some concern among lawmakers and diplomats about how much effort the department was putting into the problem.
Cases continue to rise around the world, including a recent incident that sickened a senior member of CIA Director Bill Burns’ staff while on a trip to India. The intelligence community has yet to reach a consensus on who is behind the incidents, of which more than 200 have been recorded worldwide, according to Burns.
A “deep damage”
On Wednesday, Blinken emphasized the entire administration effort to address the enigma of the mysterious attacks, which have hit U.S. government personnel in embassies from Asia to Latin America and sparked criticism from lawmakers and diplomats over the response. of the administration.
“All members of the United States government, and especially we at the State Department, are focused on getting to the bottom of what is causing these incidents and who is doing it, caring for those affected and protecting our people.” Blinken told reporters at the State Department.
“These incidents have left our colleagues profoundly damaged. They have suffered serious physical consequences, such as persistent headaches and hearing loss. They have also suffered psychological damage, such as trauma, anxiety and depression,” said Blinken, who has met with victims of the attacks, including during his recent trip to Colombia. “They have been affected, their careers have been affected, their families and colleagues have also.”
Blinken also announced a new partnership with Johns Hopkins University to secure medical assistance for diplomats and their affected families.
“If we want the State Department to be as strong as possible and the most effective advocate for our interests and values around the world, we have to take care of the people who serve here,” Blinken said.
The US government has not determined what or who is causing these incidents. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Wednesday that the United States is “marginally closer” to finding out the nature and cause of the mysterious attacks on diplomats and other US government workers. Known as “Havana syndrome” and said he has “deep questions” about what is causing the symptoms associated with the attacks.
“I would say we are marginally closer,” Schiff said in an interview at the Aspen Security Forum. “I don’t feel like I’m much more optimistic than that. I think we’re making progress. But it’s been very slow and much slower than I certainly think any of us would like to see. It’s not from lack of effort.”
Blinken, who has recently met with some diplomats affected by the mysterious disease, said that getting to the bottom of the incidents is an “urgent priority” for the Biden administration and the entire US government. “You can’t help but feel affected when you listen directly to our people,” Blinken said.
In early October, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan HAVANA Act – or the Aid to American Victims Affected by Neurological Attacks Act – into law. The legislation, which was approved unanimously by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, commits the US government to boost medical support for officials affected by the strange incidents.
It also requires the CIA and the State Department to create regulations that “spell out fair and equitable criteria for payment” to victims of traumatic brain injuries and orders that Congress be informed of the agencies’ use of their new authorizations. funding, including the number of employees and dependents who received payments.
Legislators concern
However, lawmakers remain concerned about the State Department’s slowness in responding to officials affected by the Havana syndrome and sharing the information with Congress, prompting a bipartisan group of 18 congressmen to write to Blinken on Tuesday urging a quicker action.
Lawmakers expressed concern about the department’s slowness in “maintaining a high-level diplomatic commitment to deter this threat” and urged the secretary to “take immediate action to begin to rectify these trends.”
Legislators asked the State Department to appoint a high-level official to lead the department’s response to incidents, to improve interagency coordination and information sharing so that State Department officials receive the best care, which applies quickly the HAVANA law and that regularize the diplomatic commitment on the threat with allies and adversaries.
On Friday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat who has championed victims of the Havana syndrome, said she saw Blinken’s announcement as “a positive step for American personnel and their families who have suffered serious effects for years. on your health due to directed energy attacks. “
“Although we cannot necessarily see their injuries, they are real and deserve the same attention and urgency as injuries that are visible,” Shaheen said. “These individuals and their loved ones were injured while serving their nation. They owe them all the resources to improve and stay healthy, which is why the responsibilities of the Senior Advisor to the Health Incident Response Task Force are so I will do everything in my power to assist Ambassadors Jonathan Moore and Margaret Uyehara and ensure that the concerns of those affected are heard, that they receive timely and comprehensive attention, and that all necessary steps are taken to uncover the cause. of these attacks. “
Blinken praised Moore and Uyehara for the experience they will bring to their new roles.
“Jonathan brings decades of experience dealing with complex political challenges,” Blinken said, mentioning Moore’s destinies “around the world, from Bosnia to Libya” and his work on portfolios ranging from politics on Russia to engagement with the United Nations. United.
Uyehara “is already working on behalf of those affected, including helping them with the workers’ compensation and benefits process,” Blinken said. “She is compassionate and effective. We are grateful for her and for her commitment to this vital issue.”
In their remarks, the two officials stressed that they would bring respect and compassion to their roles, an apparent acknowledgment of complaints from those affected that their concerns were not being taken seriously.
“The most important element of this task is to provide respect, trust, support, information and compassion to all – foreign service, civil service and family members affected by these incidents,” said Moore.
“The Task Force and I believe in respecting those who report and report incidents and will be relentless in our efforts to provide them with the care they need, as we take steps to educate and protect our overall workforce.” he said, noting that “every report will be taken seriously.”
Uyehara stressed that “nothing is more important than the safety of our staff, both abroad and within the country.”
“We will continue to work tirelessly to provide the highest level of assistance possible and to ensure that the injured are treated with the empathy and compassion they so highly deserve,” he said.
Trends Wide’s Katie Bo Lillis contributed to this report.
