[jay w]

Every news program is reporting on what is happening in Haiti, and all of them seem to have a common thread, the lack of action on the ground in trying to disperse aid and food

What the hell is going on over there, surely it is not too hard to co-ordinate a support operation, the food and aid are already on the ground yet it appears that those who are in control of the operation are dragging their feet....

And still we have organisations asking for donations for these poor people, again i have no problem with giving money, but when i see such bad organisation i question how much of my donation is funding the organisation that is clearly not doing the job properly...

I really feel for these people, they are promised help, they can see the food and aid coming in on the planes and helicopters no benefit

I'll get off me soapbox now

 

[mikebrown]

totally agree Jay...logistically this is probably the biggest aid operation anyone has worked on in modern times but dosen't help the people that urgently require help

 

[Nev]

Another +6 after shock today.

HAITI UPDATE: Eight days on, still a desperate for medical supplies. - news - MSF UK

 

[jay w]

Another +6 after shock today.

HAITI UPDATE: Eight days on, still a desperate for medical supplies. - news - MSF UK

But why is this happening?? we are a week after the initial incident and the troops are on the ground, UN are there and have a whole compound full of vehicles

I was watching the news tonight, a Nurse/Doctor had just delivered a baby and was going to seal the umbilical cord with two cable ties and cut the cord with a knife that cannot be sanitised because they have no facilities

When the reported asked her about this you could tell the Dr/Nurse was exasperated by the situation

 

[0of0]

It seems there is too much bureaucracy involved (as anywhere these days)

I watched a report on some Manchester firemen that went over to assist, they were up at the crack of dawn & ready for action - they were'nt mobilised until late morning :tut:

 

[Toronto Spider]

If you think that's bad, try this:
US military operations block relief efforts in Haiti

Yes, I know the source is dubious, but I did see a couple of news reports the other day saying Canadian military aircraft were being prevented from landing by U.S. officials, so I don't doubt that this type of confusion/deliberate action (take your pick) is definitely going on. I just don't have time to do a deeper dig and find more neutrally-sourced articles at the moment.
--Toronto

Edit: additional sources dealing with the struggles to put planes on the ground (for various reasons):
Paris seeks to dispel tensions with US
Relief Groups Seek Alternative Routes to Get Aid Moving - NYTimes.com

 

[Nev]

The US control the airport.

Nothing is allowed to land unless they okay it.
Nothing leaves the airport without a full military escort.

They are playing ultra safe.

Unfortunately, hundreds if not thousands are now dying
because of this.


They'll be up to a strength of 16,000 personnel by the end of the week.
Hopefully they will use this to control the situation and get down to business.

 

[FredDibnah]

It's easy to criticise - but can you imagine the logistical nightmare of it all tho?

It must be like trying to organize the olympics but with a blindfold on and one hand tied behind your back! There has been massive destruction and devastation of the existing infrastructure. Add to that the media scrum who pick up on every inefficiency, all the well meaning groups who have turned up expecting to go to work, and the added problem of how difficult conditions were in Haiti even pre-earthquake....

I'd say 90% of this is being done just about as well as can be expected in the circumstances - largely by very well meaning volunteers.

Yes the US military are being heavy handed - but there is clearly a fear of things getting out of control down there so it's potentially a necessary evil to have them "in control". Time will tell if they will actually be needed.

If this would have happened 25 years ago then apart from a charity single and a volunteer rescue dog team from Rother district council they might not have seen any aid at all by this time.

 

[TseTse54]

You have to remember that the yanks have only one plan to take over an airport. If someone has forgotten to cross off the 200 M1A1 Abraham tanks, 500 Bradley APCs, Patriot missile systems and 10 gazillion rounds of ammo, of course it's going to take a while for aid to be let in.
It could have been worse, it used to be a French colony..... or we could have done it