STRUGGLE TO DELIVER AID AS DEATH TOLL MOUNTS
The death toll from Tuesday’s earthquake has already reached between 45,000-50,000 according to the Red Cross, but it is expected to rise much higher.
Experts are predicting the number will spiral in the coming days and weeks as the levels of infection and contamination caused by the unhygienic conditions escalates.
In what is one of the world’s poorest countries, facilities offering basic healthcare were already sparse. What was there was wiped out in the devastating earthquake.
The continued threat to survivors is compounded by the difficulties aid agencies are having in getting medical equipment and food to those affected.
Yesterday as piles of dead bodies began to build up all around the island, there were huge difficulties in getting provisions in by water because the main port, Port-au-Prince, was closed by the damage it had sustained.
The airport, without proper unloading equipment, struggled to handle a spate of flights carrying experts and aid.
Eventually the Haitian government stopped accepting flights because ramp space at the airport in the capital city, Port-au-Prince, was saturated and no fuel was available, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown.
The roads were also snarled up as people, fearful of going near damaged buildings, stood or rested in the roads and slowed traffic.
Aid groups said it was a race against time to find people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Their job was being made much harder by the lack of proper lifting machinery. In many cases rescuers were having to dig with their hands.
Irish aid agencies have reported huge volumes of donations in response to their appeals, despite the economic gloom and the level of support given before Christmas for charities helping those affected by flooding nearer to home.
Figures for pledged financial support to a handful of organisations suggested they had raised more than €400,000 in a little over 24 hours of the tragedy, with dozens of major charity events already being organised around the country yesterday.
UNICEF Ireland said the public reaction was overwhelming, with many callers to its donation line having suffered damage to their own homes in recent floods and weather conditions.
“We’ve been completely moved by the generosity of Irish people who have given €94,000 in the last 24 hours. Our work is focused on children, who make up half the population of Haiti, so we will need donations to keep coming over the next few days and weeks,” a spokesperson said.
As President Mary McAleese conveyed the thoughts and prayers of Irish people to her Haitian counterpart yesterday, Taoiseach Brian Cowen promised extra funds and technical support for relief teams.
The Irish Aid team of technical experts due to arrive in Haiti in the coming days will help co-ordinate delivery of a €2m contribution already pledged by Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin.
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