GOAL: Lack of peacekeepers hampering Haiti aid effort

Irish aid agency Goal is to become the first NGO to get food aid to Haiti's earthquake victims.

One week on from the devastating earthquake that is now thought to have killed up to 200,000 people, another 1.5 million are homeless and in desperate need of water, food and medical supplies.

The UN World Food Programme's warning it need 100 million prepared meals over the next 30 days and is appealing for more government donations.

GOAL CEO John O’Shea however said the failure of the United Nations to deploy a sufficient number of peacekeepers on the streets of Port-au-Prince is severely hampering the relief effort.

“The United Nations has thousands of peacekeepers on duty in the developing world and doing vital work in a host of countries," O'Shea said.

“But peacekeepers are urgently needed today in Port-au-Prince and in other areas of Haiti. And where are they?

“Unless decisive action is taken now, the suffering will continue unabated and the death toll will rise sharply.

“Until law and order is restored to the streets of Port-au-Prince, it will be virtually impossible to mount a successful relief and rehabilitation programme. That must be abundantly clear to the United Nations. There can be no excuses, no dragging of feet,” he added.