Riots break out as crowds target food supply trucks

RIOTS broke out in the centre of Haiti’s capital last night as government trucks carrying rice were attacked by crowds.

Shots fired by police failed to deter hungry and desperate crowds as they scrambled to grab food bags and fought each other over the supplies.

Up to 10 government trucks with rice bags openly sitting in loads were targeted in Petionville outside Hotel Kinam by crazed Haitins, many who were getting ready to bed down for the night in the local square.

Fights broke out as hundreds of men, women and teenagers ran uphill after the vehicles.

The violent struggle for food in Port-au-Prince came as Haitian President Rene Preval made an urgent appeal for more tents to house up to a million people left homeless by the quake two weeks ago.

Some 200,000 tents are needed before the expected start of the rainy season, Mr Preval said.

The president, who lost his house in the quake, is planning to move into a tent on the lawn of the destroyed National Palace in the centre of the capital.

Small riots broke out earlier this week when a handout of rice and soy oil in front of the palace degenerated into chaos on Monday. Crowds of people overwhelmed UN troops in charge of the distribution and shots were reportedly fired.

The mix of soldiers, western aid workers, rescue teams and UN teams turned even more eclectic with the overnight arrival of actor John Travolta yesterday.

The actor and leading Scientologist flew his own Boeing 707 to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and helped unload six tonnes of ready-to-eat military rations and medical supplies.

Criticism though of the overall aid operation continues on the ground in Haiti, especially the US role in overseeing the movement of planes.

Reports say there is a backlog of at least 800 aircraft awaiting permission to land at the overloaded airport outside the capital, which can handle just 130 flights daily.

Small tremors also continue to rock the region. Up to 50 small tremors have occurred since January 12 when the earthquake flattened the coastal city.