Role of US military to be examined

THE role of the US military in delivering aid to Haiti is likely to be examined in the aftermath of the disaster, according to the Irish Red Cross, who said assistance should be delivered “purely on the basis of need”.

Head of the International Department of the organisation, Noel Wardick, told the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs that, while he did not have any serious concerns about the issue, “the impartiality of aid can be questioned when it is delivered by military forces”.

He said: “We believe the military has a security role, a law and order mandate, but we would argue that aid and the delivery of aid is best left with aid agencies and organisations.”