FRANCE 24 correspondent Melissa Bell, reporting from Port-au-Prince on Friday morning (0700 GMT+1), says the relief that is pouring into the country has so far done little to alleviate the Haitians' suffering. "It is very hard to see any tangible results," she says. In the meantime, concerns are mounting that desperation is turning to anger in the streets. "There are fears that this could degenerate into something far uglier than the aftermath of an earthquake," Bell says, adding that there have been reports of looting at what few shops remain standing in the capital. Security concerns are already complicating relief efforts. The UN's World Food Programme said on Friday that its stockpiles had been pillaged in the Haitian capital. "Our warehouses in Port-au-Prince have been looted," said spokeswoman Emilia Casell. " We will have to restock."
In the meantime, concerns are mounting that desperation is turning to anger in the streets.
"There are fears that this could degenerate into something far uglier than the aftermath of an earthquake," Bell says, adding that there have been reports of looting at what few shops remain standing in the capital.
Security concerns are already complicating relief efforts. The UN's World Food Programme said on Friday that its stockpiles had been pillaged in the Haitian capital. "Our warehouses in Port-au-Prince have been looted," said spokeswoman Emilia Casell. " We will have to restock."
Life-saving supplies and heavy-lifting equipment struggled to hit the ground in earthquake-devastated Haiti, despite the massive aid efforts launched by the international community. Anger and despair has mounted in the streets.
A Spanish rescuer holds two-year-old Redjeson Hausteen Claude, as his father Reginald Claude looks on, after he was rescued from a collapsed home in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake in Port-au-PrinceBut elsewhere there was little hope. Another child, nine-year-old Haryssa Keem Clerge, had been trapped inside a basement and had been heard begging to be rescued as neighbours clawed at the rubble of one of hundreds of toppled structures teetering on the side of a ravine.Just hours later her lifeless body was finally pulled from the mass of concrete and twisted metal. Wrapped in a green bath towel, it was placed inside a loose desk drawer. With nowhere to take it, the body was then left on the hood of a battered Isuzu Trooper.
A Spanish rescuer holds two-year-old Redjeson Hausteen Claude, as his father Reginald Claude looks on, after he was rescued from a collapsed home in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake in Port-au-Prince
But elsewhere there was little hope. Another child, nine-year-old Haryssa Keem Clerge, had been trapped inside a basement and had been heard begging to be rescued as neighbours clawed at the rubble of one of hundreds of toppled structures teetering on the side of a ravine.
Just hours later her lifeless body was finally pulled from the mass of concrete and twisted metal. Wrapped in a green bath towel, it was placed inside a loose desk drawer. With nowhere to take it, the body was then left on the hood of a battered Isuzu Trooper.
As a Emergency Logistics Manager, nothing on this scale, I can tell you it takes 72 hours before supplies start flowing into the region and another 48 hours, or so, to do the work so you can start distributing those supplies. it's not just a matter of throwing the stuff out the back of an airplane or truck. Things have to be unpacked, inventories, and re-packed for distribution. You have to have distribution channels and you have to have designated supply points spread through out the city to prevent 'clog.' You've got to have the infrastructure to warehouse the supplies, transport the supplies from the arrival point to the warehouse, warehouses, some form of vehicles - even if it is only wheelbarrows - to transport supplies, some kind of food and shelter for the logistics workers ... and so on.
Cuba does this rather well because they SPENT THE DAMN MONEY (!) to build the logistics and other emergency infrastructure. Also, whatever else one can say about 'em, the Communist Party it can be said in their favor that they are organized. Meaning there is a group of (semi) disciplined people that can be thrown into the mix aside from the regular police, fire, hospital, medical, and other standing emergency workers. They established a world-class infrastructure for hurricanes, whether it would work for a 7 magnitude earthquake I doubt. Nobody has. It's probably impossible.
