Haiti relief effort Update
By jayita, Gaea News NetworkFriday, January 15, 2010
NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com) — International relief to the quake-devastated Haiti has been restrained today. According to report, there is an air traffic in the Haiti airport, which causes delay in the relief effort.
Authorities say, there is no room at the airport for more planes and not enough jet fuel for planes to leave. Haiti has asked US aviation authorities not to authorise any more flights to Port-au-Prince for now.
Aid deliveries by ship are impossible because the port in the capital has been badly damaged.
Everyone trying to reach the soil of Haiti with massive relief effort. But it is not possible to reach the interim, where thousands of people are crying for food and water. It is unclear, why the authorities and different charities are not using parachute to drop medicine, food and water to the damaged area. This can be easily done without touching the soil of Haiti and avoiding the space saturation problem in the airport.
A good news so far is that, despite delays in the airport, relief supplies have begun from US, France, China, Spain, Belgium.
US President Barack Obama has pledged $US100 million for Haiti relief aid, saying it is one of the largest relief efforts in recent history.
The United States is sending up to 3,500 soldiers and 300 medical personnel to Haiti to help with disaster relief and to provide security.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, is sending two navy ships, carrying medical equipment to the quake zone.
During this emergency period, The United Nations mission, one the most powerful charitable organization in Haiti itself is helpless. The UN has now confirmed that 36 of its staff were killed when their building collapsed during the quake and almost 200 staff members are still unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, tech industry has stretch out helping hand to the earthquake survivor in Haiti. Facebook has launched a “Global Relief” page. Oxfam America has already raised $33,000 via Facebook Causes. Members can purchase an Oxfam-sponsored “Water for Haiti” charity gift on Facebook for 70 credits, which will provide one clean jug of water to survivors.
The American Red Cross and Partner in Health have also raised thousands through Facebook Causes.
Google is not far behind. Report said, it will donate $1 million to organizations that are providing rescue efforts as well as water, food, medical care, shelter and support to those affected.
About 7,000 victims killed in the earthquake in Haiti have already been buried in a mass grave. The Red Cross estimates the death toll from the earthquake is likely to be at least 45,000, with another 3 million people injured or homeless.
