Relief Chaos - Confusion affecting Haiti aid efforts

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Two days after a magnitude-7 earthquake devastated the capital of the Western Hemisphere’s most impoverished nation — Haiti — the injured and dying remained in need of aid yesterday, while chaos, confusion and congestion reigned throughout much of Port-au-Prince, even as the death toll stood at 7,000 and counting.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding headed a team yesterday to the country to get a first-hand assessment of the situation on the ground, as well as offer Jamaica’s condolences, friendship and assistance to its neighbour and fellow Caribbean Community (Caricom) member.

Following a meeting at the United Nations compound in this devastated city, the prime minister’s communications point man, Information Minister Daryl Vaz, described the situation as chaotic and confusing.

“This is total madness. This is confusing. The systems have simply fallen down. They have no communication and as such it is hampering the whole logistical effort,” Vaz told the Observer about an hour after arriving.

According to Vaz, flights had started arriving without notification and the US official operating the airport had to be barring incoming flights and asking those there to leave.

“…So the Southern Command of the United States Army is working with the Government of Haiti to clear the congestion that exists,” he said.

However, following a meeting with Golding, as well as meetings with all resident ambassadors, Vaz told the Observer that Haiti’s President René Préval had identified an area of land that would be used as the operation hub for all of Jamaica’s relief efforts towards the Haitian people.

“That area has now been identified. It means that the Jamaica Defence Force will now have an area where all coordination will be done. We will have a ground commander in charge, and all of Jamaica’s efforts will be channelled through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM),” he told the Observer.

Even as Vaz organised on the ground, the weight of the devastation was obvious on Prime Minister Golding’s face. He said very little, but his concern grew with each hour as he tried to assess the impact of the disaster on Haiti’s fragile infrastructure.

The logistical nightmare became obvious to this reporter minutes after arriving at the Toussaint L’ouverture International Airport.

Hundreds of aid workers from countries all over the world remained grounded at the airport several hours after arriving, as there was nowhere for them to set up their operations.

The absence of a coordinating organisation had forced the delegation of more than 100 men and women outside under a tree where they stayed for hours, waiting to be deployed.

Also, frightened families, some including babies and old women, as well as the injured waiting to leave the country, were using their suitcases as seats mere metres away from the parking slots of arriving and departing aeroplanes.

At the airport itself, a massive congestion of small and large vessels was evident. An even larger pile-up of families was seen on the outside fleeing the devastation.

Haitian officials said many airport workers, including immigration officers, were missing — forcing a significant scaling-down of operations, including closing the airport and allowing only individuals with American passports to travel.

Clearly unprepared for the hundreds of international journalists, as well as visiting presidents and prime ministers, immigration desks were simply established anywhere large groups were standing waiting for clearance.

In the departure lounge, some media agencies had simply captured the area, forcing outside those waiting to flee the country.

As the Jamaican delegation headed to the United Nations compound, which houses hundreds of aid workers, it became obvious that that headquarters was itself a hub of confusion.

The head of mission has been confirmed dead following Tuesday’s quake. Thousands are still missing.

Yesterday, Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told the Observer that the situation was very bad and he feared that the absence of a proper system would force some countries to halt relief efforts.

“It is very difficult not only for the Haitian Government but for the friends of Haiti who are trying to help us to bring help to the people,” he said.

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