U.S., Brazilian troops hand out aid in Haiti slum

[EFerrari]

Source: Reuters

By Patrick Markey and Jackie Frank Patrick Markey And Jackie Frank – 15 mins ago

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – U.S. soldiers and Brazilian U.N. troops handed out food and water in one of Haiti's largest slums on Sunday amid criticism that aid was not getting to earthquake victims fast enough.

The Pan American Health Organization said there had so far been no sign of a feared outbreak of contagious disease among survivors camped out in filthy conditions in about 300 makeshift shelters across Haiti's shattered capital, Port-au-Prince.

But some complained they were not getting enough aid 12 days after a massive earthquake hit the Caribbean country, despite a huge, U.S.-led international relief effort.

In the capital's gang-ridden Cite Soleil slum, U.S. Army Humvees formed a corridor alongside cinderblock houses, and hundreds of Haitians lined up to receive food packs, water and crackers. The slum has long been a flashpoint for violence, but there were no reports of disturbances as food delivery began.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100124/ts_nm/us_quake_haiti_131

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. After the ICRC had to beat a hasty retreat

Yep, that is why you need some of that pesky security....

And oh by the way GOOD.

[Robb]

2. Good news.

So good I will even refrain from a "Brazillion troops" joke. :thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

3. It looks like stuff is getting out to people.

And that "Brazillion" coinage is hell for us dyslexics.

lol

[FailureToCommunicate]

4. These Haitians look so angry at the troops' presence...

?t=1263997569&s=4

[EFerrari]

5. Brilliant!

[dipsydoodle]

6. Current reports on BBC's teletext service

say the troops are acting as if they're in Iraq or Afghanistan obsessively setting up secure areas. Outbreaks of violence are infact isolated but allegations of them being more so are further delaying aid getting to outlying areas. The greater the delay the more that increased violence could become a self fulfilled prophesy.

Don't blame me if you get sanitised news in the USA - we don't get that in Europe.

edit spelling errors

[EFerrari]

7. The same response made this board howl during Katrina.

Whatever. I've mostly stopped dealing with that and am collecting links so at least I can figure out what happened.

Thanks, friend.

[izquierdista]

8. That's all they have been trained for

And all the frantic Chicken Littles dashing around yelling "security!, security!" don't help either.

[Skittles]

9. lovely picture

it's nice to see some Haiti folks smiling

[EFerrari]

10. I'm a painter and I don't think I've ever seen such beautiful faces

ever, anywhere, as I have this week, watching the Haiti coverage. That has nothing to do with anything, but there it is.

[FailureToCommunicate]

12. Yes, especially in relation to soldiers in U.S. uniforms. Of course there are many medical

people now there as well, but the faces there are looking anxious or in pain but still, we can hope aid will linger as a better memory for them then troops in the past.

[marasinghe]

14. excellent.

:applause:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. Nice!

:patriot:

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Thanks for that notice. In a grim situation a few bright stories, like from the other day:

link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7531578&mesg_id=7531578