International community rallies to aid quake-struck Haitians

[FarCenter]

http://www.france24.com/en/20100113-international-community-rallies-aid-quake-struck-haitians-haiti

Relief efforts organised by the international community

US: US President Barack Obama said search and rescue teams would arrive within hours after the "heartwrenching" earthquake.The US military on Wednesday mobilised ships, aircraft and expert teams due to arrive within hours to help the relief effort. An aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, was on the way and due to arrive Thursday.

UK: A humanitarian assessment team is being rushed to Haiti, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said, adding that he is "ready to provide whatever humanitarian assistance is required".

France: A statement released on Wednesday by French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office said that France was sending rescue services to help operations in Haiti and locate French citizens there.

Germany: The German government offered one million euros in immediate humanitarian aid and said it was also looking into other ways that it could help.


Brazil : The country’s defence minister and army chief have left for Haiti to get first-hand information about the Brazilian-led UN stabilisation force in Haiti. At least four Brazilian soldiers have been confirmed dead, with many others missing. Brazil’s government also announced it was sending 10 million dollars in immediate aid.

Canada: Ottawa is sending a plane and two helicopters with medical equipment and a substantial relief and rescue force. Canada will also provide five million Canadian dollars (4.8 million US) to Haiti for emergency shelter, medical services, food, water and sanitation services.

United Nations: The UN is immediately releasing $10 million from its central emergency response fund, and mobilizing an emergency response team—expected to be on the ground shortly -- to help coordinate aid efforts.

European Union: The EU's executive European Commission has approved 3 million euros ($4.37 million) of fast-track funding for the international effort and could pledge more in coming days.


World Bank: The organisation plans to send a team to help Haiti assess damage and map a recovery.

International Red Cross: The agency said it had unlocked emergency funds and was mobilising relief supplies.

The UN's World Food Programme: The programme has said it could respond swiftly with some 15,000 tonnes of food supplies.

[malaise]

1. I read this elsewhere -we're strange folks we humans

Yet on days like this in the middle of a disaster of epic proportions I am proud of our very human response.

---------
The quote:
It's horrible what has happened to our brothers in Haiti. But it is beautiful how whole countries "come together as one", and show ONCE MORE where TRUE human nature resides.
---------
I'm proud of humanity today. If only we'd stop fighting and killing and start looking after one another.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Israel sends aid as Haiti braces for massive death toll in quake

The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Wednesday prepared a rescue team for departure to the disaster-stricken country, saying later that though two Israelis initially regarded as missing had been located, eight Israelis remained unaccounted for in Haiti, among them the daughter of late Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan. The rescue team includes elite army corps engineers and medical corps ready to deploy field hospital, the Israeli consulate in New York reported.

--snip--

President Barack Obama promised an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort, adding that the U.S. commitment to its hemispheric neighbor will be "unwavering."

--snip--

Other nations - from Iceland to Venezuela - said they would start sending in aid workers and rescue teams. Cuba said its existing field hospitals in Haiti had already treated hundreds of victims. The United Nations said Port-au-Prince's main airport was fully operational and open to relief flights.

--snip--

Israeli ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Amos Radian, is scheduled to join the rescue team whose purpose is to gauge the best way Israel can assist with the crisis and decide on the most immediate needs.

IsraAID also planned to send a 12-man search-and-rescue team, which includes emergency medical staff.

more...

[polly7]

3. I hope all of these people are found alive.

Thanks for the info on Cuba, I was thinking they'd probably be one of the first there with extra medical assistance. Great to see Israel sending aid.