With Foreign Aid Still at a Trickle, Devastated Port-au-Prince General Hospital Struggles

[EFerrari]

With Foreign Aid Still at a Trickle, Devastated Port-au-Prince General Hospital Struggles to Meet Overwhelming Need

One week after Haiti suffered the worst earthquake in over 200 years, a strong aftershock hit this morning. Initial reports said the latest quake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale—one of the strongest aftershocks since the 7.0-magnitude quake crippled this country eight days ago. While tens of thousands of the wounded await medical help, the survivors are still burying the dead. The death toll is now estimated at a staggering 200,000. Some three million Haitians—a third of the country’s population—have been directly affected by the earthquake, with one-and-a-half million now homeless. Amy Goodman files a report from the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince.

snip

AMY GOODMAN: There are now, I think it was announced, 12,000 US soldiers. The Venezuelan President Chavez called it an occupation now. What would you say?

DR. EVAN LYON: I think it has real potential to be an occupation. If there are 12,000 soldiers here, it is an occupation. I’ve not known of any violence at the hands of the American military. We’ve also just barely had the beginning of collaboration with them, literally within the last thirty minutes. General Keane, their operations person, finally showed up here after some time. And the military is helping us secure the grounds. But of course this is an occupation. It’s not a—this is a disaster area. Warm bodies help, but military is potentially very destructive in this environment.

AMY GOODMAN: What do you need? What would be constructive?

DR. EVAN LYON: What we need right now is electricity, water, nurses, surgeons and materials. We have on site right now—we have seven operating rooms up and running. We need about fifteen or twenty within the next twenty-four hours. We have materials to keep the operating rooms going for maybe another twelve hours. Once that runs out, then we’re stuck.

AMY GOODMAN: Soldiers haven’t brought you supplies?

DR. EVAN LYON: Not yet.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/20/devastated_port_au_prince_hospital_struggles

Audio, video, transcript at link.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Well at least

the news we've been getting in Europe is now leaking out in the USA.

[EFerrari]

3. It's stunning. I think my triggers were first tripped

when Clinton and Bush were named even though that in itself was a perfectly normal choice to make.

You know, this isn't Katrina on steriods. Katrina was Americans being treated the way America has always treated Haitians.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Another 4000 troops on the way

The US is sending another 4,000 sailors and marines to Haiti for the earthquake relief effort, diverting them from deployments in the Gulf and Africa.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and USS Nassau Amphibious Ready Group would "significantly" increase the ability to quickly provide aid, the navy said.

The move will increase the number of US troops involved to about 16,000.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8471460.stm

[Waiting For Everyman]

4. Kick

[eilen]

5. I heard an interview on NPR this am that

Hillary Clinton stated we were not an "occupation" however we would be there long term. Her lackey/staffer in charge of relief efforts interpreted this as "we will continue to be in partnership with Haiti to "help" them become more self-sustainable."

[EFerrari]

6. I want to find out who is on the board of the ClintonBushHaitiFund.

The last time I looked, it wasn't listed but I'm going to call them today and ask if it's still not up yet.

[fishbulb703]

7. US Troops are distributing supplies at more than 300 sites, have given out more than 400,000 meals

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-21/u-s-rescued-haitian-victims-treated-on-hospital-ship-update2-.html

[EFerrari]

8. The source for that is a White House statement.

If true, great. I'd like to see it independently reported.