The US is continuing to partner with authorities in Haiti to accelerate emergency relief, according to acting chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy Carol Horning, who yesterday said Washington is not in control of the devastated island.
“The Haitian government is leading the effort,” Horning emphasised yesterday at a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel, when questioned as to whether the US is in control. She said Haiti’s President Rene Preval is in the forefront of the humanitarian efforts, which the US and other international agencies are spearheading. She said too that Haiti’s civil society remains vibrant and active “despite being affected by the earthquake.”
The US government’s treatment of regional leaders in the wake of the crisis was not directly addressed by Horning when raised, but she noted the situation on the ground has since changed and that difficulties in the past as it relates to access are minimising.
She continued saying problems arose because systems were not yet established and in place. She noted coordination is important and said that the regional body, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has been working with the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.
Horning made the point that her statements on the US government’s humanitarian assistance in Haiti would cover only certain areas because a full briefing is scheduled for Monday at the US Embassy with chargé d’affaires Karen Williams, who is currently out of the country. Horning said Williams would provide more details as to the efforts in Haiti and as a result, she opted not to respond to a few questions which were raised. President Bharrat Jagdeo’s criticism that the US is acting in its own self-interest in Haiti was among the questions Horning referred to Williams.
Horning told reporters the US is committed to the relief efforts in Haiti both in the “short and long term” but stressed that it is an international effort and not a sole US effort.
To date, the US has exhausted around US$188M in assistance spanning from search and rescue, humanitarian aid including emergency food assistance, healthcare and shelter to water and sanitation among other areas.
She said the capital city was devastated, but that “other areas were affected,” adding that the relief efforts are now expanding beyond the capital.
The daily count of persons receiving food assistance totals around 65,000, Horning said, and indicated that water shipment has been a major part of the relief efforts. She noted healthcare has also been critical in the response, saying that the USNS Comfort hospital ship has arrived in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince and has treated close to 1,000 patients and performed some 32 surgeries since arriving on Wednesday.
In a press statement released yesterday, USAID said the US Department of Defence (DoD) continues to work to improve logistical and transport capacity to expedite the distribution of emergency relief commodities.
It said DoD engineers and dive teams with underwater construction capabilities are currently restoring piers, cranes and buildings, as well as clearing debris in the capital. “DoD estimates that the port will be able to receive 350 containers per day as of January 25, an increase from the present daily capacity of 250 containers,” the statement said.
In addition, USAID said teams are working to restore San Isidro airfield in the Dominican Republic, approximately 220 km from Port-au-Prince, to full operational capacity, thus providing an alternative site to the Port-au-Prince airport for delivery of emergency relief commodities and emergency medical equipment and personnel for further transport into Haiti.
With respect to public donations, USAID said, the most effective way people can assist efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organisations that are conducting relief operations.
The agency encourages cash donations because “they allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed” and it also reduces the burden on scarce resources.
