US accused of hampering Haiti aid flights and occupying the country
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Former US president and UN special envoy for Haiti Bill Clinton in Port-au-Prince (AP)
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A French minister has called on the United Nations to investigate the dominant US role in Haiti saying aid efforts should be about helping Haiti, not "occupying" it.
US forces turned back a French aid plane carrying a field hospital from the damaged, congested airport in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince last week, prompting a complaint from French co-operation minister Alain Joyandet. The plane landed safely the following day.
Mr Joyandet, in Brussels for an EU meeting on Haiti, persisted: "This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti."
Geneva-based charity Medecins Sans Frontieres backed Mr Joyandet's calls to clarify their role saying lives are being put at risk as planes carrying medical supplies are being turned away by US air traffic controllers.
In another weekend incident, 250 Americans were flown to New Jersey's McGuire Air Force Base on three military planes from Haiti.
US forces initially blocked French and Canadian nationals from boarding the planes, but the cordon was lifted after protests from French and Canadian officials.
The US military controls the Port-au-Prince airport, where only one runway is functioning and has been effectively running aid operations.
Last week Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that six out of seven charter flights bringing supplies and staff had been turned away, and a British search and rescue team was forced to return to the Dominican Republic. "We'd got to Haiti and were circling and circling over the airport but they wouldn't let us land," said Simon Cording, a rescue expert who was on the government-sponsored flight.
"If you ask me what I think of the Americans controlling airspace in Haiti, I want to kick their butt. The longer it takes us to land and start working, the more people will die. It's that simple."
The Red Cross has also complained about diverted flights.
Meanwhile Brazil has lodged an official protest with Washington after US military flights were given priority - forcing non-US flights to divert to Dominican Republic. Brazil also warned the US that it would not relinquish command of UN forces.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was also criticised by MSF when her visit delayed an aid flight, said on Saturday that the US government had no intention of taking power from Haitian officials, adding: "We are working to back them up, but not to supplant them."
The United Nations is taking the lead in the critical task of co-ordinating aid and Mr Joyandet said he expects a UN decision on how governments should work together in Haiti and he hopes "things will be clarified concerning the role of the United States".
The US state department rejected suggestions that US military needs have priority over the needs of quake survivors.
A spokesman said: "The democratically-elected government of Haiti is in charge. The US is not in charge here, the government of Haiti is in charge, the UN is in charge - we're supporting them."
Meanwhile Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the US of 'occupying Haiti undercover'.
"They have 3,000 US soldiers arriving, Marines armed as if they were going to war. There is not a shortage of guns there, my God. Doctors, medicine, fuel, field hospitals, that’s what the United States should send," Chavez said. "They are occupying Haiti undercover."
US military commanders have repeatedly stressed that they are not entering the country as an occupying force.
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31 Comments
If the people who have posted comments represent the American people, I woud say that there is something terribly worong is going on! deeply divided nation! bad manners! lack of information! overly judgemental attitudes! I wish they do not represent the American people. Certainly there are few exceptions.
Posted by Veracity | 19.02.10, 10:58 GMT
Increasing funding should enhance the effectiveness of charities, rather than make the administration more comfortable at the receiving end. When we are over the hump, we will need to pose the question as to why charities which we all subscribe to are performing in such a badly disorganised way on the ground.
Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 12.02.10, 12:26 GMT
this is really sad and im glade we are doing a lot of things to help them ((:
Posted by erica | 05.02.10, 17:41 GMT
Had the USA not been stealing 40% of the Haitian GDP since the 50's and had it not been dumping surplus agricultural products at prices which forced Hatian farmers off their land perhaps Haiti would not be one of the worlds poorest countries.Most of the buildings in Haiti are cinder block but because the gov backed by the USA had little concern for building codes these buildings had no steel support structures usually found in cinder block construction causing the wide spread collapse of buildings leading to the high death toll. The USA has raped the Hatian people in order to maintain a tame and weak corridor between Cuba AND themselves. When it was discovered by the USA that the president they put in charge of the country had stolen nearly$70 million from the treasury he was sent into excile very quietly to france and his just as corrupt son was put in his place. It is only right that the gov and the USA dig deep into their pockets sing their songs sell their cd's and make things righ
Posted by Bruce south africa | 02.02.10, 03:30 GMT
I am proud of USA and allies as they strugle to surpass each other to aid Haiti people. It is a wonder that such compassion and kindness should be displayed by a country that others look at a tyrants, based on their activities in Iraq and Afganistan. Keep it up. They world looks onto you for relief!
Posted by Ahmad Sa'id | 30.01.10, 14:20 GMT
All the recriminations, finger pointing and xenophobic comments back and forth are prime examples of not only way the aid effort was slow in proper organisation, but is a perfect example of what is wrong in the world today. Ordinary people, from the French, Americans, British, et al are what is making a difference n the ground. If you would stop expending much energy on negativity and more on positive action the world would be a much better place. Fact: The Cubans are working with the US and letting flights fly over to get to Haiti. Fact 2 there is only one runway in Haiti designed for no more than 5 flights a day. Naturally trying to get in 150 flights will not go easy and many flights will be delayed. Let alone the fact that there is not enough jet flue to re fuel the planes when they get there. The devastation is so great that even the best co-ordinated effort would not be enough help.
Posted by human being | 25.01.10, 16:47 GMT
I would be ashamed to be an American right now!
Posted by Marianne | 22.01.10, 11:22 GMT
****************************
Marianne,
What a stupid and ignorant comment!
I suspect that there are 300+ million people who are happy that you are not American!
Now maybe if you would get off your backside and do something, instead of finger pointing at those who are trying to help, then maybe the poor people of Haiti would benefit?
Posted by Edward | 23.01.10, 17:25 GMT
I am from Indiana (originally New York), and the government here can never get anything done quickly, I agree. Fortunately, though, the Red Cross set up a way to send a text and be billed $10. I've been promoting that on my FaceBook page. There are LOTS of churches, including mine (Mormon) that are taking it upon themselves to send aid by ship (easiest way in) or to gather people together and go down there. It's quite extraordinary. So, remember that the American people are busting their butts to help. The government is NEVER what it should be, nor is it representative, at many times, of what we actually want (regardless of ruling party).
Posted by Carolynn ni Lochlainn | 23.01.10, 15:55 GMT
By now, everyone in the world....knows how the string-pullers in the USA operate. They (and their good friends in Israel) will have the entire planet for their financial supremacy.
Is there a "fix" possible? I believe that it's too late.
Posted by Ferdinand | 23.01.10, 14:02 GMT
All money should come from the people of usa not the goverment
Posted by DJA | 23.01.10, 07:39 GMT
hati i love ya an i will do anything to help you get help!god will be there for you and i will pray for ya everyday!
Posted by kalima | 23.01.10, 02:55 GMT
To Marianne, you are very ignorant. Are you actually there in Haiti? The US has provided the most aid to Haiti out of all the other countries. I cannot walk around the corner without seeing some kind of fundraiser for Haiti's cause. Interesting to see you bash the US as if we are actually obligated to handle problems all over the world. We have our own problems too. I am thankful for how all the countries have come together and help Haiti. I think YOU make me sick.
Posted by Angelica | 23.01.10, 02:54 GMT
Project Seal? Brilliant, if true. In any event, several years down the road, look to see if the financial/banking sector operates in the same way it had prior to the earthquake. Haitian banks are apparently used by the badniks of the world to launder their ill-gotten lucre. Sometimes, events occur because a stern warning wasn't enough. Man-made event? The A-bomb was science fiction at one point, wasn't it?
Posted by Randy Silver | 23.01.10, 00:36 GMT
I am seeing nothing being done for these poor people but the numpties at the top who are supposed to be helping these people clearly are not doing enough! Makes me sick that these people have already suffered so much and are being made to suffer even more because of the uselessness of the US government and their disastrous aid effort! I would be ashamed to be an American right now!
Posted by Marianne | 22.01.10, 11:22 GMT
Am I missing something here? Has anyone been watching the news? The “so called” help that the US government are blethering on about has still not even got to these poor people and as of yesterday we were 9 days into the disaster! Does anyone remember New Orleans and what happened there and the farcical help mission the US laid on there also? Where is all their help and aid etc for Haiti? The US government are using this crisis for their own agenda which is they want to own Haiti after this! I was sickened by the news when I watched it and could not believe that people were lying in the streets , some not even on a stretcher and there was a mentally ill man just lying on the muddy ground fitting which was heart-breaking to see! The aid is not getting through, why? That’s what I would like to know! What is stopping the useless US from getting their wonderful help through? We are still being asked to donate etc but will that be the same and not get through either?Contd.....
Posted by Marianne | 22.01.10, 11:21 GMT
Haiti is the pooresst country in the norther hemishphere. And that includes all of Latin America and the Orient.
The Haitians all want to emigrate to the United states. And many of them will.
Posted by david wayne osedach | 22.01.10, 02:11 GMT
Go Read,
Usually when people are up against the truth they resort to name calling, and you are no exception. I won't lower myself to your level.
However, I don't remember reading too much about about thousands of people trying to "emigrate" TO Cuba if it is such a wonderful place. It seems like the traffic is always going the other way.
Do many of us a favor, get on a plane and give our best to Castro!
"Hundreds of doctors", what a joke!
Posted by Edward | 21.01.10, 16:38 GMT
Actually Cuba has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world! Their health care system is brilliant!
Posted by teacher | 21.01.10, 11:41 GMT
Edward you are badly informed. You say Cuba can't take care of their own population but previously you asked why they were not helping. Haha. See the problem there? They are helping of course! Haiti has had Cuban doctors there long before this quake struck and they have sent hundreds more. They kindly opened airspace to the US. As for taking care of their own people - Cuba actually has one doctor per 175 people. Compare with UK - 1 per 600! It provides some of the best free healthcare in the world to its people. Cuba has a long history of sending real humanitarian aid. After the 2005 Pakistan earthquake for example - Cuba also sent hundreds of doctors - who then returned. They also gave field hospitals and then 1,000 scholarships to Pakistani students for studying medicine in Cuba. The Pakistan president said they helped more than any other nation! And they were honored with awards from Pakistan to reflect this. They didn't even have good relations with Pakistan! Sorry Ed, you are just an ignorant fool.
Posted by Go Read | 20.01.10, 16:54 GMT
Jed Ray,
Not sure what planet you are living on?
"Cuba has opened it's air space and sent hundreds of doctors..." Wow, what a great country. By the way, Cuba doesn't have hundreds of doctors to send. They can't even take care off their own population. Lets see how many of them go back to Cuba when things get back to normal..
Zuton,
Just wait until some of these charitable group start having their people robbed, raped and killed and you, and your ilk, will be screaming loud: "Where were the Marines?".
Posted by Edward | 19.01.10, 15:49 GMT
31 Comments