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UN launches Haiti relief appeal UN launches Haiti relief appeal
(about 1 hour later)
The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m), to help victims of Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti.The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m), to help victims of Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti.
UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said the funds would be used to help three million people for six months. UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said the funds were intended to help three million people for six months.
Meanwhile US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she would travel to Haiti on Saturday. The earthquake has left tens of thousands of people dead, and rescuers are continuing an increasingly desperate search for survivors.
The earthquake has left as many as 50,000-100,000 people dead, and rescuers are continuing an increasingly desperate search for survivors. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she would travel to Haiti on Saturday.
The BBC's Matthew Price, outside the ruins of a nursing college in the capital Port-au-Prince, says he has been told by a female member of staff that there are 260 dead bodies and up to 25 people still alive under the rubble. The BBC's Matthew Price, outside the ruins of a nursing college in the capital Port-au-Prince, says he has been told by a female member of staff that there could be 260 dead bodies and up to 25 people still alive under the rubble.
AT THE SCENE Matt Frei, Port-au-PrinceAT THE SCENE Matt Frei, Port-au-Prince
No-one is in charge. The president is sleeping at the airport with quite a few journalists and aid workers.No-one is in charge. The president is sleeping at the airport with quite a few journalists and aid workers.
Earlier this morning, I stood on top of the rubble of the Supreme Court, the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Senate - where a few senators had been killed when the quake hit. Their bodies have been dragged out and put in body bags. The representatives of state are literally lying on the pavement slowly rotting away.Earlier this morning, I stood on top of the rubble of the Supreme Court, the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Senate - where a few senators had been killed when the quake hit. Their bodies have been dragged out and put in body bags. The representatives of state are literally lying on the pavement slowly rotting away.
This is a citizenry left to its own extremely meagre resources. You've got ordinary people trying to administer IV drips to their family members who are slowly dying, but not a single doctor or nurse at the general hospital.This is a citizenry left to its own extremely meagre resources. You've got ordinary people trying to administer IV drips to their family members who are slowly dying, but not a single doctor or nurse at the general hospital.
A team of Brazilian rescuers is trying to gain access to the victims but progress is painfully slow, our correspondent adds.A team of Brazilian rescuers is trying to gain access to the victims but progress is painfully slow, our correspondent adds.
Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, quoted by AFP news agency, said earlier that more than 15,000 bodies had already been recovered and buried. Haitian Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aime told Reuters news agency that 50,000 bodies had already been collected.
"We anticipate there will be between 100,000 and 200,000 dead in total, although we will never know the exact number," he said.
The Pan American Health Organization has estimated that the death toll could be as high as 100,000, while the UN said about 300,000 had been made homeless.
The US has announced it will grant leave to remain to thousands of illegal Haitian migrants living there due to the humanitarian crisis in their country.
The chief of the homeland security department, Janet Napolitano, said they would be allowed to stay and work, initially for 18 months.
Despair and angerDespair and anger
Mr Holmes, who heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said a massive effort was being mounted and officials were "straining every nerve" to help. Aid workers have been grappling with logistical problems as they attempt to distribute aid.
"Almost half of that, as is usual in these situations, will be for food, emergency food aid," he said. The port is too damaged to use and roads are blocked by debris, although the main route from the Dominican Republic is now clear.
"And there will be amounts of between $20m and $50m for health, water and sanitation, nutrition, emergency shelter, early recovery and agriculture." This is a huge and a horrifying catastrophe, the full consequences of which we do not know John HolmesUN humanitarian chief class="" href="/2/hi/health/8461064.stm">Haiti children at risk of disease class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8459653.stm">How survivors are found class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8460547.stm">Haiti desperate for help class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8459090.stm">Survivors' stories
At the country's main airport, which is small and has been filled to capacity, US authorities took temporary control to help distribute aid more quickly.
Correspondents say survivors seem increasingly desperate and angry as bottlenecks and infrastructure damage delay relief efforts.
Mr Holmes, who heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), said a massive effort was being mounted and officials were "straining every nerve" to help.
"This is a huge and a horrifying catastrophe, the full consequences of which we do not know," he said.
He said almost half of the appeal money would be for emergency food aid, with amounts of between $20m and $50m for health, water and sanitation, nutrition, emergency shelter, early recovery and agriculture.
Satellite and close-up images of Port-au-Prince devastation
A total of about $360m has been pledged so far for the relief effort, but only part of this sum will be included in the emergency appeal.A total of about $360m has been pledged so far for the relief effort, but only part of this sum will be included in the emergency appeal.
Mr Holmes earlier told reporters that 30% of buildings throughout Port-au-Prince had been damaged, with the figure at 50% in some areas.Mr Holmes earlier told reporters that 30% of buildings throughout Port-au-Prince had been damaged, with the figure at 50% in some areas.
The Pan American Health Organization has estimated that the death toll could be as high as 100,000. Many there have spent a third day without food and shelter in the ruined capital, though UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is due to visit Haiti on Sunday, said distribution of food and medicine was under way.
Some three million people are believed to have been badly affected by the earthquake, and we will be looking for relief to keep them going for six months John HolmesUN humanitarian chief class="" href="/2/hi/health/8461064.stm">Haiti children at risk of disease class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8459653.stm">How survivors are found class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8460547.stm">Haiti desperate for help class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8459090.stm">Survivors' stories class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8460771.stm">LIVE: Haiti earthquake 'Unwavering support'
Correspondents say survivors seem increasingly desperate and angry as bottlenecks and infrastructure damage delay relief efforts.
Many are spending another day without food and shelter in the ruined capital.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that distribution of food and medicine was under way, but correspondents say there is little immediate sign of a co-ordinated relief effort on the ground.
The BBC's Nick Davis in Port-au-Prince says the only convoys he has seen are people leaving the city, in search of food, water and medicine.The BBC's Nick Davis in Port-au-Prince says the only convoys he has seen are people leaving the city, in search of food, water and medicine.
'Heartbreaking losses' Correspondents say there is little official presence in Port-au-Prince despite incidents of looting.
Mrs Clinton said she would visit Haiti on Saturday to assess the damage, meet government officials and convey to the Haitian people "our long term, unwavering support, solidarity and sympathies".Mrs Clinton said she would visit Haiti on Saturday to assess the damage, meet government officials and convey to the Haitian people "our long term, unwavering support, solidarity and sympathies".
President Obama: "The scale of devastation is extraordinary... the losses heartbreaking"
Earlier US President Barack Obama described the scale of the devastation as extraordinary and the losses suffered as "heartbreaking".Earlier US President Barack Obama described the scale of the devastation as extraordinary and the losses suffered as "heartbreaking".
In a statement at the White House, he said the US would "do what it takes to save lives and help people get back on their feet".In a statement at the White House, he said the US would "do what it takes to save lives and help people get back on their feet".
The US has announced it will grant leave to remain to thousands of illegal Haitian migrants living there due to the humanitarian crisis in their country.
The chief of the homeland security department, Janet Napolitano, said they would be allowed to stay and work, initially for 18 months.
The US has already sent an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to Haiti and the USS Bataan, carrying a marine expeditionary unit, is on its way.
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm Mike Mullen, said a hospital ship and more helicopters would be sent in the coming days, carrying more troops and marines.
He said the total number of US troops would rise to between 9,000 and 10,000.
The Haitian government has given the US temporary control of the country's main airport.
The US state department said Haiti's prime minister had agreed the deal, to help move aid supplies more quickly to survivors of the earthquake.
The announcements came after Mr Obama pledged full American support in a phone call to his Haitian counterpart Rene Preval.
The US president also said he would meet former Presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton on Saturday to discuss Haiti.
Relief problems
Port-au-Prince's small airport is filled to capacity and US air traffic controllers have already taken charge to help manage the influx of planes.
Satellite and close-up images of Port-au-Prince devastation
Mr Holmes said everyone was "working desperately" to resolve the problems and the capacity to deal with flights was rising.
The port is too damaged to use and roads are blocked by debris, although the main route from the Dominican Republic is now clear.
The UN headquarters has collapsed and correspondents say there is little official presence in Port-au-Prince despite incidents of looting.
About 45,000-50,000 people have died since Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake and 300,000 have been made homeless, the UN estimates. The US has already sent an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to Haiti and the USS Bataan, carrying a marine expeditionary unit, is on its way.
A hospital ship and more helicopters are due to be sent in the coming days, carrying more troops and marines, with the total number of US troops to rise to between 9,000 and 10,000.
Aid groups say it is a race against time to find trapped survivors.Aid groups say it is a race against time to find trapped survivors.
Plane-loads of rescuers and relief supplies are arriving from the UK, China, the EU, Canada, Russia and Latin American nations.Plane-loads of rescuers and relief supplies are arriving from the UK, China, the EU, Canada, Russia and Latin American nations.
Gen Douglas Fraser, the commander of US Southcom, says around 90 aid flights a day are landing.Gen Douglas Fraser, the commander of US Southcom, says around 90 aid flights a day are landing.
Have you or your family been affected by the earthquake? Are you taking part in the relief effort? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:Have you or your family been affected by the earthquake? Are you taking part in the relief effort? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
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