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Haiti quake aid effort still slow Haiti quake aid effort still slow
(about 1 hour later)
The delivery of aid to victims of Haiti's earthquake is still being slowed by bottlenecks, aid workers say.The delivery of aid to victims of Haiti's earthquake is still being slowed by bottlenecks, aid workers say.
UN and Oxfam staff are finally bringing food and water to some parts of the capital Port-au-Prince, but the airport remains clogged with loaded planes.UN and Oxfam staff are finally bringing food and water to some parts of the capital Port-au-Prince, but the airport remains clogged with loaded planes.
Many survivors of Tuesday's quake have become desperate as they wait for aid, and many are trying to leave the city.Many survivors of Tuesday's quake have become desperate as they wait for aid, and many are trying to leave the city.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has arrived in Haiti, said it was the worst humanitarian crisis for decades.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has arrived in Haiti, said it was the worst humanitarian crisis for decades.
Mr Ban is expected to visit the ruins of the UN mission, where several staff including Special Representative Hedi Annabi were killed, and meet President Rene Preval.Mr Ban is expected to visit the ruins of the UN mission, where several staff including Special Representative Hedi Annabi were killed, and meet President Rene Preval.
The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m) intended to help three million people for six months, while some two million people are thought to need emergency relief.The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m) intended to help three million people for six months, while some two million people are thought to need emergency relief.
AT THE SCENE Nick Davis, BBC News, HaitiAT THE SCENE Nick Davis, BBC News, Haiti
Relief is finally getting through to some in Port-au-Prince but it's a trickle - not a flood - of the aid needed by the people here. In this highly Christian country, there are still songs of praise being sung, but also prayers for the dead and dying.
The US navy is using helicopters to drop supplies of bottled water using soldiers on the ground to keep control. The UN also has distribution points handing out high-energy bars to the hungry. Relief has started trickling through, with NGOs, the UN and the US military getting food and water to those who need it.
But demand is outstripping supply - with food and water being taken faster than they can pass it out. But demand has so far outstripped supply, as the distribution points become quickly overwhelmed by the numbers of people clamouring for supplies.
Bottlenecks still exist between getting the aid, which is arriving in large amounts, to the people who desperately need it.
Meanwhile first reports from the epicentre of the earthquake suggest the damage is even more dramatic than in the capital.Meanwhile first reports from the epicentre of the earthquake suggest the damage is even more dramatic than in the capital.
The BBC's Mark Doyle in Leogane, west of Port-au-Prince, described the scene as "apocalyptic", with thousands left homeless and almost every building destroyed.The BBC's Mark Doyle in Leogane, west of Port-au-Prince, described the scene as "apocalyptic", with thousands left homeless and almost every building destroyed.
But in a sign of hope, rescuers pulled three people alive from the rubble on Sunday. Twelve others were rescued on Saturday, the UN said.But in a sign of hope, rescuers pulled three people alive from the rubble on Sunday. Twelve others were rescued on Saturday, the UN said.
There are also security concerns amid reports of looting.There are also security concerns amid reports of looting.
The US Southern Command's Lt-Gen Ken Keen said that while streets were largely calm there had been an increase in violence.The US Southern Command's Lt-Gen Ken Keen said that while streets were largely calm there had been an increase in violence.
"We are going to have to address the situation of security," he said, quoted by the Associated Press."We are going to have to address the situation of security," he said, quoted by the Associated Press.
"We've had incidents of violence that impede our ability to support the government of Haiti and answer the challenges that this country faces.""We've had incidents of violence that impede our ability to support the government of Haiti and answer the challenges that this country faces."
AFP news agency quoted one of its photographers as saying police had opened fire on looters in a Port-au-Prince market, killing at least one of them.AFP news agency quoted one of its photographers as saying police had opened fire on looters in a Port-au-Prince market, killing at least one of them.
Airport 'overwhelmed'Airport 'overwhelmed'
Correspondents say although the amount of supplies getting through is still small, there is a sense of movement at last.Correspondents say although the amount of supplies getting through is still small, there is a sense of movement at last.
UN LOSSES IN HAITI 37 UN staff confirmed dead, more than 300 missingIncludes Special Representative Hedi Annabi, deputy Luiz Carlos da Costa and acting police commissioner Doug CoatesUN HQ in the Christopher Hotel and other buildings collapsed in the quakeBelieved to be the biggest single loss of life in the UN's history Haiti survivors get first taste of aid In pictures: Aid effort beginsUN LOSSES IN HAITI 37 UN staff confirmed dead, more than 300 missingIncludes Special Representative Hedi Annabi, deputy Luiz Carlos da Costa and acting police commissioner Doug CoatesUN HQ in the Christopher Hotel and other buildings collapsed in the quakeBelieved to be the biggest single loss of life in the UN's history Haiti survivors get first taste of aid In pictures: Aid effort begins
The UN World Food Programme has been handing out aid packages containing food, while UK charity Oxfam has been distributing water.The UN World Food Programme has been handing out aid packages containing food, while UK charity Oxfam has been distributing water.
US troops said they had set up their first foothold outside the airport to deliver aid carried in by helicopters.US troops said they had set up their first foothold outside the airport to deliver aid carried in by helicopters.
But many victims are still not receiving any aid, as the airport remains a bottleneck. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Kim Bolduc says getting supplies out to them from the planes is still a major hurdle.But many victims are still not receiving any aid, as the airport remains a bottleneck. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Kim Bolduc says getting supplies out to them from the planes is still a major hurdle.
"The Haitian airport now is overwhelmed," said UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet."The Haitian airport now is overwhelmed," said UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet.
The port is badly damaged, and many roads still blocked by corpses and debris.The port is badly damaged, and many roads still blocked by corpses and debris.
David Wimhurst, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, said aid was being delivered as quickly as possible.David Wimhurst, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, said aid was being delivered as quickly as possible.
"Aid is going out but it's simply impossible in 24 hours to bring in enough aid to instantly feed all these people, many of whom are in places that are inaccessible," he said."Aid is going out but it's simply impossible in 24 hours to bring in enough aid to instantly feed all these people, many of whom are in places that are inaccessible," he said.
We need fuel to bring in supplies and carry the wounded Elisabeth ByrsUN spokeswoman How survivors are found Haiti quake appeal nets £12mWe need fuel to bring in supplies and carry the wounded Elisabeth ByrsUN spokeswoman How survivors are found Haiti quake appeal nets £12m
The Haitian and Dominican Republic governments are planning an alternative 130km (80 miles) humanitarian road corridor to deliver relief supplies from the southern Dominican town of Barahona, the UN reports.The Haitian and Dominican Republic governments are planning an alternative 130km (80 miles) humanitarian road corridor to deliver relief supplies from the southern Dominican town of Barahona, the UN reports.
The UN has warned about fuel shortages, which it says could affect humanitarian operations.The UN has warned about fuel shortages, which it says could affect humanitarian operations.
"Fuel is the key issue," Elisabeth Byrs, a spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told the BBC. "We need fuel to bring in supplies and carry the wounded.""Fuel is the key issue," Elisabeth Byrs, a spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told the BBC. "We need fuel to bring in supplies and carry the wounded."
'No help''No help'
The UN says up to 80-90% of buildings in Leogane, about 19km west of Port-au-Prince, have been destroyed.The UN says up to 80-90% of buildings in Leogane, about 19km west of Port-au-Prince, have been destroyed.
Satellite and close-up images of Port-au-Prince devastationSatellite and close-up images of Port-au-Prince devastation
One survivor in the town said he had come to Haiti from America for his mother's funeral, only for his wife to be killed in the earthquake. He said that so far people in the area had received no help of any kind.One survivor in the town said he had come to Haiti from America for his mother's funeral, only for his wife to be killed in the earthquake. He said that so far people in the area had received no help of any kind.
"We don't have any aid, nothing at all," he said. "No food, no water, no medical, no doctors.""We don't have any aid, nothing at all," he said. "No food, no water, no medical, no doctors."
Estimates of how many people died following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday have varied.Estimates of how many people died following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday have varied.
The Pan American Health Organization put the death toll at 50,000-100,000, while Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said 100,000 "would seem a minimum".The Pan American Health Organization put the death toll at 50,000-100,000, while Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said 100,000 "would seem a minimum".
A UN official has said aid workers are dealing with a disaster "like no other" in UN memory because the country had been "decapitated".A UN official has said aid workers are dealing with a disaster "like no other" in UN memory because the country had been "decapitated".
Three ministers and several senators are reported to have been killed.Three ministers and several senators are reported to have been killed.
The US has launched what President Barack Obama called "one of the largest relief efforts in its history" following the quake.The US has launched what President Barack Obama called "one of the largest relief efforts in its history" following the quake.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the first senior Western official to arrive in Haiti, on Saturday.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the first senior Western official to arrive in Haiti, on Saturday.
She told Haitians that the US would be "here today, tomorrow and for the time ahead", asserting that "Haiti can come back even better and stronger in the future".She told Haitians that the US would be "here today, tomorrow and for the time ahead", asserting that "Haiti can come back even better and stronger in the future".
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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