This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8466698.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US forces bolster Haiti efforts | US forces bolster Haiti efforts |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 2,000 US marines are set to join 1,000 US troops on the ground in Haiti, as aid efforts gather pace almost a week after the earthquake. | More than 2,000 US marines are set to join 1,000 US troops on the ground in Haiti, as aid efforts gather pace almost a week after the earthquake. |
| Their arrival comes amid reports of violence and looting and as UN and US forces pushed back an angry crowd at the airport gates with batons. | Their arrival comes amid reports of violence and looting and as UN and US forces pushed back an angry crowd at the airport gates with batons. |
| UN chief Ban Ki-Moon said he would recommend the UN Security Council boost police and troop numbers by 3,500. | UN chief Ban Ki-Moon said he would recommend the UN Security Council boost police and troop numbers by 3,500. |
| People have been continuing to flee the capital and many are seeking US visas. | People have been continuing to flee the capital and many are seeking US visas. |
| The BBC's Mark Doyle in Port-au-Prince says perhaps 5,000 people have lined up outside the US embassy, desperate to join relatives among the large Haitian-American community in the US. | The BBC's Mark Doyle in Port-au-Prince says perhaps 5,000 people have lined up outside the US embassy, desperate to join relatives among the large Haitian-American community in the US. |
| But UN humanitarian chief John Holmes played down worries over security, saying that despite incidents of violence, the overall situation was calm. | But UN humanitarian chief John Holmes played down worries over security, saying that despite incidents of violence, the overall situation was calm. |
| AT THE SCENE David Loyn, BBC News, Port-au-Prince | AT THE SCENE David Loyn, BBC News, Port-au-Prince |
| The US military took over the airport within hours of the earthquake and there's some disquiet at their large presence among aid workers who believe that humanitarian relief should be purely a civilian affair. | The US military took over the airport within hours of the earthquake and there's some disquiet at their large presence among aid workers who believe that humanitarian relief should be purely a civilian affair. |
| But for their part, the civilian aid effort has been very slow to get into gear. The aid system that existed before was fractured like so much else in the disaster and the responses lack co-ordination. | But for their part, the civilian aid effort has been very slow to get into gear. The aid system that existed before was fractured like so much else in the disaster and the responses lack co-ordination. |
| The deputy head of the World Food Programme here, Ben Yatiri, said that within only a few days many more people would receive food than the 100,000 now being fed - but the worsening security means that every truck that goes out needs very careful planning and a military escort, otherwise it would be attacked. | The deputy head of the World Food Programme here, Ben Yatiri, said that within only a few days many more people would receive food than the 100,000 now being fed - but the worsening security means that every truck that goes out needs very careful planning and a military escort, otherwise it would be attacked. |
| The delay in delivering aid has made the job far harder now. | The delay in delivering aid has made the job far harder now. |
| His message was echoed by the leading US general in Haiti, Lt Gen Ken Keen, who said there was currently less violence in Port-au-Prince - already a troubled city - than there had been before the earthquake. | His message was echoed by the leading US general in Haiti, Lt Gen Ken Keen, who said there was currently less violence in Port-au-Prince - already a troubled city - than there had been before the earthquake. |
| Earlier, Gen Keen said up to 200,000 people may have died in the disaster. | Earlier, Gen Keen said up to 200,000 people may have died in the disaster. |
| He said the disaster was of "epic proportions", but it was "too early to know" the full human cost. | He said the disaster was of "epic proportions", but it was "too early to know" the full human cost. |
| Delivering aid to the centre of the capital is getting much more difficult, as anger fuelled by hunger reaches boiling point, and military escorts are needed for trucks carrying supplies, the BBC's David Loyn in Port-au-Prince says. | Delivering aid to the centre of the capital is getting much more difficult, as anger fuelled by hunger reaches boiling point, and military escorts are needed for trucks carrying supplies, the BBC's David Loyn in Port-au-Prince says. |
| US Navy helicopters have been dropping packages of ready-to-eat meals and water from the air, but they can only feed a few people at a time, our correspondent adds. | US Navy helicopters have been dropping packages of ready-to-eat meals and water from the air, but they can only feed a few people at a time, our correspondent adds. |
| Lt Cdr Walter Matthews of the US Navy told the BBC he understood the frustration among Haitians but that the aid effort was improving. | Lt Cdr Walter Matthews of the US Navy told the BBC he understood the frustration among Haitians but that the aid effort was improving. |
| Luca Pupulin, of the French charity Acted, told the BBC he had seen many people heading north away from the capital. | Luca Pupulin, of the French charity Acted, told the BBC he had seen many people heading north away from the capital. |
| He said: "I think on the whole the community is trying to do its best, but they are getting very frustrated. | |
| "A couple of days ago we went through the main market street and we didn't stay very long. People were getting aggressive with each other and pillaging." | "A couple of days ago we went through the main market street and we didn't stay very long. People were getting aggressive with each other and pillaging." |
| Looting has spread to more parts of downtown Port-au-Prince, the Associated Press news agency reports, with hundreds of young men and boys clambering over rubble to take whatever they could find from shops. | |
| Especially prized is toothpaste, which people smear under their noses to fend off the stench of decaying corpses. | |
| Airport complaints | Airport complaints |
| Port-au-Prince's port is badly damaged, and many roads are still blocked by corpses and debris, hampering the delivery of fuel and other supplies except by air. | Port-au-Prince's port is badly damaged, and many roads are still blocked by corpses and debris, hampering the delivery of fuel and other supplies except by air. |
| More than 70 people have been pulled from the wreckage in the last few days UN humanitarian chief John Holmes Struggle to survive in Haiti camps Haiti spirit strained but intact In pictures: Haiti misery endures | More than 70 people have been pulled from the wreckage in the last few days UN humanitarian chief John Holmes Struggle to survive in Haiti camps Haiti spirit strained but intact In pictures: Haiti misery endures |
| Several agencies complained at the weekend about not being able to get aid through the heavily congested airport, which is being run by the US military. | Several agencies complained at the weekend about not being able to get aid through the heavily congested airport, which is being run by the US military. |
| But Mr Holmes said that initial issues were being resolved, with the introduction through the WFP of a system to prioritise humanitarian flights. | But Mr Holmes said that initial issues were being resolved, with the introduction through the WFP of a system to prioritise humanitarian flights. |
| As hopes of finding survivors fade, Mr Holmes told reporters that there were now 43 search and rescue teams on the ground, with 1,700 people involved. | As hopes of finding survivors fade, Mr Holmes told reporters that there were now 43 search and rescue teams on the ground, with 1,700 people involved. |
| "More than 70 people have been pulled from the wreckage in the last few days," he said, saying that the search would carry on until there was no longer hope of finding anyone alive. | "More than 70 people have been pulled from the wreckage in the last few days," he said, saying that the search would carry on until there was no longer hope of finding anyone alive. |
| The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Monday that American teams had pulled 10 people alive from the rubble the day before. | The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Monday that American teams had pulled 10 people alive from the rubble the day before. |
| "According to rescue officials, this is the largest number of rescues in a single day in decades of earthquake search and rescue efforts," it said in a statement. | "According to rescue officials, this is the largest number of rescues in a single day in decades of earthquake search and rescue efforts," it said in a statement. |
| At least 70,000 people in Haiti have already had burials. | At least 70,000 people in Haiti have already had burials. |
| Aid workers are starting to expand their efforts to earthquake-affected areas outside the capital, including Leogane, Gressier, Petit-Goave and the coastal town of Jacmel. | Aid workers are starting to expand their efforts to earthquake-affected areas outside the capital, including Leogane, Gressier, Petit-Goave and the coastal town of Jacmel. |
| Aid pledges | Aid pledges |
| Speaking on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would recommend that the UN Security Council boost UN troop numbers in Haiti by 2,000 for six months, and UN police numbers by 1,500. | Speaking on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would recommend that the UN Security Council boost UN troop numbers in Haiti by 2,000 for six months, and UN police numbers by 1,500. |
| AID PLEDGES TO HAITI EU - $604m (420m euros; £371m)US - $100m pledged in immediate aid, with promise of more laterUK - $32mNorway - $17.6mFrance - $14.4mWorld Bank - $100m | AID PLEDGES TO HAITI EU - $604m (420m euros; £371m)US - $100m pledged in immediate aid, with promise of more laterUK - $32mNorway - $17.6mFrance - $14.4mWorld Bank - $100m |
| Mr Ban, who visited Port-au-Prince on Sunday, added: "The heartbreaking things I saw yesterday compel us to act swiftly and generously." | Mr Ban, who visited Port-au-Prince on Sunday, added: "The heartbreaking things I saw yesterday compel us to act swiftly and generously." |
| The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m) intended to help three million people for six months, most of whom are thought to need emergency relief. | The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m) intended to help three million people for six months, most of whom are thought to need emergency relief. |
| Meanwhile in Brussels, European Union nations pledged more than 420m euros ($604m; £320m) from the EU budget to assist Haiti, with about half the sum dedicated to emergency and short-term aid. | Meanwhile in Brussels, European Union nations pledged more than 420m euros ($604m; £320m) from the EU budget to assist Haiti, with about half the sum dedicated to emergency and short-term aid. |
| At least 200m euros will be dedicated to funding medium- to long-term rebuilding efforts. | At least 200m euros will be dedicated to funding medium- to long-term rebuilding efforts. |
| The British government has said it will treble its aid to Haiti to £20m ($32m). | The British government has said it will treble its aid to Haiti to £20m ($32m). |
| 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: |
| You can also send your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | You can also send your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |