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US forces bolster Haiti efforts US forces bolster Haiti aid push
(about 7 hours 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 a week after a devastating 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 violence and looting, and as UN and US forces pushed back a crowd at Port-au-Prince's airport gate by firing baton rounds.
UN chief Ban Ki-Moon said he would recommend the UN Security Council boost police and troop numbers by 3,500. UN head Ban Ki-moon said he would recommend a 3,500 boost to police and troop numbers to the Security Council.
People have been continuing to flee the capital and many are seeking US visas. People have been continuing to flee the capital, with many 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, the capital, 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 Matt Frei, 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. Looting is now the only industry here and this is the new rush hour of Port-au-Prince.
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. Anything will do as a weapon: a hacksaw, a stick, and of course all the machetes and guns that you cannot see.
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. Patience is running out and all the ingredients for unrest now exit: a whole city of destitute hoping for help, and at the same time you have a substantial criminal element and a history of violence. None of this bodes well for Haiti.
The delay in delivering aid has made the job far harder now. If the anarchy spreads, the US troops may soon find themselves patrolling the streets in what will look like a full-scale military operation. class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8466243.stm">In pictures: Haiti misery endures
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. And the leading US general in Haiti, Lt Gen Ken Keen, 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 might have died in the disaster, which he said was of "epic proportions".
He said the disaster was of "epic proportions", but it was "too early to know" the full human cost. Aid effort 'improving'
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. More than 2,200 US Marines arrived off the coast of Haiti on Monday aboard the amphibious ship USS Bataan, US media reported.
They are equipped with heavy lifting and earth-moving equipment, a dozen helicopters and medical support facilities.
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 lorries 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.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has said it is now feeding some 100,000 people, stressing that security is a major challenge.
Bill Clinton: 'There's no question it's not enough, not quick enough'
Former US President Bill Clinton, who is a UN Special Envoy for Haiti, visited the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince on Monday.
He said he had been told before his trip that it needed medicine and power generators.
"We need very specific things that there is a shortage of," he said. "That is what I tried to do today. I called this hospital... and we said tell us very specifically everything you need and that's what we brought down."
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.
Criminal gangs
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.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... 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. "The security situation is getting worse by the hour. I think the criminal gangs, totalling some 3,000, are going to exploit the current humanitarian crisis to the maximum degree," Stuart Page, the head of a security company operating in Port-au-Prince, told the BBC.
Especially prized is toothpaste, which people smear under their noses to fend off the stench of decaying corpses. The BBC's Matt Frei, in Port-au-Prince, says looting is now the main industry in the city and is being run by rival gangs.
Especially prized is toothpaste, which people smear under their noses to fend off the stench of decaying corpses, the Associated Press news agency says.
Airport complaintsAirport 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.
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 href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8466243.stm">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 href="/2/hi/americas/8465392.stm">US opens doors to Haiti orphans
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.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Monday that American teams had pulled 10 people alive from the rubble the day before. At least 70,000 people who died in the earthquake have already been buried.
"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. Meanwhile, Haitian President Rene Preval has asked donors also to focus on Haiti's long-term needs.
At least 70,000 people in Haiti have already had burials. "We cannot just cure the wounds of the earthquake. We must develop the economy, agriculture, education, health and reinforce democratic institutions," he said.
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 pledgesAid 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. On Monday, Mr Ban also 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 class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8464734.stm">UK trebling Haiti funds to £20m
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. European Union nations have pledged more than 420m euros ($604m; £320m) from the EU budget to assist Haiti. 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).
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