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| US starts aid airdrops into Haiti | US starts aid airdrops into Haiti |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The US military has begun airdropping water and food into earthquake-hit Haiti, after earlier ruling out such a delivery method as too risky. | The US military has begun airdropping water and food into earthquake-hit Haiti, after earlier ruling out such a delivery method as too risky. |
| Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water were dropped in a secure area north-east of Port-au-Prince, a US military spokeswoman said. | Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water were dropped in a secure area north-east of Port-au-Prince, a US military spokeswoman said. |
| Military officials are now considering whether airdrops should be used throughout Haiti. | Military officials are now considering whether airdrops should be used throughout Haiti. |
| More than 2,000 US marines are set to join 1,000 US troops in Haiti. | More than 2,000 US marines are set to join 1,000 US troops in Haiti. |
| AT THE SCENE Matt Frei, BBC News, Port-au-Prince | AT THE SCENE Matt Frei, BBC News, Port-au-Prince |
| Looting is now the only industry here and this is the new rush hour of Port-au-Prince. | Looting is now the only industry here and this is the new rush hour of Port-au-Prince. |
| Anything will do as a weapon: a hacksaw, a stick, and of course all the machetes and guns that you cannot see. | Anything will do as a weapon: a hacksaw, a stick, and of course all the machetes and guns that you cannot see. |
| Patience is running out and all the ingredients for unrest now exist: 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. | Patience is running out and all the ingredients for unrest now exist: 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. |
| If the anarchy spreads, the US troops may soon find themselves patrolling the streets in what will look like a full-scale military operation. In pictures: Haiti misery endures | If the anarchy spreads, the US troops may soon find themselves patrolling the streets in what will look like a full-scale military operation. In pictures: Haiti misery endures |
| They are equipped with heavy lifting and earth-moving equipment, a dozen helicopters and medical support facilities. | They are equipped with heavy lifting and earth-moving equipment, a dozen helicopters and medical support facilities. |
| Their arrival comes amid widespread violence and looting. | Their arrival comes amid widespread violence and looting. |
| However, UN humanitarian chief John Holmes played down worries over security, saying that despite incidents of violence, the overall situation was calm. | However, UN humanitarian chief John Holmes played down worries over security, saying that despite incidents of violence, the overall situation was calm. |
| And the leading US general in Haiti, Lt Gen Ken Keen, said there was currently less violence in the capital 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 the capital Port-au-Prince - already a troubled city - than there had been before the earthquake. |
| Earlier, Gen Keen said up to 200,000 people might have died in the disaster, which he said was of "epic proportions". | Earlier, Gen Keen said up to 200,000 people might have died in the disaster, which he said was of "epic proportions". |
| 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. |
| 'Getting there' | 'Getting there' |
| The US Air Force C-17 dropped the relief supplies on Monday into a secured area five miles (8km) north-east of Port-au-Prince, US army spokeswoman Maj Tanya Bradsher was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. | The US Air Force C-17 dropped the relief supplies on Monday into a secured area five miles (8km) north-east of Port-au-Prince, US army spokeswoman Maj Tanya Bradsher was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. |
| Police fire gun shots to disperse looters in Port-au-Prince | Police fire gun shots to disperse looters in Port-au-Prince |
| She said the aircraft had flown out of Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. | She said the aircraft had flown out of Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. |
| Last week, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said airdrops had been ruled out because they might do more harm than good. | Last week, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said airdrops had been ruled out because they might do more harm than good. |
| Mr Gates warned that they could trigger riots if there was no proper structure on the ground to distribute supplies | Mr Gates warned that they could trigger riots if there was no proper structure on the ground to distribute supplies |
| Delivering aid to the centre of Port-au-Prince 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 reports from the city. | Delivering aid to the centre of Port-au-Prince 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 reports from the city. |
| Bill Clinton: 'There's no question it's not enough, not quick enough' | Bill Clinton: 'There's no question it's not enough, not quick enough' |
| Lt Cdr Walter Matthews of the US Navy told the BBC he understood the frustration among Haitians, but added that the aid effort was improving. | Lt Cdr Walter Matthews of the US Navy told the BBC he understood the frustration among Haitians, but added that the aid effort was improving. |
| Former US President Bill Clinton, who is a UN Special Envoy for Haiti, said co-operation between American and UN troops was improving the earthquake relief effort. | Former US President Bill Clinton, who is a UN Special Envoy for Haiti, said co-operation between American and UN troops was improving the earthquake relief effort. |
| "The UN provides security and the Americans provide the logistics and distribution. They know how to do it. So we are getting there," Mr Clinton told the BBC during a visit to Port-au-Prince on Monday. | "The UN provides security and the Americans provide the logistics and distribution. They know how to do it. So we are getting there," Mr Clinton told the BBC during a visit to Port-au-Prince on Monday. |
| Airport complaints | Airport complaints |
| Port-au-Prince's port was badly damaged by last week's earthquake, and many roads are still blocked by corpses and debris, hampering the delivery of fuel and other supplies. | Port-au-Prince's port was badly damaged by last week's earthquake, 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 US opens doors to Haiti orphans | 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 US opens doors to Haiti orphans |
| The provision of clean water is still a major concern. | |
| Brian Feagans, of the aid group CARE, said: "People can survive a few days without food but we must try to avoid major outbreaks of waterborne disease." | |
| 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 UN World Food Programme - which is currently feeding 100,000 Haitians - of a system to prioritise humanitarian flights. | But Mr Holmes said that initial issues were being resolved, with the introduction through the UN World Food Programme - which is currently feeding 100,000 Haitians - 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. | "More than 70 people have been pulled from the wreckage in the last few days," he said. |
| At least 70,000 people who died in the earthquake have already been buried. | At least 70,000 people who died in the earthquake have already been buried. |
| Meanwhile, Haitian President Rene Preval has asked donors also to focus on Haiti's long-term needs. | Meanwhile, Haitian President Rene Preval has asked donors also to focus on Haiti's long-term needs. |
| "We cannot just cure the wounds of the earthquake. We must develop the economy, agriculture, education, health and reinforce democratic institutions," he said. | "We cannot just cure the wounds of the earthquake. We must develop the economy, agriculture, education, health and reinforce democratic institutions," he said. |
| 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 UK trebling Haiti funds to £20m | 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 UK trebling Haiti funds to £20m |
| On Monday, US Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would recommend that the Security Council boost UN troop numbers in Haiti by 2,000 for six months, and UN police numbers by 1,500. | On Monday, US Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would recommend that the Security Council boost UN troop numbers in Haiti by 2,000 for six months, and UN police numbers by 1,500. |
| The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m) intended to help three million people for six months. | The UN has launched an appeal for $562m (£346m) intended to help three million people for six months. |
| European Union nations have pledged more than 420m euros ($604m; £320m) from the EU budget to assist Haiti. | European Union nations have pledged more than 420m euros ($604m; £320m) from the EU budget to assist Haiti. |
| 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: |
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