Earthquake hit Haiti 'a war zone'

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Earthquake-hit Haiti is like a war zone and the smell of death is overwhelming, an Irish aid worker has said.

A week after the disaster in which up to 200,000 people are feared dead, Dominic MacSorley said people desperately needed help.

Mr MacSorley who is leading the relief efforts for Irish Aid agency, Concern said it was a huge task.

"When you're driving past and seeing bodies on the road and people crying, it's like a war zone," he said.

"The impact that this is having on this small country - nine million people and a third of the population affected - this is the biggest disaster in this nation's history.

"It is very confusing and people are still dazed. I do think we are going to start seeing a big difference in the next couple of days, in fact I know we are."

Mr MacSorley said Concern already had supplies in the area as Haiti is a country that is battered every year by hurricanes.

The charity is planning distribution to ensure that it gets to the right people. Food riots brought down a government in the recent past, he pointed out.

"Sixty thousand people got food yesterday," he said. "If we can get the aid out, the situation will calm down."

Concern has six international staff and 50 local people in Haiti.

"Many have lost their families and many have lost their homes. They are sleeping out in the rough," he said.

"There are a lot of mixed emotions, but you don't have much time to think about it and perhaps that is the best thing."

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.

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.

If the anarchy spreads, the US troops may soon find themselves patrolling the streets in what will look like a full-scale military operation.

A further seven and a half thousand American troops have begun to arrive to help the aid operation.

The US military has begun air-dropping food and water supplies into Haiti.

Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water were dropped north-east of the capital Port-au-Prince, the US said.

It had earlier said airdrops were too risky but congestion at the airport has hampered aid distribution. The US is now considering airdrops across Haiti.

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.

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.

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.