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| US troops step up Haiti efforts | US troops step up Haiti efforts |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| US troops are fanning out across Haiti as aid operations gather momentum, a week after the devastating earthquake. | US troops are fanning out across Haiti as aid operations gather momentum, a week after the devastating earthquake. |
| UN officials said aid distribution points were being set up in the capital and UN security forces would accompany US troops as they delivered supplies. | UN officials said aid distribution points were being set up in the capital and UN security forces would accompany US troops as they delivered supplies. |
| Helicopters dropped scores of US troops in the presidential palace grounds, who then moved to secure a nearby hospital. | Helicopters dropped scores of US troops in the presidential palace grounds, who then moved to secure a nearby hospital. |
| Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has voted to boost its peacekeeping forces to help control outbursts of looting. | Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has voted to boost its peacekeeping forces to help control outbursts of looting. |
| Anger has been growing in the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as people wait for help. | Anger has been growing in the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as people wait for help. |
| The US military has begun delivering food and water to distribution points in the capital and elsewhere by helicopter, after congestion at the airport delayed deliveries of aid. | The US military has begun delivering food and water to distribution points in the capital and elsewhere by helicopter, after congestion at the airport delayed deliveries of aid. |
| The climate is mild, there are significant air pockets. The problem is dehydration but for the moment there is still a chance [of finding survivors] UN spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs In pictures: Haiti one week on US opens doors to Haiti orphans Battle against the looters How to manage a crisis Sarkozy quells Haiti rift with US | The climate is mild, there are significant air pockets. The problem is dehydration but for the moment there is still a chance [of finding survivors] UN spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs In pictures: Haiti one week on US opens doors to Haiti orphans Battle against the looters How to manage a crisis Sarkozy quells Haiti rift with US |
| Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water were dropped north-east of Port-au-Prince on Monday, the US said. | Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water were dropped north-east of Port-au-Prince on Monday, the US said. |
| The US, which had previously considered aid drops too risky because of the danger of riots on the ground, is now considering airdrops across Haiti. | The US, which had previously considered aid drops too risky because of the danger of riots on the ground, is now considering airdrops across Haiti. |
| The UN approved a recommendation by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to boost UN troop numbers in Haiti by 2,000 for six months, and UN police numbers by 1,500. | The UN approved a recommendation by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to boost UN troop numbers in Haiti by 2,000 for six months, and UN police numbers by 1,500. |
| Mr Ban said he was grateful to the UN Security Council for its swift action, calling it "a clear signal that the world is with Haiti". | Mr Ban said he was grateful to the UN Security Council for its swift action, calling it "a clear signal that the world is with Haiti". |
| He said the UN was in discussion with member states, and he hoped to have the extra troops and police to deploy soon. The UN mission in Haiti currently numbers about 9,000. | He said the UN was in discussion with member states, and he hoped to have the extra troops and police to deploy soon. The UN mission in Haiti currently numbers about 9,000. |
| There have been reports of widespread violence and looting. | There have been reports of widespread violence and looting. |
| But the UN has played down worries over security, saying that despite violent incidents, the overall situation is calm. | But the UN has played down worries over security, saying that despite violent incidents, the overall situation is calm. |
| US Army Maj Gen Daniel Allyn, deputy commander of the Joint Task Force on ongoing relief efforts, echoed that message, saying the security situation was "relatively calm" and that aid distribution points were orderly. | US Army Maj Gen Daniel Allyn, deputy commander of the Joint Task Force on ongoing relief efforts, echoed that message, saying the security situation was "relatively calm" and that aid distribution points were orderly. |
| He said there were "pockets of instability", but that UN forces and the Haitian national police were addressing security needs with "agility". | He said there were "pockets of instability", but that UN forces and the Haitian national police were addressing security needs with "agility". |
| There were more than 2,000 personnel on the ground and 5,000 afloat, he said, adding that 10,000 troops in total would be arriving in the coming weeks, half of whom would be directly involved in distributing humanitarian aid. | There were more than 2,000 personnel on the ground and 5,000 afloat, he said, adding that 10,000 troops in total would be arriving in the coming weeks, half of whom would be directly involved in distributing humanitarian aid. |
| 'Test of resolve' | 'Test of resolve' |
| 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. |
| AT THE SCENE Steve Kingstone, BBC News, Off Haiti | AT THE SCENE Steve Kingstone, BBC News, Off Haiti |
| I'm now standing on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, this vast water-borne runway, one of the biggest aircraft carriers in the world. | I'm now standing on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, this vast water-borne runway, one of the biggest aircraft carriers in the world. |
| They are loading up bottles of water, ready meals, medical packs which are then being flown on to Port-au-Prince. This really has become a second airport. | They are loading up bottles of water, ready meals, medical packs which are then being flown on to Port-au-Prince. This really has become a second airport. |
| In front of me a team of medics is lined up waiting for an incoming helicopter. On board are people who need urgent medical treatment. | In front of me a team of medics is lined up waiting for an incoming helicopter. On board are people who need urgent medical treatment. |
| Haiti increasingly feels like a third front for the US military, a world away from Iraq and Afghanistan but with new and formidable challenges. | Haiti increasingly feels like a third front for the US military, a world away from Iraq and Afghanistan but with new and formidable challenges. |
| 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. |
| The BBC's Nick Davies in Port-au-Prince says that with the delays in getting aid out from the airport, the US military is now securing the areas before the pallets of food and water are parachuted in. | The BBC's Nick Davies in Port-au-Prince says that with the delays in getting aid out from the airport, the US military is now securing the areas before the pallets of food and water are parachuted in. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday that Haiti remained a major test for the international community. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday that Haiti remained a major test for the international community. |
| "It is a test of our compassion. It is a test of our resolve. And it is also a test of our ability to co-ordinate our actions together." | "It is a test of our compassion. It is a test of our resolve. And it is also a test of our ability to co-ordinate our actions together." |
| France's co-operation minister, Alain Joyandet, had suggested on Monday that the US was "occupying" Haiti and urged the UN to "clarify" the US role. | France's co-operation minister, Alain Joyandet, had suggested on Monday that the US was "occupying" Haiti and urged the UN to "clarify" the US role. |
| However, a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday said France was "very satisfied" with the co-operation and praised the US for its "exceptional mobilisation". | However, a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday said France was "very satisfied" with the co-operation and praised the US for its "exceptional mobilisation". |
| Port problems | Port problems |
| 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 the UN said initial issues were being resolved, with the introduction through the UN World Food Programme - which is currently feeding more than 100,000 Haitians - of a system to prioritise humanitarian flights. | |
| There are also major problems at Port-au-Prince's main port, which was badly damaged by last week's earthquake. | There are also major problems at Port-au-Prince's main port, which was badly damaged by last week's earthquake. |
| The port's director told the BBC it could be months before it is fully operational, although one large shallow-draught US barge has been unloaded. | The port's director told the BBC it could be months before it is fully operational, although one large shallow-draught US barge has been unloaded. |
| UN officials said on Tuesday they hoped to have the port functioning sooner. | UN officials said on Tuesday they hoped to have the port functioning sooner. |
| The UN says dozens of search and rescue teams are now on the ground. | The UN says dozens of search and rescue teams are now on the ground. |
| AID PLEDGES TO HAITI EU - $604m (420m euros; £371m)US - $100m pledged in immediate aid, with promise of more laterCanada - $58mUK - $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 laterCanada - $58mUK - $32mNorway - $17.6mFrance - $14.4mWorld Bank - $100m |
| On Tuesday, UN spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said 90 people had been pulled out alive since the earthquake and rescue efforts were now concentrated outside the capital. | On Tuesday, UN spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said 90 people had been pulled out alive since the earthquake and rescue efforts were now concentrated outside the capital. |
| She insisted there was still hope for survivors. "The climate is mild, there are significant air pockets. The problem is dehydration but for the moment there is still a chance," she said. | She insisted there was still hope for survivors. "The climate is mild, there are significant air pockets. The problem is dehydration but for the moment there is still a chance," she 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. |
| On Tuesday, the Paris Club of creditor governments, including the US, UK, France and Germany, called on other nations to follow its lead in cancelling debts to Haiti. Venezuela and Taiwan are the biggest other creditors. | On Tuesday, the Paris Club of creditor governments, including the US, UK, France and Germany, called on other nations to follow its lead in cancelling debts to Haiti. Venezuela and Taiwan are the biggest other creditors. |
| Meanwhile, the bodies of eight Chinese nationals killed in the quake have arrived back in Beijing in a high-profile ceremony attended by relatives and top officials. | Meanwhile, the bodies of eight Chinese nationals killed in the quake have arrived back in Beijing in a high-profile ceremony attended by relatives and top officials. |
| 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. |
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