Israeli official arrives in Haiti to 'devastation on every corner'
Israeli envoy to Dominican Republic describes total absence of search and rescue efforts following earthquake.
By Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Israel newsIt is doubtful that anything could have prepared Amos Radian for the unsightly scenes of anarchy and devastation that gripped Haiti in the wake of Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
Radian, Israel's ambassador to the Dominican Republic, described the carnage wrought on Haiti's capital Port Au Prince on Tuesday.
The envoy, who arrived in Haiti to prepare for the arrival of an Israeli relief delegation, spoke to Israeli reporters via satellite phone from the airport in Port Au Prince, one of the only remaining operational structures in the disaster-stricken city.
"There is a strange silence in the streets," he said. "Thousands of people are walking around aimlessly. As of yet, there is no one around to provide a solution to this catastrophe."
Radian told reporters of his brief encounter with Haitian President Rene Preval at the airport. "We've met several times in the past," he said, "but this time he looked pale and sad. I expressed to him Israel's deepest condolences for the tragedy that befell Haiti."
The airport where Radian addressed reporters has become the only operational command center in the country. "The airport looks like it is collapsing under the sheer volume of landings and takeoffs of relief planes," Radian said. "The airport is open. I can see at least 20 aircraft in all sizes, ranging from the giant American planes to the Belgian, French and Spanish ones. The Americans are operating the control tower, so the Israeli relief plane should have no problem landing."
Immediately after arriving in Haiti, the ambassador took a five-hour tour of Port Au Prince in a vehicle provided by the American embassy. He described the terrible scenes, saying "it was one of the most difficult sights I have seen in my life. The devastation can be seen on every corner, and thousands of people are just sitting in the streets and in public parks. There is no water, no electricity, no food and no fuel."
"I don't think anyone can gauge the number of casualties in this earthquake," he went on to say. "It would be very difficult to know how many people have been affected, and many will remain trapped under the rubble for many days. I've heard forecasts suggesting that the situation will only get worse in the coming days. There are dozens of bodies piled up at every street corner. It is a difficult sight."
While searching for a place to spend the night, Radian and the Israeli embassy security coordinator arrived at a small hotel, which turned out to be non-functional. "Hundreds of homeless people and injured people sat in front of the hotel and begged to be let in," Radian said. He left the area and continued to the American embassy, which Radian described as an "oasis of sanity" in the hell that is the Haitian capital. "We slept on benches in the American embassy," Radian said. "This is a safe haven and all the foreign diplomats in the city came there, including the Spanish ambassador whose embassy was destroyed, and he was hurt."
"There is unbelievable difficulty because anarchy abounds," he went on to say. "No one knows who is running this country and in the absence of authority, the U.S. has taken command."
"The United Nations force is not functioning, as many of its commanders were killed when the UN headquarters building collapsed. The law enforcement system as collapsed and police officers have not shown up at the stations. The Americans are starting to secure central facilities," Radian explained.
Even though thousands of people are still trapped under the rubble, at this time no rescue efforts have been undertaken in Port Au Prince. "With a pretty heavy heart I tell you that the individual assistance provided to the citizens is very difficult," Radian remarked. "There are no search and rescue teams because the local authorities do not exist."
Alongside the communication lines and other necessary infrastructure, hospitals have also shut down. Argentina and France have already set up a two small temporary hospitals. "I haven't seen a single ambulance or a single rescue mission," Radian said. "The situation is grim."
"Those attending to the injured and the dead are their own family members," he concluded.
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I am Haitian and I must say that the actions of the IDF have been nothing short of amazing. The world can learn something from you guys.
Save your ridicule for another time. Right now, anyone who is helping is doing the right thing. Do you think the people of Haiti give a damn right now where the aid is coming from?
I've searched and haven't yet found a comment by Chavez or Castro, both from Latin American countries. At least a few words of sympathy from these two but so far, nada.
If you want to know what the Saudis or Persians are doing, read their press. Haaretz probably doesn't have Saudi or Teheran bureaus. As to the devastation, imagine if it happened in any place that has buildings that predate modern earthquake standards. Imagine if your own government was largely killed off and police and fire services, too. And several schools collapsed with the children and teachers inside. Anarchy reigns because what government they had was killed and the Capital collapsed, and water & sewer systems were destroyed. Once the Seabees or Redhorse arrives, maybe they can expand the airport from a single runway and the road from what is left of that too.
So what WAS the first great international moral crisis America faced? Would America, which still permitted slavery support the revolt of Slaves in Haiti against their French masters. Americans had no problem, mostly, supporting the French Revolution. But when the Slaves in St. Dominique revolted and set up the nation of Haiti, America was most divided. There were refugees, as there have been in recent decades. The Federalists under Adams wavered and did little. Thomas Jefferson, chose to defend the rights of slavers, of which he was one. France would recognize the nation of Haiti in 1825. America would wait until 1862 and our Civil War, to recognize the 'black' government of Haiti. The USA had flunked it's first international crisis. Our morality extended no further than the welfare of our rich slave owners.
Ky, you ask 'where is the aid?" And the answer is that there is no systematic means of pre-positioning and delivering aid. There is no international 911. During Hurricane Katerina and Ike we have learned there is not even a USA 911 number which will release fast and certain aid for a massive disaster. America is ready to destroy - even destroy the innocent - but it is not ready to respond to humanitarian need. Even when it is Americans who need. There is no international 'emergency response' organization because most countries in the world, especially the USA, which consider helping humanity more important than blowing humanity up. One of my personal heros, General Smedely Butler, won his second Medal of Honor in the oppression of Haiti while he was a Marine. America has always had enough money and interest in Haiti to overthrow any democratic government and impose a dictator. . . And General Butler was honest enough to describe himself and his Marines as 'gangsters'.
Had the world blown up in the Cuban Missile Crisis one of the few US targets certain to have been struck would have been NY city. One of the 'evacuation' routes was up Route 15 and through Sussex County NJ. There was a Sussex Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol which was a dozen or so kid and fewer adults. There were other Civil Defense people, a hospital or two and some fired departments. We were to meet the millions of fleeing victims of the thermonuclear attack on NYC, and perform triage. . . This was insanity that even a kid could see for what it was. Haiti has nothing with which to cope with this disaster. Haiti is supine, destroyed, and dependent upon all the rest of us. All the rest of humanity. This, as the Tsunami was, a test of our humanity. It is also a chance to show that humans are greater than the monsters who cause wars. So, what is the question? Do we help, or do we accuse everyone else of not helping enough?
"there is no solution except evacuation." - ky And what will do that evacuation? We are facing extreme restrictions of the number of flights in and out of Haiti that facilities can accommodate. "People must be urgently movwed away from the city." - ky People are moving INTO the capital to help their families who live there. "It is a living tomb that will only get worse with disease and lack of facilities." - ky Yup "Where is the aid?" - ky Sitting on the ground at airports around the world until the single operating runway operational can accommodate them. . . Folks, i could tell you a story. . .
Too bad Israel alone has inflicted damage comparable to this disaster.
there is no solution except evacuation. People must be urgently movwed away from the city. It is a living tomb that will only get worse with disease and lack of facilities. Where is the aid? Where is the aid?