Red Cross estimates 50,000 dead in Haiti earthquake
Israel sends 220-strong rescue team; Red Cross: Up to 3 million Haitians hurt or homeless.
By Barak Ravid Haaretz Service, Agencies Tags: Israel newsThe death toll from Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti could be between 45,000 and 50,000, with another three million people hurt or homeless, a senior Haitian Red Cross official said on Thursday.
"No one knows with precision, no one can confirm a figure. Our organization thinks between 45,000 and 50,000 people have died. We also think there are 3 million people affected throughout the country, either injured or homeless," Victor Jackson, an assistant national coordinator with Haiti's Red Cross said.
Meanwhile Thursday, desperately needed aid from around the world began arriving in quake-stunned Haiti even as people struggled frantically to save the trapped and injured, turning pickup trucks into ambulances and doors into stretchers.
Planes carrying teams from China and France, Spain and the United States landed at Port-au-Prince's airport with searchers and tons of food, medicine and other supplies - with more promised from around the globe.
U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. government would initially donate $100 million to relief efforts.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has prepared a 220-member rescue team for departure to the disaster-stricken country, including elite army corps engineers and a field hospital.
The military has leased two Boeing 747s from El Al airlines to transport the team and equipment.
Seven Israelis thought missing were located late Wednesday and early Thursday. One Israeli, the daughter of late peace activist Abie Nathan, was still unaccounted for.
Haitian President Rene Preval said he believed thousands were killed in the quake, and the scope of the destruction prompted other officials to give even higher estimates. Leading Sen. Youri Latortue told The Associated Press that 500,000 could be dead, although he acknowledged that nobody really knows.
Speaking to CNN from the devastated city, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive quantified the number of dead at "well over 100,000." .
In comments to The Miami Herald, Preval described the situation as unimaginable and said he had had to step over dead bodies himself and could hear the cries of trapped victims, including under the national Parliament building.
"Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed," Preval told the Miami Herald. "There are a lot of schools that have a lot of dead people in them."
"Even the main prison in the capital fell down, and there are reports of escaped inmates," United Nations humanitarian spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said in Geneva.
The head of the UN peacekeeping mission was missing and the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince was dead.
The international Red Cross said a third of Haiti's 9 million people may need emergency aid and that it would take a day or two for a clear picture of the damage to emerge.
At first light Wednesday, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter evacuated four critically injured U.S. Embassy staff to the hospital on the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the military has been detaining suspected terrorists.
A small contingent of U.S. ground troops could be on their way soon, although it was unclear whether they would be used for security operations or humanitarian efforts. Gen. Douglas Fraser, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, said roughly 2,000 Marines as part of an expeditionary unit might be deployed aboard a large-deck amphibious ship. Fraser said the ship could provide medical help.
Obama said he has ordered the U.S. government to provide fast, coordinated help to save lives, saying military overflights had already begun assessing damage, emergency supplies were being sent and search and rescue teams were to arrive on Wednesday and Thursday.
"We are just now beginning to learn the extent of the devastation, but the reports and images that we've seen of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching," Obama told reporters.
The airport in Port-au-Prince has been closed since the quake hit on Tuesday evening, but Israel decided to send the team with the hope that they would be able to land by the time they arrive.
Israeli ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Amos Radian, was scheduled to join the rescue team whose purpose is to gauge the best way Israel can assist with the crisis and decide on the most immediate needs.
IsraAID also planned to send a 12-man search-and-rescue team, which includes emergency medical staff.
Many will have to help their own staff as well as stricken Haitians. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said its embassy was destroyed and the ambassador hospitalized. Spain said its embassy was badly damaged.
"Haiti has moved to center of the world's thoughts and the world's compassion," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.
"The hospitals cannot handle all these victims," Dr. Louis-Gerard Gilles, a former senator, said as he helped survivors. "Haiti needs to pray. We all need to pray together."
The UN's 9,000 peacekeepers in Haiti, many of whom are from Brazil, were distracted from aid efforts by their own tragedy: Many spent the night hunting for survivors in the ruins of their headquarters.
On Wednesday, The UN said that 17 of its personnel were killed in the quake and that 150 workers were still unaccounted for, including the mission chief.
UN officials said 56 others were injured. "Seven who were seriously hurt were evacuated from the country," they said.
The quake struck at 4:53 P.M., centered 15 kilometers west of Port-au-Prince at a depth of only 8 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey said. USGS geophysicist Kristin Marano called it the strongest earthquake since 1770 in what is now Haiti.
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A woman carrying her daughter past rubble from the Haiti quake. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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This story is by: Barak Ravid Haaretz Service, Agencies
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At a time like this there should not be mud slinging let us help these poor people. It does not matter if the helpers are black white Jewish Muslim Christian,they need our help let us give it without criticising where the aid is coming from.I am sure that the Haitians willl be happy to receive aid from anyone so cut the squabling actions speak louder than words.
AT a time like this the haters must still post. THEY do not realizze what fools. idiots they look like
This is about mother nature vs. very poor people. My heart goes out to them and I hope they can help the many people buried under collapsed buildings. The loss of life of Haiti is tragic. This is a human tragedy that I hope the world comes together and helps these very poor and vulnerable people.
Contact the Foreign Ministry - perhaps they can point you in the right direction.
in the world who provides Gaza with tons of aid every day.
Again, Israel is not providing humanitarian aid to impress you or anyone else. It does not have to impress anyone. How much is Switzerland donating each year to do away with poverty worldwide? How many Swiss eye doctors go to Africa each year to operate on children who would otherwise grow up blind? How many children from 3rd world countries with heart problems are operated on in Switzerland for free each year. What the hell do you know about what Israel does to help the underprivileged in undeveloped countries?
The Haitians never attacked us, are not seeking our demise, are not lobbing rockets into our country and are not abducting our soldiers. Anything else you want to know?
The answer is so simple. Israel isn't at war with haiti. And...what have you done for haiti and Gaza?
For those suffering due to the earthquake: All powerful Father, God of mercy, look kindly on those who suffer due to the Haitian earthquake. Please ease their burden and trust in your fatherly care. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen Father of mercy, You always answer your people in their suffering. We thank You for your kindness and ask You to please free us from evil, that we may serve You in happiness all our days. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. For those who died in the earthquake and aftermath: Lord, as we mourn the sudden death of those who died in the Haitian earthquake, please comfort us with the great power of your love, and strengthen us in our faith that they are with you for ever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen
Still no answer? The silence is deafening. (If Jordan was part of UN peacekeeping forces, I suspect the UN (mostly US) was paying for them.) Let's have an analysis of per capita support for Haiti! -- an alms race, so to speak.
Turkey is sending aid to Haiti.
The daughter of one of my favorite people, the late Abie Nathan, is amongst the missing. I hope she wasn't at the Montana Hotel. . .
Rather than the Mother Nature vs the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere's people.
Danny, as a person who supports neither the Arab tyrants nor the Israeli tyrants, I'll point out that you should not try to extract political benefit from situations like this. But since you try, here is an answer. At its root, you are comparing Islam to Judaism. Ultimately, Judaism is better only when it reflects Jewish values, and not the ambitions of individual Jews. Islam, in practice, in today's world, does a far better job of 'accepting' and helping 'outsiders' than political Judaism does. You can spin facts, pretend this or pretend that, whatever you like. You sound like a young person who should be quietly listening and learning, rather than making loud noises.
JANE I DONT THINK SO, THEY DONT DO MUCH FOR THE WORLD AS IT STANDS, THE ARABS WELL I SUPPOSE ONE CAN LIVE IN HOPE FOR THE HAITIANS.
SOL GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY IN TORONTO, WE ARE GOING TO TORONTO FOR 3 WEEKS IN MAY. TO SEE MY RELATIONS AND ALSO TO KENTUCKY DERBY IN AMERICA.
LISTEN TONY SILVER I CAN PROVE YOU WRONG, WHY DONT YOU VISIT TEL-AVIV ICHILOV HOSPITAL AND YOU WILL SEE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN BEING TREATED FOR ALL TYPES OF ILLNESSES.
Hatians didn't steal Israeli solders and didn't blow up Jewish children.If a natural disaster happens somewhere in Moslem place (G-d forbid)we won't celebrate and we won't pass candies belive me. Israel will come to help. When Arabs try to kill our children and then get punished that is something diferent.
Time to give. I am at lost for words.
THE ARAB WEALTHY OIL RICH COUNTRIES ARE GIVING MONEY TO PALESTINIAN,BUT WITH THE CONDITION TO TEACH, HOW TO DESTROY AND HATE, AND NOT TO TEACH HOW TO BUILD AND HAVE A BETTER LIVE. WHY ARE ALL ARABS POLITICIANS WEALTHY AND RICH, AND THEIR PEOPLS POOR AND FRUSTRATED?
In the face of such devestation we can only say a prayer for Haiti. Make a contribution to the charity of your choice helping Haiti.
ISHMAEL DONT MAKE EXCUSES YOU JUST MENSTIONED SAUDI ARABIA WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER RICH ARAB COUNTRIES.I WOULD THINK WELL BELOW THE MIDDLE PACK
is when we respond in such a manner to what is a devastating natural disaster.
Please ,if anyone knows of any agency looking for volunteers I am ready willing and more than able to leave at a moments notice. I do not have any real idea whom to contact to let them know this. If anyone does please contact me ASAP Thankyou,Lynn Fux
ELI GOD BLESS YOU. I HAVE JUST POSTED THE SAME QUESTION AS YOU. WHAT ARE THE ARAB COUNTRIES DOING FOR HAITI.LETS BE HONEST NOTHING MUCH. AND I READ THE PAPERS.WHEN I SAY TO SOMEONE WELL LETS BE HONEST WHAT DO THE ARABS WITH ALL THEIR WEALTH DO FOR THE POOR AND SICK IN THE WORLD, AND ESPECIALLY THE PALESTINIANS, THEIR IS UTTER SILENCE. BECAUSE IVE TOUCH A VERY HONEST POINT.
israel doesn't help their neighbour Palestinian children who are victims of israeli aggression in Gaza. This is pure DOUBLE STANDARDS!
the iranians and saudi always give as does venusuela, and jordan is already there on the ground as UN peace keepers as is china...needless to say israheli aid isn't much since they need all they can to keep the illegal squatter colonies going
If israelis are so humans,then why didn't they do the same for Palestinian children who were thir victims of the zionists aggression? This is really Double Standards aimed at just cheap propaganda!
I WONDER WHAT THE ARAB WEALTHY OIL RICH COUNTRIES ARE DOING FOR HAITI. AS USUAL I SUPPOSE NOTHING MUCH. LETS BE HONEST WHAT DO THEY DO FOR THE WORLD POVERTY STRICKEN COUNTRIES, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE PALESTINIANS.
....you didn't get my point: My point was, that what is needed now in Haiti are first and upmost rescue times, water and cash, and not prayers, as well meant as they may be. And I thought that I explicitly DID NOT single out Israel with regard to my criticism on the horrendous military budgets all over the world, Israel is part of that problem, but not alone. And it is certainly appreciated, if Israel sends a rescue team to Haiti, but it would definitely be much more impressive, if Israel would declare, that over the next 5 years, it will forego a third (1 Billion $$) of the U.S. foreign aid to Israel, and donate that money to people in need around the world. Again, then you could call yourself a "shining example" to the rest of the world....
TO HAARETZ I HOPE THE ISRAELIS ARE SHOWING THE MAGEN DAVID ON THEIR UNIFORMS ETC ETC. WHICH WOULD MAKE ME VERY PROUD INDEED I BELEIVE ENGLAND AND ISRAEL WERE FIRST TO OFFER HELP.
you might spend more time and welfare money on humanitarian disasters you cause as in lebanon and gaza...but then the haitians aren't living on land you want to steal and it makes you feel sooooo good about yourselves to help them
Tomy listen carefully the Arab are the children of Ishmael the son of our father Abraham peace on him and God promised to bless his children with wealth Kings etc in the Bible and they don't need to work since they have this wealth from the blessing unlike you whom need to work
From what funds Hamas build it's kasams, from food of it's people and also we did not hear any Palestinian aid or rather arab aid sent to Haiti.
Ishmael , remember , Saudis never worked a minute in their life to earn money to donate , never produced anything on their own . If not for oil Middle Ages would be the modern world for those heavyset leaches .
It is laughable now Israel pretending that it is helping a stricken people, while at the same time creating one of the worst humanitarian tragedies right in its back yard. Let alone the Israeli made earthquake last year on Gaza which toppled buildings on innocent, helpless people killing 1400 of them with no mercy; enough of this sherade...
listen Sol, Israel is a major supplier of arms to many countries in that region if they really want people to live in peace there stop selling them arms and stop this crocodile tears!.
Are there any Muslim countries helping the people of Haiti?
At the best God allowed this to happen at the worst God MADE this happen. Is God unaware of the damage and suffering he has caused. Is it up to us to tell him? You may say, Maybe. if you pray you obviously think he is. But its a pretty cynical ploy he uses to test us out.
Are you now speaking for God?
Listen up, there is a real tragedy in Haiti that requires the whole international community to assist. Not a self imposed sudo-tragedy like Gaza - a real one with possibly 100,000 casualties. Stop the terrorists and war criminals in Gaza from firing rockets and like magic no more siege. Israel is being responsible and doing its part to help - any Arab countries doing the same? Maybe it is time for the people of Gaza to take some responsibility for their situation and make the changes required for peace - try it instead of whining between salvos.
Love your enemies, do good to those who despitefully abuse you - for 25 points, which Jewish prophet said this. (Hint: it wasn't Habakkuk).
Actually, free oil and diesel would be very necessary to feed the generators, the few that are working are running out of fuel, But I very much doubt that they will get it this way. Chavez, as crazy as he is, will probably supply Haiti with this much neede commodity.
Dear Ishmael, I do feel for someone who was struck by act of nature, I don't for those who CHOSE to deliberately target civilians with rockets... there is a (not so slight) difference...
Thank you Israel for joining forces with all nations in helping Haiti. I have a son there and the situation is a horror. Any help is welcome and more so yours. Thank you again.
Israel is not a cahrity - it is a thriving modern democracy with a healthy economy, and a huge heart (except for those who want to destroy it). WHat, pray, are any of the oil-wealthy Arab dictatorships doing for the people of Haiti?
This figures about donations to tsunami victims :Donations in absolute terms, showing that Norwegians donated the most per head of population ($13.20) followed by the Swedes ($12.04), the Dutch ($9.16) the Australians ($5.23) and so on, down to the Americans with a donation of $1.08 per head, and the French, whose per head donation amounted to 80 US cents. The Observer table places Saudi Arabs in the middle of the pack, at No. 6 with a donation of $4 per head, but still outranking Canadians, Austrians, Brits, Greeks, Americans and French in their generosity.
There is nothing that can be done for the people there exept that which I have mentioned. Go ahead and pray if you want but I dont think its going to help, plus the fact if you do pray just keep the prayer between you and your god. There is no need to publish it as god may be busy reading other talkbacks.
We all should help now! the people of Haiti! To swiss dino, please show respect for the people of Haiti, do not make a political isue from it! About spending money to the army... Swiss has also an army and spends yearly about half of what israel is spending yearly. The difference is swiss is surrounded by friendly nations and not in war like israel. Still swiss thinks it needs to spend half of what israel is spending. My question is to dino why swiss has an army and still spending half of israels budget to its army? Is swiss spending the "other" half to foreign aid? Like Dino suggest israel should do. Does Dino agree that israel is allowed to spend to its army at least the same budget as swiss does. (we both have about the same amount citiciens)?
Even in the days when most third world countries broke ties with Israel, Haiti maintained them and trade and tourism continued. I am glad Israel is helping Haiti in her hour of need and I also hope the one Israeli still missing if found safe. G-d bless Haiti. G-d bless Israel.
If Israel had any real compassion, they had plenty of opportunity to show in Gaza after they killed many hundreds of civilians and laid waste to the area during the Gaza op. It seems that simply being a Palestinian excludes one from Israeli "mercy and compassion". It is politically safer to make a gesture toward the victims of a natural disaster than it is to aid innocent victims of Israel itself.
I suggest you make personal donations to the following Jewsish organizations that ave one into action to help the people of Haiti: Donations to AJWS's "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund," which can be made at www.ajws.org/haitiearthquake, will enable AJWS's network of grantees in Haiti to meet the urgent needs of the population based on real-time, on-the-ground assessments. To contribute to the relief funds in Toronto, go to the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto site at https://www.ujadonations.com/login.asp?destinationsite=donations&destinationid=33 or call 416-635-2883.
What are you personally doing to alleviate the suffering in Haiti? Why do you think it necessary to tell anyone not to pray?
An entire field hospital unit, the use of 2 IAF Boeing jets and 220 medical personnel plus all the medical supplies and equipment that goes with them from Israel. I wonder what the oil rich and "peaceful" Arab states will supply? Free oil?
Sam said "It`s not about politics, but solidarity and humanism".Is your humanity definition include the lifting of siege on Gaza and let the people there live. By the way from which line budget this aid funded? is it from the US tax payers!?
enoufgh of this "we pray for you" stuff. It's not going to turn on one light bulb in Port au Prince. Immediate medical aid and heavy duty machinery needs to be brought in. I would think by the description of the devastaion that evacuation of survivors is the priority. I doubt if there is enough investment capital avaiable to ever rebuild the city or for that matter it is debatable if it ever should be rebuilt on the same fault lines. This place is now a living tomb.
any help is needed. It's not about politics, but solidarity and humanism.
Will you never give up passing judgement? GOOD GOD, Talking about being hypocritical ... For more reference on hypocrisy please read some (if not all) UN's resolutions regarding Israel... Now - if the poor poor Palestinians would have no army, there will be peace, on the other hand if we didn't invest money in our army, there would be NO Israel (maybe that is what you want?). We don't have the choice of "invest in chocolate or army" like you may have... sorry! by the way, I herd you send rescue teams to Haiti! good ! well done!! Roey. P.S. It is perfectly OK to say GOOD things about Israel every now and then... you know... not all is bad/evil as your media portrays it...
Why can't you put your anti-Israel politics aside and just direct your attention to the suffering of Haiti?
...if all the states would use more efforts and money to help each others when needed. The real and existing threats are reality of everyday life ( earthquakes,epidemies, poverty and hunger and so on). Still lots of more money is used to destroy, to kill -the others, also the innocent ones...and sometimes only because of "supposed" threats ...
....and instead sending it to the suffering people around the world (not only in Haiti) would even be much, much nicer. And much less hypocritical... P.S. That doesn't only apply to Israel, but also to several other "sinners" in that regard around the world...
we pray for you. may your future lives be better than your past lives.
The carrier Carl Vinson and it's supporting fleet is en route. The carrier itself can make about 400,000 gallons of potable water a day from seawater. The cruisers, Bunker Hill and Lake Champlain, make potable water too, just using a different method, as do the other support ships in the fleet. A Marine Amphibious Unit is also en route, to provide security (policing) and manpower for the relief effort. The Port-au-Prince airport has been opened now by the US Air Force who has erected a temporary tower. The original, along with the terminal is not safe.
May GOD above give them strength, and the world all the help they need, pray for them each and all.