PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT SOME PHOTOS ARE VERY GRAPHIC
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Speaking from Honolulu, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a press conference today that special units from the US Military have been sent to Haiti to try to establish an traffic control system. Clinton:
There was some issue this morning with journalists and others trying to get into Haiti with no option for air traffic control other than visual. And obviously we can’t, or other nations can’t, bring in the kind of heavy lift planes that are needed.
Meanwhile, the Army and Air National Guard stationed in Puerto Rico, which is closest to Haiti are waiting for final orders to send their units to help the island.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Haitian people, who have been devastated by this earthquake,” said Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley. “The National Guard stands ready to work with the Army and the Air Force to provide humanitarian assistance to Haiti when called upon.”
DEATH TOLL
According to the BBC, The Guardian and AFP, the death toll of Haiti catastrophic earthquake will be in the hundreds or even thousands. Overnight, Port-au-Prince was in total darkness with a large number of people sleeping outside in fear of more aftershocks. Large structures such as the Presidential Palace and the cathedral suffered major damages. A UN representative said that the UN local head quarter in Haiti has “sustained serious damage along with other installations, and a large number of personnel are missing”.
In his first interview since the earthquake, Haitian President Rene Preval has said thousands of people are feared dead. Speaking with the Miami Herald, President Preval described the situation in Port-au-Prince as “dire and unimaginable.” “Parliament has collapsed, the tax office has collapsed, schools have collapsed, hospital have collapsed. There are a lot of schools that have a lot of dead people in them,” said President Preval.
The Red Cross says that more than 3 million people are affected by the tragedy. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said today that the head of the UN mission in Haiti and his deputy were among more than 100 UN staff missing. According to AP, Port-au-Prince’s catholic archbishop is among those reported killed. In a phone interview with CNN, Haiti’s Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said that he believes the death toll could be higher than 100,000. According to Reuters, the Pentagon has just ordered a nuclear aircraft carrier and 3 amphibious ships to set sail for Haiti. The French Foreign Minister says the French embassy in Port-au-Prince is “destroyed and hundreds of French national are missing”.
Victims of the Haitian Earthquake 1-12-2010.
“WE HAD BEEN EXPECTING THIS CATASTROPHE”
The poorly built homes, buildings and roads of Haiti were no match for the 7.0 magnitude quake that hit the country Tuesday afternoon. Speaking to CNN En Espanol, the Haitian Ambassador to the US expressed that such as catastrophe “had been expected.”
Translation: “It’s a catastrophe of enormous proportions,” Haitian Ambassador Raymond Alcide Joseph said. “The death toll will be very high….we had been expecting this catastrophe.”
The Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince has been the worse affected by the earthquake — more than 2 million people out of the 10 million in the country live there and it’s the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. A local hospital and the National Palace both collapsed, trapping people inside.
Speaking to NPR news this evening, a representative with World Vision said that her organization would be concerned even if the quake had hit a developed country like the USA because of the high magnitude of the earthquake, but the fact that the quake hit a poor country makes this even a more urgent matter.
(Click on photos to zoom in)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
According to a reporter from CNN en Espanol in the Dominican Republic, the damage has not been terrible in the neighboring country. The new subway system in its capital of Santo Domingo was halted as a precaution and people were stuck in downtown fearful of what may had happened to their loved ones.
Schools in the Dominican Republic will be open on Thursday and Friday since there were no damages in the school buildings there.
Due to its proximity, the Dominican Republic government has been able to mobilized help to Haiti. It has also informed its citizens at the border to be aware of more potential damage by aftershocks or a tsunami. The airport in Santo Domingo has not suffer major damage and would most likely be used as an alternative to the airport in Port-au-Prince for flying in aid from the US, the UN, Europe and other disaster relief organizations.
(Click on photos to zoom in)
Total destruction. Haitian Earthquake 1-12-2010.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
“Americans can help the most by donating cash to an established relief agency,” says Suzanne H. Brooks, Director of the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI). “Haitians have suffered greatly in recent years and desperately need Americans to respond appropriately. Helping the efforts of professional humanitarian relief agencies is the absolute best way to aid the victims in Haiti.”
Those interested in making contributions to help the victims in Haiti can get more information by visiting CIDI’s Web site at www.cidi.org. Additionally, interested donors can visit www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities. In addition, donors can visit www.globalgiving.org.
Gilbert Mercier contributed to this story.
RAW VIDEO OF HAITIAN QUAKE AFTERMATH (SOME IS GRAPHIC)
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What a tragic story. While it’s hard to view the photos and raw video, it is also important to see this devastation. So many people–alraedy poor beyond most of our comprehension–are now experiencing unimaginable sufffering, Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive report. Good, hard work.
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I wish the very best for the people affected by this tragedy.
Important story. So tragic
Awesome! Thanks
I hope they secure the US border, I don’t want sny of these refugees to sneak onto the country, they already live like animals a lil’ earthquake won’t make matters any worse. Tell your congressman, no money to Haiti – America first, we need the money more than they do
This comment is extremely insensitive to the serious crisis we have going on in Haiti. I’m wondering if I you’re a Rush Limbaugh listener.
Are you being serious right now with your comments? I am in shock that anyone could have such a bitter attitude towards others in need…..you live in the most prosperous nation on earth and unlike the people of Haiti your needs have most likely been met today and will continue to be met. Perhaps whats really bothering you is the fact you may have to give up some of your wants in order to provide for others less fortuante than yourself. I feel very sorry for your soul.
Or this is the earth’s way of saying ” humans are a virus consuming and multiplying.” The earth has had enough. we need mass birth control for all nations. Us, them, everyone. We will consume the planets resources and we will be gone. The earth will live on. Tsunami, disease, quakes, hurricanes ect. this is the earth saying “ENOUGH”
I agree with Jay. Either way, everyone hates the US until they are devestated by some natural disaster…. then its USA to the rescue. Either way, i think its the planets way of putting us back is check. Katrina, India, Haiti…. mother nature is gangster
Although I know what you are trying to say, I must say you are very wrong on this one. The fact is, if MOTHER
EARTH had a gripe with a people on the earth, for
abusing the world in any and all ways, the U.S. -/
RUSIA – CHINA and many others would be laying to
waste RIGHT NOW.
Keep it real.
Good point. Give it time. Humans have only been on earth for a blink of geologic time. The Earth will fix itself. Humans are the problem. The sad part is that we have the means and intelligence to fix all our problems. But we can’t agree on God so we fight. We can’t see that we are a virus and can’t control our population. We will consume all of the earths resources and that will be it. Or we will kill each other fighting over OIL or God…same thing.
may God have mercy on your soul, your a very selfish person, this country is supposed to stand for a land of hope, most of us here came from another land, will kill all the Indians , enslaved the blacks,and when they were freed they were put in slums to live like animals, have you no love for others , Jesus says if you do it unto the least of these you do it unto me. i hope you repent from you evil wicked ways, you should be ashamed of yourself. i hope you don’t call yourself a american , if you do you don’t know what the word means. i i can tell by your dark heart your not a Christian either, what are you a monster without a heart.
my reply was to Craven Moorehead II post !!!
Why does this always turn to a God discussion? Is there a mention of dinosaurs in the Bible? Religion is the reason wars exist. You sir are the most dangerous person on the planet along with that Pat Robertson on 700 club. People need to take responsibility for them selves. The reason there are nations in such poverty is the can’t stop multiplying. Why would God want that. And don’t say god gave us free will. What a cruel god to create such a mess and sit back and watch the kaos ensue.
Are you for real, are you just to stupid to know what
you are saying. You don’t have to believe in GOD, or
anything else. BUT Please stop believing the crap
you are saying.
So why are there nations like Haiti? mr smarty pants! 10 million people on half of that little island? Its like the families in the US that abuse welfare. Keep having more kids and the taxes and hard work of others will feed me and my 18 kids. Yes I am bitter and mean and probably not as informed as you sir, but come on there are too many people on earth. The meek shall not inherit the earth, the poor and stupid will. They will out breed us. If Howard Stern were president all would be as it should.
Todd,
calm down and get your facts straight. we didnt kill all the indians. we tried to live among them and they werent having it. the ones that got killed (for almost the entire part) died with weapons in their hands. we did enslave the blacks…… but we didnt free them and put them into slums you ignorant moron. they made the places they lived slums on their own.
First you may want to get your facts straight, the indians were killed out by the american government. Native Americans had the better land for game and shelter and americans wanted it. What the diseases didnt kill Andrew Jackson finished off. Andrew Jackson was responsible for the trail of tears and he had a policy to round them up and move and those who resisted were killed. This is the reasons why native americans will refuse to have 20 dollar bills. I cant believe you actually believe 35 to 40 million native americans killed their own race/tribes off. And with the slums you can thank FDR for this and it was whites who actually lived in what you call slums/projects first as temporary housing for the poor after the great depression. And during the Johnson administration this is when blacks was basically moved to the slums they moved on their own however the only reason why is because blacks for the most part was turned down for housing loans versus whites could aquire these fairly easily. So before you blast someone on a post do your research.
B.A. Political Science
Master Public Adminstration
Master of Business Administration
And finishing up my J.D. (law degree)
Hey this people are so sick and dying they dont have the energy to go anywhere, And I am sure that this country with all the help of great people will become a great country. Its like starting over. They are human and were born in poverty that does not make them animals with all the respect u deserve u dont sound like a human being at all. America its a nation “if you remember in history classes” that is made out of a lot of inmigrant, you have every single race represented in the country . And yes they had the guts to kill many indians that we the original inhabitants of the Great America. How is it posible that we forget that and what kind of race has America created. Only materialistic and allways wanting to have more and more. Thats when God comes to united us all.
Please learn how to correctly articulate your point with proper grammer before writing a post on the internet. I think my IQ just went down a few points for reading this, as with most posts that I have read from above. I think I’ll stop reading now.
I can’t believe vermin like you (Craven Moorehead II) walk the hearth and are allowed to live amongst us humans. You say that these people live like animals when it’s YOU that has shown everyone reading this attitude and intellect below that of animals.
How dare you say that.
Are you really that cold hearted?
These people live in a third-world country.
People ARE People.
“A person’s a person no matter how small.” Dr. Suess
Do you realize that the earthquake has killed hundreds of thousands?!
You probably have distant family their that are dead.
I really hope carma bites you back for this terrible comment.
I’m going to raise more money for Haiti just for you=)
where there is pain and suffering there also love will be found
This helps people to remember we are all together in the same planet if we cant control weather , and tragedies at least we can help the people in need and this u can do. many blessing
God will take care of them thru us . They were screaming for help before this tragedy now finalling everybody its listening We live on the same planet and we dont know where could it happen next. Lets have a united attitude lets send them what we can and if u cant sent them good wishes, love , hope and compassion. Remember we all have a mission lets start working what are y waiting for. God bless u all. Suzanne
Why would God create a deadly disaster and then sit back and say ” okay you have stuff and they don’t. Help them.” If that is how God works then I want no part of that God. These are acts of nature. these quakes have been happening long before humans arrived on Earth. They will happen long after we are gone.
Jay i can undertand everything u say, About over population etc. I also can understand that God does not sent tragedy to anybody. we have not taken good care of our planet and this is mans acts and we are suffering the consecuences. Besides the fact that earth has its own internal changes. But please respect other peoples ways of thinking cause their are man different views Ok. I live in a small island Puerto Rico its near Haiti, and we are in the same zone and believe me if something happen to us we will like the world to help. and if something happen to you we will go were u are and help u to. Thanks basically the message if u believe in God or not , its not the most important issue for you OK . lets leave like we have to respect u opinion. Take you care of yourself another human living in your same planet Peace to you dear Jay
Sorry for my spelling and grammar I can write better i just wanted my message to go thru
How many Hatians helped during Katrina? And I am sorry but I am a Libra and will always see 2 sides if you say ying I say yang! Take care.
Did you help or give aid during Katrina, you surely have it to give, you live in this great big rich land.
Well did you?
Yes, I did. I have family there.
i’m sorry i came down so hard on that person, he made me very upset, to see so such hardship, pain and suffering and death,and not be moved is simply crazy. i’m sure if it were a white country that had this happen some people views would be totally different. but to those who don’t look at color and just the need of another human , i commend you. this world is so dark and wicked the only light it has comes from our hearts. Jesus loved us no matter what color we were , he even died for us. please pray for one another and most of all love one another, for that’s what true life is all about. LOVE !!!
Darwin was right. black, white, whatever the color the strongest or smartest will survive. However Earth’s power trumps all. One super volcano or asteroid can and will take us all out. Yes Haiti is a tragedy and the suffering is horrible, but this is natures way. If you live in an area prone to natural disaster, you need to be prepared. I live in Houston. It floods here. I know this and i know i could get wiped out by flood. it would suck but thats where I choose to live. San Francisco knows earthquakes happen yet people stay there. They all know what can and will happen. People during Hurricane Ike did not leave Galveston in time and lost everything. Again they knew it was coming yet chose to stay.
Todd I believe in what u say. But not everybody was raised with the fear of God and the loving heart that he gave us. The world has the good and the bad. And the good shall prevail not the bad. So dont ever lose you faith in humanity because thats what the dark side wants to achieve. So keep up the hope and good wishes for a better world. So not give power to the things that are not positive. Have a bless day Suzanne
I hope that tragedies like these will cease to exist, no matter what you believe in I hope that everyone will do what they can to help.
Tragedies are part of nature. We exist at the consent of the Earth and forces in the universe. Many species have and will be wiped out. We will be wiped out too.
I think you need to catch a wake up Craven moorehead. I live in South Africa. We are not a rich nation neither are we a poor nation, but at least we have our pride. While you sit there and worry about refugees coming into yourprecious country these people in Haitti is busy dying. At least SA made a diffence. All our people came together here and sent aid and volunteers there within 24 hours of this disater happening.
The aid you sent was probably funded by the americans.
I think it is time you catch a bit of a wake up. SA is a self sufficient country. We dont need other worthless countries liket he USA to support us. Lets face facts, last year Sa was in a surplus for its fiscal year and we only went into a recesion for 3 months for the first time in 18 years when the USA caused the world stock markets to crash. How many recessesions has the
USA had and last year The USA was in a deficit for its fiscal year. I wont even talk about now. How much did you guys lend from the world bank? Time to realize the USA is not the be alland end all of life. Do me a favour and tewll me where SA sits without looking at a map and please humor me by explaining to me how wildlife roams our streets. The wildest things we see is a stray dog in the streets at night. For your information I have travelled thw world and chose to stay here. At least SA is true to its believes. We dont do everything in our power totake religeon out of the schools and justice system.
GOD blessed these people with life. He didn’t just sit back and watch. Everything happens for a reason. It may not seem possible now,but what won’t kill u makes u stronger and life will go on. Give thanks to the lord and GOD bless all that may be in pain down there. J Goodwin