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Warnings of chaos in Haiti as Port-au-Prince struggles with disaster
Times Online ^ | January 15, 2010 | Catherine Philp, James Bone and Jacqui Goddard

Posted on 01/15/2010 3:53:20 PM PST by myknowledge

United Nations peacekeepers warned today that Haiti’s capital could quickly descend into rioting if three million hungry, thirsty and traumatised quake survivors were forced to go longer without emergency aid.

The warning came as aid agencies battled to deliver tonnes of aid to Haiti’s capital in spite of blocked roads, a clogged airport and shattered ports. Looters have emptied food shops and scuffles broken out among survivors fighting over scarce water as the wait for help drags on.

Brazil’s Defence Minister, Nelson Jobim, warned that the Brazilian-led peacekeeping force could struggle to cope if desperation spilled into violence. “We are worried about security,” he said. “As long as the people are hungry and thirsty, as long as we haven’t fixed the problem of shelter, we run the risk of riots.”

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: disasterrelief; haitiearthquake; haitit; portauprince
Port-au-Prince could end up 100 times as dangerous as post-Katrina New Orleans. The rule of the jungle thrives there now.
1 posted on 01/15/2010 3:53:21 PM PST by myknowledge
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To: myknowledge

Is this why Bill Clinton is staying away from Haiti and politickn for his Dem buddy in Mass? GW Bush is going to be walking into a mine field on this one.


2 posted on 01/15/2010 3:57:02 PM PST by DownInFlames
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To: myknowledge

I hope are soldiers are armed and loaded. They might have to take down some of the machete wielding thugs.


3 posted on 01/15/2010 3:57:48 PM PST by Parley Baer
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To: myknowledge

the media is not mentioning that the island was rife with crime, gangs and drugs before the earth quake.
it was hardly a utopia before.

The island was a hole of crime and now obama has said he wants to bring 100,000 to 200,000 of them over there for 18 months of which we all know that they will not go back and then the illegals have just gained amnesty.

This is just plain insane.

There’s criminals and guns all over that island and the price of life was cheap before this.
Then we now get reports of 4000 of them escaping prison.


4 posted on 01/15/2010 4:00:39 PM PST by manc (WILL OBAMA EVER GO TO CHURCH ON A SUNDAY OR WILL HE LET THE MEDIA/THE LEFT BE FOOLED FOR EVER)
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To: myknowledge

Don’t they have a stadium? How can this happen with Obambi in charge?


5 posted on 01/15/2010 4:03:30 PM PST by Hattie
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To: DownInFlames
Port-au-Prince could end up 100 times as dangerous as post-Katrina New Orleans. The rule of the jungle thrives there now>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There are thousands of corpses in the collapsed buildings. Port Au Prince is full of rats. Typhus and the Plague will be the real problem in Haiti. The only thing to do is to evacuate, and let the mocribes take care of the uncivilized and the idiot bleeding hearts who are still trying to make political hay from this tragedy.

6 posted on 01/15/2010 4:07:40 PM PST by Candor7 ((The effective weapons Against Fascism are ridicule, derision , truth (.Member NRA))
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To: manc
“Looters have emptied food shops and scuffles broken out among survivors fighting over scarce water as the wait for help drags on.”

Agreed on the pre-existing thugs. But I think ANY place will become desperate under these conditions. Especially after a few more days without relief. And that certainly will be the case in more remote areas of Haiti - and in portions of Port of Prince.

I know that if my neighbor's house is collapsed and they are dead, I'll be rummaging through their house to try to give my family a chance to survive if for some reason my ample supplies are destroyed. And yes - would fight over water if I found any under certain conditions.

But, will also share with others under other conditions, as I have in the past. One of the hazards of being prepared.

7 posted on 01/15/2010 4:10:55 PM PST by 21twelve
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To: 21twelve

well they have two options right now.
they know we are trying to help them and they need to help us to help them and be civil
or
they will start rioting and killing.

Now I have no idea which way they will go but I hope not the latter.
Now it’s dire over there but there are many thugs, gangs druggies etc too who might spoil it for the others.
I just hope that doesn’t happen.
The place was a hell hole before this and life was cheap so lets hope they decide to help instead of all for one


8 posted on 01/15/2010 4:15:28 PM PST by manc (WILL OBAMA EVER GO TO CHURCH ON A SUNDAY OR WILL HE LET THE MEDIA/THE LEFT BE FOOLED FOR EVER)
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To: myknowledge
Just got an update from family in Haiti.....

All buildings are considered unsafe due to on-going after shocks. People sleeping in cars. One cousin had 300 people sleeping on her property last night. No bathroom facilities. People squatting where they can. Overwhelming stench of feces and death.

This is outside Port-au- Prince in an area of up-scale, walled and gated homes.

9 posted on 01/15/2010 4:18:59 PM PST by wtc911 ("How you gonna get down that hill?")
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To: myknowledge

this could be an disaster, that mankind can not contain....we have reached a tolerance threshold, where no amounts of money will be sufficient....

Mr. O, may rue the day he waded in on this one....what if the greatest military in the world can’t contain the situation...


10 posted on 01/15/2010 4:25:21 PM PST by thinking
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To: myknowledge

Let’s do a little thought problem, shall we??

Imagine for a moment what conditions in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, LA, Memphis, or any other large city in the US would be if the power went off for an extended period of time.

Now how much difference do you think there would be between Port au Prince after the earthquake, and LA after the lights were out for a month??

Food for thought.


11 posted on 01/15/2010 4:34:23 PM PST by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts....)
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To: thinking

i wonder what the rules of engagement are. I could envision a situation where they have to retreat because Obama won’t let them defend themselves.


12 posted on 01/15/2010 4:46:31 PM PST by plain talk
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To: 21twelve; All
I spent five years working in Haiti. One week out of every four. Mostly Port au Prince and Petionville. At the time in the early 80's the country was secure under baby doc. He was a criminal thug but knew how to keep the peace.

Some Haitians now long for his return.Dumb move.

Problem was when he was sent to France in 84 there was no plan whatsoever for free elections,a capitalistic system or an orderly takeover.

We have seen the result.

Today Haiti is yet another banana republic ruled by one dictator after another.

The first thing that the joker should do is establish order using US and Haitians troops.

It's Not that difficult to do. He could helicopter in several thousand troops while other choppers/planes are dropping food,water and medicine.

But zero is too dumb to do this.

He wants an opportunity out of yet another chaotic crisis. Plus this will be excellent cover for more ops in the US that no on will find out about for months.

The dbm will cover for him as he demands that govt. do everything for the people even with hundreds of philanthropic and religious organaization all over the country(some having been there for years) already with good organization ready to help people. Zero will go only the govt. way.

He's a true dirtbag. Killing many Innocent black people by wasting time on politically contrived BS plans.

13 posted on 01/15/2010 4:46:41 PM PST by rodguy911 (HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE--GO SARAHCUDA !!)
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To: plain talk
have to retreat because Obama won’t let them defend themselves.

Hell, you get charged if you punch some jihadi.
14 posted on 01/15/2010 4:49:41 PM PST by ZX12R
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To: manc
the media is not mentioning that the island was rife with crime, gangs and drugs before the earth quake. it was hardly a utopia before. The island was a hole of crime and now obama has said he wants to bring 100,000 to 200,000 of them over there for 18 months of which we all know that they will not go back and then the illegals have just gained amnesty. This is just plain insane. There’s criminals and guns all over that island and the price of life was cheap before this. Then we now get reports of 4000 of them escaping prison.

The criminals will "somehow" find places on the first mercy flights to Miami. Bet on it. And they won't ever go back.

15 posted on 01/15/2010 4:50:00 PM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: Bean Counter

Well, not much, but more bloodshed and expended shell casings.


16 posted on 01/15/2010 5:26:56 PM PST by myknowledge (F-22 Raptor: World's Largest Distributor of Sukhoi parts!)
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To: Bean Counter

“Now how much difference do you think there would be between Port au Prince after the earthquake, and LA after the lights were out for a month??”

The only thing is that at least we have the capabilities to rebuild things and get the lights on more quickly than Haiti. But yes - the “Big One” in my Seattle region it might be many weeks before the power is back on. And obviously short-term (7-10 days) MANY folks will still be on their own. And 10 days with no rescues, water or food will cause many (most?) folks to go tribal.


17 posted on 01/15/2010 5:26:59 PM PST by 21twelve
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To: Bean Counter

I appreciate what you’re saying but it’s not a good analogy.

What Haiti is experiencing would be more like the entire US power grid failed, every hospital was destroyed, water shut off, waste treatment plants destroyed, police & fire departments collapsed and Democrats running all levels of government. Then we’d experience what it’s like living in Haiti today.


18 posted on 01/15/2010 6:26:04 PM PST by sjmjax
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To: myknowledge

The biggest difference is that in LA they have better weapons and a lot more ready ammunition in all calibers...


19 posted on 01/15/2010 7:36:55 PM PST by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts....)
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