Haiti earthquake: corpses used as roadblocks as anger grows

The Telegraph ^ | 1/15/2008

[bruinbirdman]

Shaul Schwarz, a photographer for TIME magazine, said he saw at least two downtown roadblocks formed with bodies of earthquake victims and rocks.

"They are starting to block the roads with bodies, it's getting ugly out there, people are fed up with getting no help," he said.

President Barack Obama has promised Haitians they would not be forgotten, offering $100 million in immediate earthquake aid and the backing of every element of US power.

A large-scale US military and civilian aid operation has gained momentum with Washington sending rescue teams, ships, helicopters, planes, a floating hospital, emergency supplies and more than 5,000 ground troops.

However, there was little sign of the aid effort on the ground in the capital, where chaos ruled.

Gunshots were heard throughout the night and looting was commonplace as desperate survivors scrambled to find scarce supplies of food, water and medical equipment.

Gangs were also reported to be roaming the streets, making up rumours of a looming tidal wave so that they coudl steal from fleeing families.

Complicating the relief effort, the city's airport was closed for several hours due to severe overcrowding and a lack of airport fuel.

The Pentagon has rejected criticism that it may have acted too slowly to deploy its military might in the first 24 hours of the disaster, saying it moved in assessment teams quickly.

But the relief effort faced serious challenges, Mr Obama said, with roads in Haiti impassable, communications rudimentary, and aftershocks still rumbling.

[bushpilot1]

Perhaps they are using the bodies as sandbags?

[Feline_AIDS]

I think the worst thing about being a Haitian right now is the fact that there’s nowhere to go. Yeah yeah until Obama brings all the Haitians here yadda yadda blah blah blah

[gov_bean_ counter]

My organization is asking for volunteers to deploy to that area. I feel safer in Iraq.

[REDWOOD99]

OBAMA HATES BLACK PEOPLE! Including Rod Blagojevich.

[LeoWindhorse]

we should evacuate the entire population of Port au Prince
to Venezuela

[behzinlea]

"They are starting to block the roads with bodies, it's getting ugly out there, people are fed up with getting no help," he said.

Katrina x 1000.

I feel sorry for the people. Unfortunately they are starting to behave like New Orleans survivors. And I don't mean that in a complimentary way.

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

what is ticking me off is the MSM reporting of the Haitian’s lack of patience when half the frikkin’ free world is there to aid & comfort.Haitians have their own political&religious leaders who need to step up to the plate.yeah,from whomever’s left.....

[Long Haired Dissident Radical]

I have this gut-wretching feeling that our “earthquake relief” will result in thousands of new voters in the United States who will be dedicated followers of Obama.

[Kirkwood]

“Unfortunately they are starting to behave like New Orleans survivors. And I don’t mean that in a complimentary way. “

Please elaborate.

[bushpilot1]

“The first US Army troops from the 82nd Airborne Division were expected to arrive late last night.

About 100 troops will find locations to set up tents and make other preparations for the arrival of roughly 800 personnel from the division today and a full brigade of some 3,500 by the end of the weekend.

They come on top of some 2,200 Marines, also due to arrive by Sunday or Monday.”

A full brigade from the 82nd being deployed to the island. Does this affect our national security?

[behzinlea]

No elaboration necessary. Behavior speaks for itself.

[GeronL]

Plus Governor Blanco refused to let the army trucks in and “federalize” her state.

[Anti-Kenyan]

I would assume they can set up some drop zones for C-17s to drop pallets of food and water. Cause it won’t be safe to transport the stuff via roads pretty shortly once those people reach the point of absolute rioting and fighting for survival. I hope our troops there will have adequate protection once this turns into mad max world. But I have a feeling maobama will leave them out to dry.

[RouxStir]

No matter what the US does for Haiti, they will complain.

[Feline_AIDS]

Never let a crisis go to waste.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

I have this gut-wretching feeling that our “earthquake relief” will result in thousands of new voters in the United States who will be dedicated followers of Obama.

Actually, probably in the millions.

I expect that the approach will evolve fairly quickly into massive refugee camps, and given the widespread destruction and poverty and collapse of central authority, that eventually a significant percentage of the population will end up in the US. Obama administration and congress will authorize refugee resettlement in the US in large numbers.

[dragnet2]

Haiti earthquake: corpses used as roadblocks

Uh...I'm afraid to ask...But why are they blocking the roads?

[ColdOne]

offering $100 million in immediate earthquake aid and the backing of every element of US power// Offering 100million..... To who? they have no government to speak of/ Who is going to hand it out. How did he get the 100million number? And exactly what is EVERY ELEMENT OF US POWER? What is he going to take away their life savings? I did not know Haiti had a car company. He is going to Unionize the street gangs?

[Vendome]

Mariel boatlift

[Smokin' Joe]

Unfortunately they are starting to behave like New Orleans survivors.

Disasters bring out the very worst in some people and the very best in others.

[dragnet2]

Haiti earthquake: corpses used as roadblocks as anger grows

Are they angry because the corpses are being used to block the roads, or are they angry about the traffic getting through the blockades?

[bruinbirdman]

"Uh...I'm afraid to ask...But why are they blocking the roads? "

See second line of above article.

yitbos

[dragnet2]

See second line of above article.

Title says they are being used as "Roadblocks".

Haiti earthquake: corpses used as roadblocks as anger grows

If ya want relief, why would you block the roads?

Second line says this:

"They are starting to block the roads with bodies, it's getting ugly out there, people are fed up with getting no help," he said.

Still don't explain why they are blocking the roadss

Just guessing but in a sane society ya got to start burning or burying the bodies to avoid much bigger problems. um-k?

[liberty or death]

And there will be no change in lifestyle. Still poor looking to a gov’t official to make life better.

[liberty or death]

The gangs and thugs want to keep everyone out until they have looted the limited wealth that is there. Haiti was a hellhole before the earthquake and my heart is absolutely sick knowing what will transpire before order can be restored.

Many good and wonderful people there, but controlled by heartless thugs.

[dragnet2]

The gangs and thugs want to keep everyone out until they have looted the limited wealth that is there.

Hmmmm...They want to loot from their dirt poor neighbors?....

[Hildy]

Camp of the Saints...a book written in the 1970’s foretold all of this. If he brings them here...I am ready to riot...in the streets...

[KIDFOH]

They are ANGRY at not getting any relief?!? Just what makes these folks get the idea that they are ENTITLED to help, so that they get an attitude when it isn’t fast enough, and in the fashion they demand?!? What ever happened to being GRATEFUL when you DO get help? I’m sorry, but if I was doing what I could, and someone got this demanding sort of attitude, I’d turn around and go home and tell them that if they want to be like that - HELP YOUR OWN FRIGGIN SELF!!! Do they think we OWE them something? Ya wanna get mad, go tell God off for the earthquake - if you dare...

Friggin ingrates... they seem just like these loony lefty types that believe they are entitled to take from another man’s pocket the $$ that he has earned.

[dragnet2]

Haiti was a hellhole before the earthquake

Not only that, all their buildings were 100 percent completely unsafe prior to the earthquake.

This is what happens when ya have no common sense building standards or requirements.

[liberty or death]

Everyone is not poor in Haiti. Have you ever been to Detroit? The political class and their enablers have “stuff”. To these thugs even a 10hp outboard motor is wealth.

[PA Engineer]

There is an effected population of three million people. There are no utilities, food distribution, medical care, burial services and road access. Transportation was marginal prior to the quake. Google Earth Port-au-Prince and look closely at the satellite images. The Government institutions (as corrupt as they were) are destroyed. The UN facilities are in shambles. Finally, there is no central order left to prevent anarchy and enforce a degree of order. The magic 72 hours are up.

This is an incredibly poor population, living a marginal day to day existence prior to the quake. After the quake even their marginal and fragile lifelines were erased. The port is destroyed. Their homes and markets are destroyed. Their roads are clogged. No government has been able to model a system to replace existing distribution networks after a disaster. Supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, clinics, schools, municipal governments have always been the only efficient provider and distributor of goods and services.

I get furious at the media talking heads who are spouting off that their is no relief on the ground. Not only are they stupid and lack imagination, but they do a terrible disservice to those that are rushing to remote island nation whose only lifeline is an airport with a working runway. I knew from the first reports that this was TEOTWAWKI for Haiti. There was no way in 72 hours to get the required services distributed on the ground. Think about it. There is just one Airport with one runway. The minimum water requirements will be at least one gallon for every man, women, and child. This works out to 12,000 tons of water a day. For food at a minimum of 1000 calories (barely survival) they will need 750 tons a day. The are going to need at least 250,000 tents and probably more if the aftershocks continue. Fuel, medical care, medications, clothes, tools, shoes (look at all the cut feet from debris), bedding and sanitation. Leaving aside for now all the dead bodies, how are they going to effectively maintain a pipeline and distribute these supplies on a daily basis? They are not going to be able to.

This is just the beginning of hell there. How do you retrieve and bury so many dead? Where do you bury them? Assume 100,000, though I believe the number is going to be much greater once disease, violence, and starvation sets in. Leaving aside all the raw sewage, the flies will begin to be a problem. Cholera will kill many more. Violence will begin to break out as gangs form and begin to raid locally at first and city wide later. This in itself will further disrupt any recovery or relief effort.

Finally throw in the culture of dependency. Is anyone surprised that they are setting up road blocks with corpses?

In the US FEMA has pushed for 72 hour kits. They have since begun to expand this to 7-day kits. Why? They learned after Katrina that there is no way relief can be provided in the first 72 hours. This is in the United States with the best highway and distribution system in the world. Most Americans could afford these preparations, but how many have actually done it? My answer is just a small percentage. One week is for a localized natural disaster and does not include preparations for far more disruptive events.

In Haiti this is a far more disruptive event. People need to shut the media up from pontificating on the lack of aid distribution. People need to accept this is just the beginning of the horrors. The assistance must be rational and not clouded by emotionally driven detours.

Just my two cents and rant. Thank you.

[TXLady]

You are probably right. The sad thing is that with folks suffering as they are it can never be fast enough or enough done to make the pain go away.

[Allegra]

Excellent and well-reasoned rant.

My heart and my prayers go out to those poor people and to the relief workers.

[dragnet2]

This is just the beginning of hell there. How do you retrieve and bury so many dead? Where do you bury them

They'll need to mass burn the victims they retrieve...For their own protection.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

Tragic and true.

I think the only effective way to deal with this will be truly massive refugee camps, on a scale not before seen, somewhere in the vicinity of the seaport. People will need to make their way to the refugee camps.

The very first step required is for the US navy facilities engineering command to install an artificial dock structure at the collapsed port facility, large enough to accomodate large cargo ships.

Seabees and Army Engineers will need to construct the giant refugee camps and build a transportation link to the port facility.

Teams of Marines and Corpsmen and any Army paratroopers not overseas will need to establish posts across the city and provide security and assist in bringing the population to the refugee camps.

The refugee camps themselves will probably be run under the auspices of the UN.

[skinkinthegrass]

Friggin ingrates... they seem just like these loony lefty types that believe
they are entitled to take from another man’s pocket the $$ that he has earned.

HEY Its, American Liberalism exported, overseas....
The Amer. Marxist, are so proud.
its just like just Detroit / L.A., Baltimore...etc...etc...
the American Liberal Plantation.

[PA Engineer]

I was thinking the same, however I was looking at the area adjacent to the (WestNorthWest) Airport. I cannot even begin to imagine the sanitation infrastructure that will be required.

Sadly, I see this as a triage of a society and I fear the refugee camps will become permanent. I agree that only the military (US) can do this.

We (wife and I) are looking into volunteering. She is a Physician and has past triage experience. I am very familiar with infrastructure and project management. Her Uncle was a Priest who built a school, clinic, orphanage and housing not far from the epicenter. They were shaken but there was no injuries. There structures suffered some minor cracking from the aftershocks. We are in the early stages of talking with them. Things are still very fluid, however I think we will be able to get support. Our Daughter is very unhappy about this, but we believe we can help.

[Marie2]

Be careful if you go PA Engineer.

[21twelve]

Agreed 110%. (Are you in the geotechnical field?) I try to tell folks around here the same thing.

You know those shows about “Apocalypse Earth” on the History channel where you think that can’t happen here in the U.S.? It can, and someday will.

I’m in the Seattle area where bridges are essential. It will be many days before everyone can be helped after the “Big One” happens here.

Thank goodness new analysis has come up with new plans. It used to be that Portland would help Seattle and vice-versa. Now they figure north-south travel between Portland-Seattle-Vancouver would be severely disrupted. Now it will be places like Spokane and Boise to supply aid.

[21twelve]

Here’s a link with some before and after sat images. The port is destroyed. The docks are gone, the cranes are toppled, loading structures gone. The while splotches are I think “sand blows” where the sand and water jetted up through the asphalt weakening the area.

http://www.popsci.com/node/42783

[PA Engineer]

Agreed 110%. (Are you in the geotechnical field?) I try to tell folks around here the same thing.

Part of my work includes geotechnical studies, but primarily failure analysis and mitigation. Some have claimed that the building failures were the result of inadequate reinforcing. That may be, however what I am beginning to see from the photos is concrete failure in many instances. I read somewhere that Haiti lacks bulk plants and imports most of the cement from the US. Reports indicate that Haitians cannot afford to follow the standard 1,2, and 3 mix and increase the sand in the ratio. This is what I am seeing in many of the photos.

I am still hearing the media is claiming the aid is not reaching the victims on the ground. They are continuing to commit an injustice to those attempting this humanitarian effort. Further, claims of gunfire are preventing many from moving out from the airport.

If our military is involved, I pray they are allowed complete autonomy in the application of force to restore order. Many bad guys will die, but more civilians will ultimately be saved. I think Haiti will be one of the worse quagmires we could get involved in for the long term.

The best outcome I see is for the military to reestablish order and basic infrastructure. When this is complete, turn the assistance back over to those charities that were already present, NGOs and the United Nations. This will be the biggest no win situation for all involved.

[BenLurkin]

protest against the delay in aid

Talk about an entitlement mentality!

[21twelve]

Castles made of sand.

[happygrl]

Is anyone surprised that they are setting up road blocks with corpses?

Thanks for your post which explicates why they are blocking the roads, PA Engineer.

It is to keep the "technicals" (those small trucks with gunmen) OUT.

This is what many on FR have tried to explain for years, that in a scenario where it all goes to hell, thugs will leave their own environs and go looking for food, ammo, and "stuff" to loot.

These people are trying to keep the Bad Guys out of their neighborhood.

[dragnet2]

Thanks for your post which explicates why they are blocking the roads

BS

[RichInOC]

“Aux barricades!”