Photos: US Military Swing Into Action & Aid Haiti Amid A Barrage of Critics

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI: Soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division walk to a Navy helicopter to be dropped off to secure an area to drop in food and water supplies near the Cite Soleil area, as relief contiues to arrive after the massive earthquake January 18, 2010 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

[tweetmeme]Planeloads of rescuers and relief supplies headed to Haiti as governments and aid agencies launched a massive relief operation after a powerful earthquake that may have killed thousands. Many buildings were reduced to rubble by the 7.0-strong quake on January 12. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images).

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – JANUARY 18: A U.S. Army soldier carries an injured child from a helicopter as she is brought in for care after being hurt during the massive earthquake.

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Haitian-US citizens earthquake survivors waiting at the airport to leave Port-au-Prince return to USA, on January 17, 2010. The airport congestion also touched off diplomatic rows between the US military and other donor nations. France and Brazil both lodged official complaints that the US military, in control of the international airport, had denied landing permission to relief flights from their countries. Photo by Tolga Adanali/AA/ABACAPRESS.COM

Editor’s Note: Over recent days, there has been reported criticism from within Haiti, and formal complaints laid by France and Brazil, and its aid agencies,  that the US soldiers were “occupying” Haiti, and not prioritising medical workers.  Clearly, the US Military are providing medical aid, and other relief, on a scale we have never before witnessed. After the challenges with airport congestion  in Haiti, and aid reportedly not reaching people in need, someone needed to step in, take control and ensure there was an orderly process in order at Haiti Airport. The Haitian Government, under the circumstances, were incapable of doing that. Good on the US Military for stepping in, and stepping on diplomatic and aid agency toes, to  ensure aid reached people in need. Haitians were crying out for help. Now the US military are in Haiti,  they’re now facing criticism for doing a job they were called on to do as part of the international effort. In case governments and aid agencies need reminding, the US military are responding , along with Mexico, France, Brazil, Israel and others, to a catastrophic crisis of devastating proportions. Give them a break .


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Patients affected by the recent earthquake wait outside the Killick Haitian Coast Guard base clinic to receive treatment from U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard medical workers, January 16, 2010. (Candice Villarreal/US Navy News Photo/MCT).

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Medical staff from the U.S. Navy, left, and U.S. Coast Guard, right, treat earthquake victims at the Killick Haitian Coast Guard base clinic in Haiti, January 16, 2010. (Candice Villarreal/US Navy News Photo/MCT).

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Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Jason Harold of Goldsboro, North Carolina, transfers a young Haitian earthquake victim from an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter during a medical evacuation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Saturday, January 16, 2010. (Candice Villarreal/US Navy News Photo/MCT).

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Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines an injured Haitian girl in the medical facility aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) near Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, on January 18, 2010. Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon and reporter for the CNN news network, was brought to the ship to assist in performing brain surgery on a 12-year-old Hatian girl. UPI/Erin Oberholtzer/U.S. Navy.

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Cmdr. Jerry Berman, left, a Navy surgeon, Dr. Henri R. Ford, Los Angles Pediatric Hospital Surgeon-in-Chief originally from Haiti, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a CNN medical correspondent and practicing neurosurgeon, and Lt. Cmdr. Kathryn Berndt, a Navy surgeon, prepare a 12-year-old Haitian girl with a severe head injury for surgery aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson near Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, on January 18, 2010. Surgeons removed a piece of concrete from the child’s brain caused by the earthquake in Haiti. UPI/Michael Barton/U.S. Navy.

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U.S. military members distribute food and water to Haitian citizens in Port-Au-Prince on January 17(UPI/US Navy)

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A Haitian boy receives his meal-ready-to eat (MRE) and bottled water from U.S. military members that are distributing food and water at one of the distribution points in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on January 17(UPI/Laura A. Moore/US Navy)

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A SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter arrives to deliver water and supplies on January 15, 2010 to Port-au-Prince (UPI/Daniel Barker/U.S. Navy).

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Sailors from the United States Navy deliver an injured U.S. citizen to USS Carl Vinson on Friday, January 15, 2010. Health Services department moved the man to one of the deck elevators for transfer to the ship’s medical facility. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Haiti in response to the January 12, 2010, earthquake disaster. (Adrian White/US Navy News Photo/MCT)

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U.S. Army soldiers unload food and supplies on January 15, 2010 from a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) at the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.(UPI/Candice B. Villarreal/U.S. Navy).


Update: Still A Chance for Mike Pero’s Erebus Flight to Antarctica

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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 28: Rev Richard Waugh sprinkles the water from Mount Erebus over the flowers during the memorial service at Waikumete cemetary in Auckland, Sunday, November 28th, 2004 for the 25th anniversary of the Mt Erebus air accident. (Photo by Sandra Teddy/Getty Images). Content © 2009 Getty Images All rights reserved.

Tomorrow is the 30th anniversary of an Air New Zealand DC10 crash at Mt Erebus which killed all 257 passengers and crew on board. Their bodies, except for a few, still remain on Mt Erebus. Mike Pero, a Christchurch businessman of Cook Islands descent, announced this week that he would charter a plane allowing as many of the grieving families to fly over Mt Erebus. This comes after Air New Zealand had announced it would provide 6 seats for the families of victims on its special flight. After Pero’s charter flight was publicised, Air New Zealand went on the attack accusing Mike Pero of exploiting the tragedy for commercial gain. Since then, it has turned into nasty and personal attacks on Pero from Air New Zealand’s CEO Rob Fyfe.  Not pleasant.

Terrible for the families to witness this. Shame that any ill will has entered into tragedy. Not a good look from Air New Zealand. Wrong call to come out criticising someone who was trying to help the situation. The absurd argument from Air New Zealand, accusing Pero of crass commercialism among other things, suggests they need to look in the mirror.  This seems to be the standard approach from Air New Zealand whenever anyone encroaches on their territory so to speak. Think of all the small airlines that they come out criticising and as a result of their relentless PR campaign in the media, which passes without scrutiny, they win the war.

We hope Mike Pero stays strong on this issue, is able to go ahead with the charter flight, and doesn’t give in to the personal attacks from Air New Zealand.

OPTIMISTIC: Entrepreneur Mike Pero believes the charter flight to Antarctica he is helping organise can still go ahead, despite Qantas saying there is no plane available.

Christchurch entrepreneur Mike Pero is refusing to give up hope of flying more than 300 people to the site of the Mt Erebus disaster in Antarctica despite Qantas saying it cannot provide a plane.


Click here for full coverage of the Erebus Disaster Anniversary.

 


Pero had an agreement with Antarctica Sightseeing Flights to charter a Boeing 747 for 307 people in January.

 

Roll of Remembrance Mt Erebus Disaster

New Zealanders who died 180 and 20 crew members. Japan lost 24 citizens. United States lost 22 citizens. United Kingdom lost six citizens. Canada lost two citizens. Australia, France and Switzerland lost one citizen each.

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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 28: People pay their repect to the ones lost in the Mount Erebus disaster at the memorial service held at Waikumete cemetary in Auckland, Sunday, November 28th, 2004 for the 25th anniversary of the Mt Erebus air accident. (Photo by Sandra Teddy/Getty Images)