Medical teams are working to stop countless more dying from injuries sustained in the Haiti earthqauke, as hopes fade of pulling more survivors from the rubble.
Haiti: Information on donations
Photos from: Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières
Watch a 2008 RTÉ documentary on Haiti
Tens of thousands remain seriously wounded in makeshift field hospitals set up around the capital Port-au-Prince, and gangrene has already begun to eat its way through many wounds in the tropical heat.
Doctors, working in poor conditions, lacking supplies and modern equipment, have already carried out countless amputations to save victims with serious crush wounds or to repair internal injuries.
Already desperately poor country before the 7.0 magnitude quake on 12 January decimated its infrastructure, Haiti now looks to the world for basic provisions.
The strong 6.1 aftershock that hit yesterday did not appear to cause any major new destruction or slow the international relief effort now bolstered by more US troops.
Violence and looting has begun to subside after troops provided security for water and food distribution.
US President Barack Obama said yesterday that the White House was being ‘very careful’ to work with the Haitian government and the UN.
‘I want to make sure that when America projects its power around the world, it's not seen only when it's fighting a war,’ Mr Obama said on ABC News.
‘It's got to also be able to help people in desperate need. And ultimately that will be good for us. That will be good for our national security over the long term,’ he said.
US Marines in landing craft brought ashore bulldozers, mechanical diggers and trucks on a beach at Neply village, west of capital Port-au-Prince, from warships anchored offshore.
The UN is adding 2,000 troops and 1,500 police to the 9,000-member peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
At the airport in the damaged historic port city of Jacmel, Sri Lankan, US and Canadian troops delivered supplies.
In Jacmel, Hazem El-Zein of the World Food Programme said he thought 30,000 people were without homes in southern Haiti.
A US search and rescue team left Haiti yesterday and it was reported that teams from Belgium, Luxembourg and Britain did as well.
International teams rescued 122 people over the past week, the White House said. Haitians rescued many others in the hours and days after the quake.
Irish aid
The Minister of State for Overseas Aid has paid tribute to the response of the people of Ireland to the earthquake.
Peter Power said the millions of euro donated by Irish people demonstrated an extraordinary level of generosity at a time when people were feeling the effects of recession.
The Minister said the government had freighted 84 tonnes of emergency equipment, which arrived in the country last night.
He said the difficulty in getting emergency supplies into the country should not be underestimated.
Mr Power said the value of the Irish contribution amounted to over €3m.
He said the Government may contribute more in the coming days.
The Dáil is hearing special statements about the situation in Haiti today.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said an Irish navy ship should be sent to Haiti to help in the relief work there.
In the Dáil this morning, Mr Kenny said the navy hospital ship should set sail for Haiti. He said it would provide an invaluble contribution.
The Tánaiste said the matter would be considered.
Fine Gael Spokesman on Foreign Affairs Billy Timmins suggested the Government examines the possibility of taking Haitian refugees into Ireland.
Mr Timmins was critical of Irish Aid's Rapid Response Unit, which he said should be expanded to include volunteers from the private sector.
Deputy Timmins also called on Irish Aid Agencies to restructure and concentrate on a particular area of the world rather than spreading their resources too thinly over the globe.
The Labour Party Spokesman for Foreign Affairs, Michael D Higgins, has praised the Government's response to the earthquake.
He said the contributions by the Government and the Irish people contributed to a positive view of Ireland abroad.
Deputy Higgins said he was less pleased with the EU reaction. He said the disaster was an opportunity to give leadership on emergency response.
Last night, a consignment of Irish aid arrived in Port-au-Prince.
The truck convoy had travelled overland from the Dominican Republic. The relief supplies will be distributed today.
Separately, an Aer Lingus Airbus will travel from Dublin to the Dominican Republic tomorrow with an additional 25 tonnes of medical and food supplies. It will also carry a number of doctors and staff from aid agency GOAL.
GOAL's Chief Executive John O'Shea welcomed Aer Lingus' decision to provide the plane.
