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Harper says Canada in Haiti for the long haul
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It is entirely unnecessary to criticize the religious based NGOs that do tremendous work in many third world countries, including Haiti and Afghanistan. Often they do this work in the most awful conditions at considerable personal risk to their own lives.
My colleagues and I in the military have met some of these selfless religious NGO members and they are very brave and committed to helping people in desperate situations, and if they wish to tell people about the god they serve then let them do so.
It is too easy on this forum to criticise the work of others who are delivering life-saving aid, medical care and shelter, If you really think they should deliver the aid differently them I suggest you get down to Haiti yourself and see if you can do it any better rather than sitting back here in your comfortable house and typing on your computer.
soldier who cares - Ottawa
Canada shifts from search work to humanitarian aid
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Harper says Canada in Haiti for the long haul
CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Sat. Jan. 16 2010 7:35 PM ET
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada is in Haiti for the long haul and an expensive international effort will be needed to rebuild the country that was devastated by this week's earthquake.
"I think important long-term progress had been made, I think it's safe to say that has been virtually wiped out and we are starting from scratch," Harper said.
"I think everybody recognizes to go in and stabilize things for a couple of years and then leave would be a disastrous approach."
Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche, a recent top commander in Afghanistan, has been tapped co-ordinate Canada's effort in Haiti. He is a seasoned military leader who commanded the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan over a ten-month period in 2007 and 2008.
Officials say that 200 Canadian soldiers are now on the ground in Haiti, with a further 30 on the way Saturday.
By next week, another several hundred soldiers will be in the nation, when HMCS Halifax and HMCS Athabaskan arrive in the shattered capital of Port-au-Prince.
About 1,000 troops will eventually be in Haiti; many of them coming from Canadian Forces Base Valcartier.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon says the Canadian relief effort in Haiti is shifting from an urgent search and rescue mission to one of humanitarian aid and stabilization.
"We are putting everything in action to help the victims," said Cannon, speaking at a joint press conference with other cabinet ministers in Ottawa Saturday morning.
Since the 7.0 earthquake shook the Caribbean nation on Tuesday, Canada has shipped 100 tons of supplies to Haiti, including about 22,000 kilograms of medical supplies, Cannon said.
To further alleviate the suffering, restrictions on Haitian immigrants will also be amended.
Foreign Affairs is keeping track of Canadians in Haiti and these are the latest numbers:
- More than 1,300 Canadians in Haiti are unaccounted for
- Eight Canadians are dead
- 781 Canadians have been found
- 460 Canadians have been evacuated to Canada
- 50 Canadians are in the Canadian embassy compound in Port au Prince
- 21,500 Canadians have called Foreign Affairs (1-800-387-3124) seeking and providing information about relatives and friends in Haiti
- If you have missing family members in Haiti, please email CTV News with photos and any information about them.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said that a C-130 Hercules was on its way Saturday loaded with more soldiers and aid equipment. He added that Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART ) is already at work in Haiti.
MacKay added that six Griffin helicopters and a Sea King chopper will arrive in Haiti in three or four days
"Make no mistake about it, this is an immense challenge," said MacKay.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said his department will work to speed immigration applications from Haitians who have family in Canada.
He added that Haitians temporarily in Canada can now extend their stays.
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Earthquake in Haiti
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The World at Work in Haiti
The international relief effort is in full swing to help Haiti's earthquake victims.
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