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Doctors Without Borders Cargo Plane Denied Entry Into Haiti
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by Jon Azpiri | January 17, 2010 at 11:49 am
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Doctors Without Borders is asking for its cargo planes to land in Port-au-Prince in order to treat victims of the Haiti earthquake. The Doctors Without Borders cargo plane, which was carrying critical medical supplies, was blocked from landing Saturday in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and re-routed to Samana, Dominican Republic. It takes an extra day to transport supplies by land from Samana to Haiti.
A second Doctor Without Borders cargo plane is set to land Sunday. The NGO hopes that the second cargo plane will be allowed to land in the Haitian capital, allowing the organization to get help to earthquake victims more quickly.
Doctors Without Borders has set up two field hospitals in Haiti.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (26)
at 12:07 on January 17th, 2010
Hum, another event that would suggest that the UN should be in charge of the Air Port.
The people in the mean time have to suffer because of bad politics and failure to have all countries submit equally to the UN.
One day delay means death for many that could have been saved.
at 01:12 on January 19th, 2010
just feed the god damn children! enough!
at 12:28 on January 17th, 2010
I suspect the decisions made on priority of landings are made in conjunction with the UN contingent headquarters. I don't think this has anything to do with politics at all.
My second question would be where would Doctors without Borders go without the security provided by the military.
This is a catch 22 situation where one can't work without the other. It's not that any doctor can venture off anywhere into the countryside to save lives.
I think we need to take a deep breath here and not politicize this. Let's face it, Haiti had almost nothing before the quake and it certainly has nothing now. Compassion is needed not infighting.
As I said I am convinced that the priorities for landing are set in conjunction with the UN contingent in Haiti.
at 13:23 on January 17th, 2010
The fact is the UN owns nothing, it is the sum of its nations. Someone had to take the lead on the airport and that lead was given to the U.S. with the consent of the Haitian government and I suspect also with the UN contingent.
at 13:40 on January 17th, 2010
some co ordination should be happening such a huge relief operation requiores co ordination and co operation
at 14:33 on January 17th, 2010
that is why Hillary coming down was a bad idea. She sucked up all security and airport space
at 21:47 on January 18th, 2010
I totally agree with that. Clinton should have just stayed home, but I did read where some people were happy to see her. i think it was a waste of effort and it was for show! Get teams who want to help in there instead.
at 14:48 on January 17th, 2010
Perhaps there are legitimate questions about "Doctors Without Borders" effectiveness and its ability to provide meaningful relief efforts to Haiti at this time . . . .
The conditions in Haiti are dire at this time. Only experienced, effective, and well-seasoned humanitarian relief organizations should be put on the front line at this time. Indeed, the situation in Haiti calls for proven and tested relief organizations.
The situation in Haiti is too dire to allow amateurs into the fray. This is why the U.S. Government sent the 82nd Airborne to Haiti and why Canada sent sent some of its best troops there too.
Whenever the U.S. government sends out the 82nd Airborne it's a red flag that signals dire conditions.
at 14:54 on January 17th, 2010
Rory the blog below, explains it all. This is not unusual when an operation starts. The key is to try and keep law and order as well.
at 16:48 on January 17th, 2010
Thanks ACP! It's a great relief to hear from someone that actually has bonafide experience within this realm and has actual contact with those on the ground. My opinion for what it's worth is to establish law and order above all else. Without it, there's no hope.
The conditions in Haiti are going to have major ramifications for the U.S.
My prediction is that there's going to be much nasty political fallout on the part of the American people no matter how Obama deals with the crisis in Haiti.
There is already talk by Florida's Republican governor of accepting 45,000 Haitian refugees. into South Florida.
The majority of American voters are not in the mood at this time to open up their arms and welcome refugees into their country that have shown no initiative whatsoever in making their country a better place. Especially in light of the fact that most American voters are sick and tired of hearing their country blamed for all of the world's ills and in light of the current economic crisis.
The Haitian people are going to experience tough love on the part of the American people, if any love at all--no doubt about it . . . it ain't the 70s here in America anymore. Indeed, it's a new day in America and Americans have come to the realization that no matter what they do it's a no win situation and that the entire world hates them.
at 12:21 on January 21st, 2010
I can't agree more on the topic of "no love from America". I live in south Florida, Miami to be exact, and its hard listing to our govenor stating that he's willing to allow Haitians to live in Florida. I feel bad for them but what will they do here...our state's unemployment is out of control; our budget is in the red and have no funds (unless you're the Marlins owner then there's money). The worst thing is that their culture is a culture without laws. In Haiti, he who kills 1st is the winner. God forbid this occurs.
at 14:52 on January 17th, 2010
Source: liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com
at 15:46 on January 17th, 2010
Source: thelede.blogs.nytimes.com
at 07:11 on January 20th, 2010
Planes have to be re-route. The capacity of the airport in well over it limits now, the airport does not have the capability to refuel any airplane to make the trip back, some airplanes can't flight in circles long enough waiting for other planes to download their cargo and have to go to other airports like the one in the Dominican Republic. They are just piling up at the airport, some of them without a specific date to leave because of fuel issues.
at 15:58 on January 17th, 2010
In case it wasn't mentioned already, the first triage hospital set up there was from Israel. Here's a video of it's first birth, a baby boy the mom named Israel.
at 10:21 on January 18th, 2010
Wow, I wonder why you heard about that? It's not as if they'd try extra hard to publicize Israeli humanitarianism in the face of Israel's recent despicable actions in Gaza. It's not as if the entirety of the relief production is a public relations festival. It's not as if you'd hear anything about Haiti that is pre-politicized Orwellian crap. Oh wait. It's clearly all of those things.
at 17:37 on January 17th, 2010
The doctors will do what others are doing - fly to Santo Domingo, drive overland from there.
at 18:09 on January 17th, 2010
The UN should be in charge of toilets and the supply thereof. Nothing Else! The UN has proven to have all the intelligence, authority and organizational skill of a 2 year old child. It is a totally worthless organization.The US should provide as much money and assistance as is possible. Let the Haitian people stay in their own country, not immigrate to the US. Haiti did not deserve the earthquake but their country was is sad shape before and that is their fault. Haitians need to stay home and build their country better than before.
at 23:15 on January 17th, 2010
Unfortunately PAP airport can only handle four planes an hour (or less) when we'd need a plane a minute. This is a massive bottleneck. Therefore re-routing planes to Santo Domingo is not neccessarily a bad option.
at 02:50 on January 18th, 2010
Traffic2005Passenger throughput691 926
Airfield Data
Navigational Aids: VOR, DME, PAPI
Runway 1: Heading 10/28, 3 040m (9 973ft), 4E, Aircraft size max: B747, ILS, Lighting: Standard
Cargo Facilities: Bonded Warehouse, Animal Quarantine
Passenger Facilities: Annual Capacity 800 000, 6 check-in desks, short term parking spaces, Min. Connection Times Intl-Intl: 75mins, Dom-Intl: 75mins, Dom-Dom: 30mins,
A staging area will be established to accommodate the international cargo entering Port-au-Prince by air.
Cargo arrivals at the Port-au-Prince airport are being managed by the DHL Disaster Response Team.
Storage capacity at the port of Port-au-Prince will be augmented if required.
The two helicopters (2mt) based in Barahona may be used for deliveries out of Port-au-Prince depending on airport capacity.
Because Port-au-Prince airport is not operating at full capacity. Santo Domingo has to be used as a staging area for inbound air and sea shipments before onward transportation by air, road or sea, to delivery points within Haiti. The staging area will be established by WFP and managed by the LET (Logistics Emergency Team).
(Toussaint Louverture International Airport) (IATA: PAP, ICAO: MTPP) is anairport located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, serving as main international gateway of the country. It is temporarily under the control of the United States Air Force as international relief efforts are underway following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Additional airfield (Cap-Haitien International Airport, MTCH) could facilitate traffic flow, but the USAF has determined that its potential throughput is “not worth the effort". Still up to 30 more planes could land every day would all airfields be used.
at 10:38 on January 18th, 2010
What is with all the criticism of the UN? It has nothing to do with them--there are hundreds of orgs and countries sending planes these days and there is ONE RUNWAY. Many, many planes are being re-routed because the airport is just too small. IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF ANY ONE OR ANY ORGANIZATION. There is only so much capacity. Now stop complaining just because you don't like the UN and donate some money already. Sheesh.
at 11:45 on January 18th, 2010
We need to find organizations and people who have beens erving the poor in Haiti and le them co-ordinate relief efforts. Our friend tells us (he is Hatian and in country) that many people where he is are still dying of dehydration because of lack of any drinking water. we're quick to get there but efforts are always so unco-ordinated. Maybe we should hire haliburton! Now there's a good capitaliost solution.
at 14:30 on January 18th, 2010
The question is whether one actually cares about the Haitian's suffering and dying, or whether one cares about pursuing some abstract political agenda. After the quake, the Port-Au-Prince airport was non-functional, with the control tower knocked over, debris on the runway, and so on. The US air force and the DHL disaster response team rapidly and effectively enabled the use of the airport for thousands of aid delivery flights, and is continuing to coordinate airport operations to allow massive aid delivery. The bottleneck is not the airport, as is frequently reported, but the lawlessness on the roads that is preventing the aid from being delivered. However much most of the US hating idealist blog posters don't want to face it, the US military with the help of DHL, at massive expense and effort, are getting the job done at the airport in a way the UN and other organizations would simply not be able to do. People on the ground in Haiti are reporting the situation about aid deliveries accumulating at the airport that can not be delivered where they are needed because of the gang controlled barricades on the roads. It is the "poor" people of Haiti, literally poor but even poorer in terms of allowing themselves to be controlled by local gangs of thugs for decades, who now are finding out how effective anarchy is in dealing with times such as these. Sure, blame the easy target, the big presence that may not be perfect, but is actually keeping the traffic moving and the aid landing, and ignore any facts that get in the way, if the priority is one's political agenda. Or find out what is actually happening, support the good that is actually being done to help the Haitians, and pray for an actual government in Haiti in the future.
at 07:01 on January 19th, 2010
BTW, there is not a huge stockpile of aid at the airport... it IS being delivered but it is also very challenging logistically. NM
at 06:54 on January 19th, 2010
Thanks Tim Jacob, if I did not know better I would think you are here on the ground with me. The miracle that we are able to operate an airport used to 3 flights a day with 180-240 flights (and 75% are large or jumbo jets) a day without a single safety incident is no small feat. Please understand that every country and organization thinks their flight is the number one priority. It was unfortunate the DWB had to divert twice, but since I've been here and witnessed the ground delays that caused it, I can assure you it was unintentional from the US military. Luckily, we had a French Hospital, US hospital, Isreali hospital, and about 3-4 others with doctors and med supplies delivered in that 48 hour period. Here is a perspective a Haitian ambassador gave me... "this is not a new problem, this country was in desparate need prior to the earthquake. The earthquake just highlighted it." Oh, and America has not only given more (by a unimaginable margin) but has facilitated the other countries arrival and offload of theirs. NM, Air Operations, Haiti
at 19:14 on January 29th, 2010
I just spoke with a friend in Ireland and she says that SKY news is reporting that it is the US that denied this plane landing . I do not believe this to be true at all . What the Hell would the Us be doing deciding who lands and who doesnt . I imagine its the simple fact that there is no room on the airfield and no room to store the aid untill it can be brough to the people who so despratly need it . I am however very offended that immediatly the international comunity blames the US for any thing that goes wrong . After all who was the first country there to help , Who is the country donating the most Aid. The USA is thats Who !!