The Haiti Super Thread- Merged

[HItorMiss]

Thats funny he does know that loading supplies takes time right and that you have to send people to find out what is needed most... Oh wait I am using common sense silly me  :

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Guess he should be go to trenton and witness this,

Media Advisory
Media Opportunity Canadian Forces Deployment to Haiti
January 13, 2010

8 Wing/CFB Trenton – There will be media availability to observe the loading of a CC-177 with humanitarian assistance that will be provided to the people of Haiti on behalf of the Canadian Government. This will include components of the Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).

WHEN:  8:00 p.m., January 13, 2010
WHERE:  In front of the C-17 Hangar at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton

There will also be a media availability to observe the take-off of this CC-177.

WHEN: 2:00 a.m., January 14, 2010
WHERE: At the 8 Wing Passenger Terminal.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Thats funny he does know that loading supplies takes time right and that you have to send people to find out what is needed most... Oh wait I am using common sense silly me  :

Ujal Dosanjh is low, even by Liberal standards. Her slithers around Ottawa on his slimy belly; no lie is too big to tell; there is no person who cannot be slandered.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Plus, see this, reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions (29) of the Copyright Act from the Globe and Mail web site:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canada-rushes-aid-to-haiti/article1430385/

Canada rushes aid to Haiti
Advance team arrived in the capital Wednesday with relief ships and planes on the way

Campbell Clark and Gloria Galloway

Ottawa — From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Published on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010

The first wave of a massive Canadian disaster-relief effort will touch down in Haiti Thursday, as the federal government dispatches planes loaded with helicopters, supplies and equipment to Port-au-Prince, while two navy ships and 500 Canadian troops set sail from Halifax.

Even before Prime Minister Stephen Harper was able to get a call through devastated phone lines to Haitian leaders, the government set in motion a major aid mission, replete with equipment, experts, manpower, and supplies.

“It's an enormous disaster in a country that can't afford such a disaster, that already has terrible problems,” Mr. Harper said. “Our hearts are with all of them. I can assure you that we are acting as quickly and as comprehensively as we can.”

And Canadians rushed to open their wallets as pictures of the devastation began to appear on their television sets. By 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Canadian Red Cross had received donations of more than $1-million.

Foreign Affairs Department had received more than 11,500 calls from people seeking information or assistance by Wednesday evening. One forwarded text message came from a Canadian woman trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building. Officials reported later that she had been rescued and was safe, though they refused to release further details.


The scale and speed of the relief mission being prepared is remarkable for a country that has been criticized for being slow off the mark in reacting to past disasters. An advance reconnaissance team of 20 doctors and soldiers with the Canadian Forces' Disaster Assistance Response Team, or DART, landed in Haiti Wednesday afternoon aboard a C-130 Hercules cargo plane loaded with supplies.

The first main elements of the DART, the Forces' 200-strong rapid-response team, will land this morning in Port-au-Prince in a massive C-17 Globemaster cargo plane that will carry medical supplies and personnel, search-and-rescue technicians and equipment, and engineers to help re-establish power and phone service.

It will also carry two CH-146 Griffon helicopters, part of batch of at least four helicopters being sent to help transport needed items through a country in rubble: another Griffon is to leave later Thursday on a cargo plane, and a Sea King will sail with the navy ships.

The frigate HMCS Halifax and destroyer HMCS Athabaskan are to set sail Thursday, loaded with medical equipment, engineering supplies, along with such tools as chainsaws, plus with 500 sailors, soldiers, and airmen.

Warships always carry a wide range of capabilities such as engineers and tradespeople: “That will enable us to adapt as a more detailed appreciation of the situation on the ground is delivered,” Captain Art McDonald of the Halifax said.

This response is in marked contrast to other recent relief efforts.

When a tsunami hit Sri Lanka on Dec, 26, 2004, the government waited a week before deploying the DART; the decision to send four aid ships to New Orleans after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina took five days.

As well as learning from past mistakes, Ottawa was responding to a distressed nation with close ties to Canada. Montreal is a centre of expatriate Haitian culture and home to a large Haitian-Canadian community. Canada, along with the United States and France, has targeted this poorest of nations in the Western Hemisphere for special assistance. Haiti is Canada's second-largest aid recipient after Afghanistan.

Canadian officials in Haiti and Ottawa worked through the day and night Wednesday trying to track down Canadians on the island nation through phone calls and tips. There are 6,000 Canadians in Haiti, 707 of whom are registered with the embassy; By Wednesday morning, more than 100 Canadians were being housed in tents of the embassy compound; the building itself had been evacuated.

The Canadian government has set aside an “initial response” of $5-million from its humanitarian assistance fund to help aid agencies such as the Red Cross send people and supplies to the disaster zone.

In addition, Canada is working with Norway and the Red Cross to set up a field hospital, while needs for other aid will be assessed over the next few days.

Canada has a stockpile of emergency materials including shelters, mosquito nets, water purifications systems, sanitation services that can be dispatched, Ms. Oda said, but donors have to co-ordinate what is needed to avoid sending a deluge of items that cannot be distributed.

We were tardy in 2004 and 2005 when Harper the Liberals were running the government. But they will complain that parliament is in recess and they cannot critique the government for being too slow in the full glare of the parliamentary press gallery's camera's. And it will not stop some Liberal MPs (former ministers) from calling the CF war criminals.

 

[tree hugger]

Looks like troops from Pet may soon be headed to Haiti:

From the Pembroke Daily Observer:

http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2260516

 

[Rifleman62]

Note that conveniently, Clark/Galloway, did not state the slow response was when the Liberals were the government. By leaving it open ended, we become revisionists of history.

All part of the game the media in Canada plays, or maybe Ms. Galloway's husband said don't write that.

 

[Rheostatic]

An interesting picture of the "wheels turning", and the name of the new op:

Reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions (29) of the Copyright Act

PM deserves kudos for Haiti response
Posted By GREG WESTON
Posted 2 hours ago


Less than an hour after a massive earthquake turned Haiti into an unimaginable hell of death and devastation, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an extraordinary call to action, remarkably putting the first Canadian rescue team on the stricken island by the next afternoon.

By all accounts, the launch of Operation Hestia (goddess of the hearth) was vintage Harper: No nonsense; no excuses.

It all started Tuesday evening, minutes after word of the Haitian catastrophe reached Harper's office.

The PM was briefed aboard his jet as he arrived in Ottawa from a day-trip to Quebec, and immediately issued two clear orders from the plane.

First, the forever hands-on Harper demanded he be kept at the centre of the action and fully informed at all times.

Second, he made it crystal-clear that the Canadian government would do everything possible to come to the aid of the Haitian people -immediately.

One insider says everyone from the military brass to the high-ranking bureaucrats got the PM's message: "He wanted it done, and he wanted it done two hours ago."

Defence Minister Peter MacKay was also sitting in a government jet, his flight delayed on the tarmac at Halifax airport, when his marching orders arrived from the PM's plane.

Again, the directive from Harper left no room for interpretation.

As one senior official observed: "It was clear to everyone that by the next morning, the prime minister didn't want to hear what anyone planned to do, but what we had already done."

Still on the runway in Halifax, MacKay was immediately on the phone to Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon.

Shortly, before 8 p.m., less than two hours after the launch of Operation Hestia, the foreign affairs minister was briefing the national media on what the government knew about the situation in Haiti, and Canada's commitment to help.

For starters, the government made an immediate aid donation of $5 million with a lot more to come.

A half-hour later, MacKay convened a lengthy conference call to begin planning what must have been one of the fastest ever deployments of Canadian military assets.

Waitingwasnot an option

Ordinarily, by international diplomatic protocol, Canada would not send assistance to Haiti without a formal request for help from there.

But with the Haitian government in disarray, and communications virtually non-existent, a call for help could have been days coming.

Apparently, Harper wasn't waiting for protocols.

At 11 a.m. yesterday, a Canadian Forces transport plane took off from Trenton airbase for Haiti, carrying a special team to establish how Canada can best help.

But no one is even waiting for the report of the advance team.

Yesterday, the Canadian navy frigateHalifax,and the destroyerAthabaskawere both pulled off the high seas, and are being loaded with supplies and equipment bound for Haiti.

At the same time, the defence minister ordered that the military's highly specialized disaster-response unit -called DART -be ready to deploy on a moment's notice.

Early this morning, one of Canada's new giant C-17 military transport planes was scheduled to leave for Haiti, loaded with everything from medical supplies to two search-and-rescue helicopters.

As we pray for the safe rescue of Haitians from their nightmare, kudos to Harper and his team for a national rescue effort well launched.

 

[Edward Campbell]

And, this, reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright Act from today’s Globe and Mail web site:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/relief-team-hit-the-ground-running-ottawa-to-match-haiti-donations/article1430829/

Relief team 'hit the ground running';
Ottawa to match Haiti donations

Jane Taber

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Citizens are now being evacuated from Haiti as the military brings in new emergency supplies in what is one of the biggest humanitarian relief efforts Canada has undertaken.

About 100 Canadians – people who made their way to the embassy in the Haitian capital – were evacuated last night and flown to the Dominican Republic. They are expected to be in Montreal tonight.

A senior Canadian government official said those in distress, such as pregnant women and children, are being given priority. Two more planes will land later today in Haiti and will be available to take out more Canadians.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay provided an update as to the relief effort in a briefing this morning. He was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and junior foreign minister Peter Kent.
Mr. Cannon said more Canadian deaths are expected as the search and rescue effort continues. So far, there are three confirmed deaths – Elmira, Ont., nurse Yvonne Martin and Montreal couple Georges and Mireille Anglade.

It is estimated there were about 6,000 Canadians in the country at the time of earthquake.

The government has also announced it will be matching individual donations to charities up to a total of $50-million. These funds will be allocated by CIDA to Canadian and international humanitarian organizations.

Yesterday, Ottawa pledged an immediate $5-million in emergency aid.

Meanwhile, the military is still determining what is required in the composition of the Disaster Assistance Relief Team.

Mr. MacKay said this morning that the “initial elements of DART” arrived yesterday in Haiti, which included 19 Canadian Forces members. They were on the Hercules aircraft that had been loaded with relief equipment and basic food and water supplies.

“They hit the ground running,” Mr. MacKay said. This group of 19 is to report back on what more is needed in terms of the DART make-up.

As well, two aircraft left the Trenton, Ont., airbase early this morning with more supplies. A massive C-17 Globemaster cargo plane took with it a Griffon helicopter and other supplies. Another tactical aircraft went as well.

Another C-17 is to leave later today. Two ships are being deployed; one will be carrying a Sea King helicopter.

Mr. MacKay said both vessels will be available for humanitarian efforts. It takes between four to five days for the ships to arrive from their home port of Halifax.

The Canadian government is working in concert with U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration to co-ordinate the relief efforts.

Mr. Cannon said he had spoken to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last night about the co-ordinated approach.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke to Mr. Obama yesterday.

The government – ministry, bureaucracy and services – is at ‘work.’ Parliament is in recess. Does anyone miss Iggy Iffy Icarus, Ujal Dosnaj and John McCallum and their “war crimes” charges?

I don't mean to politicize, unnecessarily, this great, human tragedy, but it IS a political story, too, and Harper's team, like the Liberals, Dippers and the BQ, will spin already are spinning it furiously.


Edit: formatting

 

[gaspasser]

It was very busy on the ramp last night...kudos to the traffic techs and loadies 
Relief supplies and helos, people and kit...all loaded and off withing 24 hours!!  Way To Go Trenton!!!!

 

[vonGarvin]

I'm a bit late on this one; however:

Media Opportunity: NAVAL SHIPS DEPART HALIFAX FOR HAITI
Maritime Forces Atlantic 03/10 - January 14, 2010

HALIFAX, N.S. – Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Athabaskan and Halifax will depart Halifax for Haiti at 3 p.m. AST today.  The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, along with Rear Admiral Paul Maddison, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic, will be on hand for the departure.

Media wanting to cover the departure are asked to contact the Public Affairs Office at (902) 427-3766. 

Media are reminded that photo identification will be required.

As I post this, it is 15:27 AST.  So, two ships en route, less than 48 hours after the quake.  I wonder if Mr. Dosanjh is watching.

 

[trencher]

Bunch of DART team members left this morning and more here in trenton ready to leave or have already left today.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

A nice writeup for the DART, and a kick in the nuts for John watson.


http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/peter_worthington/2010/01/14/12471186.html
DART is one of our most effective front line aid agencies
By Peter Worthington

Last Updated: 14th January 2010, 8:20pm

As hopeless as conditions were in Haiti before the earthquake, they are even more critical now — and the world seems to be responding, especially the U.S., the most generous nation in the history of the world.
Canada, too, responded quickly.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff put politics on the back burner and endorsed the government’s initial $5 million disaster pledge. The government has since announced it will match private contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $50 million, as was done in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in the South Pacific.
As in the 2004 tsunami, schools, piggy banks, ordinary people will start contributing. There are roughly 100,000 Canadians of Haitian-origin, and likely they’ll be big contributors.

From past experiences, arguably the single greatest contribution Canada can make to the unfortunates in Port-au-Prince and the earthquake zone is the 200-member army Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which is already on the scene.
DART’s vital contribution in natural disasters is the ability to produce fresh water — some 200,000 litres a day, as in the Sri Lanka tsunami crisis. DART also rescued people, helped build shelters, repair roads, and give medical treatment. DART is run by soldiers who are trained to act quickly.

In Sri Lanka, DART tended to 6,000 victims and provided 2.5 million litres of fresh water, and military families in Petawawa raised money for schools that was channeled through DART, which was more effective locally than big aid agencies.
Our government would be wise to give the DART commander access to money for local emergency use. He’ll need it.

Put bluntly, private money pledged — which the government will match — will almost certainly go to CIDA.
CIDA’s record at natural disasters leaves much to be desired. It is a bureaucracy and has its own agenda. In Sri Lanka, CIDA was often at odds with DART, whose only agenda was alleviating the misery as effectively as possible.

The Sun’s reporter with DART in the Sri Lankan tsunami was video documentary producer Garth Pritchard, arguably Canada’s top documentary filmmaker on military missions (Somalia, Burma, the Balkans, Afghanistan).
Pritchard’s reports illustrated DART’s vital role in supplying clean water and rebuilding while professional aid groups often dithered, held meetings, drove land rovers.


The head of CARE (Canada), John Watson, called the DART response in Sri Lanka “amateur.” According to others who were there, it was the most effective of our aid operations. Bickering among aid agencies is as common as in-fighting among animal rights people.

Haiti’s PM has estimated the death toll at 100,000 — a statistic that boggles comprehension. Canada has some 95 police posted in Haiti to help in training, and 75 embassy staff. An estimated 6,000 Canadians live in Haiti, most of whom have little to do with our embassy.

As for DART, it was started in 1996, and has an annual budget of around $500,000. As well as the tsunami in Sri Lanka, DART provided medical aid and water in Honduras in 1998 where a hurricane killed 6,000; Turkey after a 1999 earthquake; Pakistan in 2004. Its value has been repeatedly proven.
As for donations, the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and various religious relief organizations are the most effective, and with whom DART has cooperated in the past.

DART — once again, one of Canada’s more effective front line aid agencies.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Mod Squad:  Any merit in consolidating these threads here?

http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/79699.0
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/91593.0
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/91568.0

If not, feel free to dump this post.

 

[vonGarvin]

Mod Squad:  Any merit in consolidating these threads here?

http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/79699.0
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/91593.0
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/91568.0

If not, feel free to dump this post.

"Mod Squad?"  Which one is Link?  ;D

(Excellent idea, BTW.  I've been perusing a number of threads on the one issue.  It may be waaaaaaaaaaaay too soon to tell; however, HESTIA may end up being much longer than a 40 day mission.  My spidey sense tingles that this may end up being focus #1 following Afghanistan, and for a while as well.  So, having said that, is it too soon to have it's own sub-forum (eg: The newsroon >> Operation Hestia)?)

 

[The Bread Guy]

"Mod Squad?"  Which one is Link?  ;D

I see I'm not the only person from my age/TV viewing cohort here.

 

[Snakedoc]

The Canadian Navy heads off to Haiti.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100115/haiti_ships_100115/20100115?hub=TopStoriesV2

Canadian navy bringing 'light engineering' aid to Haiti

Two Canadian Forces ships are steaming towards Haiti after a speedy effort to prepare the vessels and crew to weigh anchor and deliver vital aid to the quake-stricken country.

The navy Destroyer HMCS Athabaskan and HMCS Halifax were loaded with supplies and equipment before leaving port on Thursday, headed for Port-au-Prince.

Canada's aid effort to Haiti is multi-pronged. In addition to the deployment of DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team), $5 million in initial funding and efforts by dozens of non-governmental organizations, visa exemptions have now been put in place for Russian planes delivering aid to Haiti, via Canada.

CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Friday that Russian Andropov cargo planes refuelling at Gander, N.L., en route to Haiti, will not require visas in order to land.

Capt. Art McDonald, the Canadian Task Group Commander of both the HMCS Athabaskan and the HMCS Halifax , said Friday that he expects to arrive in port on Tuesday, and to begin delivering help immediately.

He spoke to CTV's Canada AM from the HMCS Athabaskan, which is carrying a Sea King helicopter.

"When we arrive we're going to bring some unique maritime capabilities, specifically we can offer Haiti the light engineering kind of work -- clearing roads and enabling critical infrastructure so aid can flow through," McDonald said.

"And we can do that without going through the airport at Port-au-Prince and that will be a significant advantage to the force as we try to render aid throughout the region."

Both ships departed Halifax harbour at 2 p.m. on Thursday after an incredible effort to prepare the ships almost overnight for what is expected to be a two-month deployment.

They were loaded with construction equipment such as chainsaws and concrete cutters, as well as food and supplies for more than 500 sailors who will be clearing rubble and removing bodies from collapsed buildings as part of their work.

Rather than delivering food or medical aid, the ships' crews will be focused on "light engineering" work that will allow other aid agencies to deliver their supplies to those who need it.

The Athabaskan was made sail-ready in just 24 hours after it was recalled to port following the earthquake. McDonald said the turnaround was incredible.

"(Thursday) was a great day because we were able to get two Canadian ships with over 500 skilled sailors and all kinds of stuff out the door en route to Haiti," he said.

While still in port, the focus was on ensuring the ships would be prepared for any situation the crews might encounter in Haiti, McDonald said.

Now that they are en route the focus has shifted to planning and strategizing "so when we arrive on Tuesday we can have effect, we can start to make a difference in the lives of people in Haiti," McDonald said.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay saw the Athabaskan off on Thursday, saying the crews hit the ground running because "that's what the navy does."

 

[Nfld Sapper]

"Mod Squad?"  Which one is Link?  ;D

(Excellent idea, BTW.  I've been perusing a number of threads on the one issue.  It may be waaaaaaaaaaaay too soon to tell; however, HESTIA may end up being much longer than a 40 day mission.  My spidey sense tingles that this may end up being focus #1 following Afghanistan, and for a while as well.  So, having said that, is it too soon to have it's own sub-forum (eg: The newsroon >> Operation Hestia)?)

I think you are right Techo..... but interesting note from my CoC is that there hasn't been a staff check for engineers (yet) especially since they need Heavy E, Water Supply and Bridging........

 

[armychick2009]

Snakedoc, you beat me to posting that link!

They (the gov't) has also revealed that nearly 1500 Canadians are missing in Haiti... but from something I've read, only 1 in 5 actually check in with the embassy when they get there. So... I wonder if that number is taken into consideration with those or, if that number could be 5 times higher?

 

[Journeyman]

Although my overwhelming caring for my fellow humans is one of my strengths, a real tragedy of this Haitian crisis is that most of the American Apparel lingerie ads on Texts From Last Night have been supplanted by Red Cross appeals for funds. 

The inhumanity of it all  :'(


(No, I have nothing of value to contribute; I'll stop    )

 

[PuckChaser]

They (the gov't) has also revealed that nearly 1500 Canadians are missing in Haiti... but from something I've read, only 1 in 5 actually check in with the embassy when they get there. So... I wonder if that number is taken into consideration with those or, if that number could be 5 times higher?

There have been reports that only 700 Canadians are registered with the Embassy, estimates place the actual number at 6,000. I think the 1500 missing is accurate based on that.