BELGIUM: Search and rescue team, field hospital and water purification station readies to leave for Haitian earthquake zone
Record ID:
860044
BELGIUM: Search and rescue team, field hospital and water purification station readies to leave for Haitian earthquake zone
- Title: BELGIUM: Search and rescue team, field hospital and water purification station readies to leave for Haitian earthquake zone
- Date: 14th January 2010
- Summary: MELSBROEK, BELGIUM (JANUARY 13, 2010) (REUTERS) WAREHOUSE AT MELSBROEK MILITARY AIRPORT WITH BELGIUM RELIEF STAFF STANDING MILITARY STAFF PREPARING MATERIAL BOXES READY TO BE PUT IN CONTAINER BEFORE BEING PUT ON BOARD THE PLANE BOXES WITH LABELS READING 'DRUGS' AND 'BASIC UNIT' RELIEF STAFF CHECKING MATERIAL MEMBERS OF THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM WITH DOGS ARRIVING DOGS SNIFFING DOGS AND RELIEF STAFF ON TARMAC STAFF CARRYING BOXES TO TRANSPORT THE DOGS RELIEF STAFF LOADING OFF BOXES FROM TRUCK, PLANE ON TARMAC CONTAINER ON TARMAC BEING TAXIED FORKLIFT CARRYING CONTAINER MEDICAL RELIEF TEAM ARRIVING NEAR PLANE BOXES BEING CARRIED MEDICAL RELIEF PERSONNEL ON TARMAC (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHRISTINE LABOULLE, DOCTOR, BELGIAN RELIEF TEAM B-FAST, SAYING: ''We don't have a lot of information, just that it will be very risky, very dangerous, there is for example the risk for a new earthquake and also it's the second poorest country which means the people have nothing to lose and so there is a lot a lot of insecurity and we need, we were told not to take any risk.'' MATERIAL BEING LOADED ONTO PLANE BELGIAN RELIEF STAFF SHAKING HANDS WITH MILITARY STAFF BEFORE BOARDING THE PLANE STAFF ENTERING PLANE
- Embargoed: 29th January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Belgium
- City:
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA33P1H7Z740VV7DGSTNYKIJI1Y
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: A plane with relief supplies left Belgium for Haiti on Wednesday night (January 13).
On board was a 33-strong rescue team with search dogs, a field hospital and a water purification unit.
Forty tons of material in total.
Haiti's been left devastated by its biggest earthquake in 100 years. President Rene Preval said the death toll could run into tens of thousands. Many more have been left injured and homeless.
The parliament, schools and hospitals all collapsed.
Survivors could still be trapped in the rubble.
Eleven specially trained dogs will work alongside the search and rescue team to try and find people.
Gijs Geert (pronounce Geiss Geert) the chief coordinator for the team, said every life saved would make the trip worthwhile.
The field hospital can be set up in six to eight hours.
Doctor Christine Laboulle, who's travelling with the team, said a complex situation awaits them on the ground.
''It will be very risky, very dangerous, there is for example the risk of a new earthquake," she said.
Haiti is the second poorest country in the world, and Dr Laboulle said that in itself may pose security problems for the team, who have been told not to take any risks.
The Belgian team is carrying enough food and water for ten days.
Their plane is due to return to pick them up on January 24.
Also on board was an 18-strong relief team from Luxembourg and six experts from the European Union. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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