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Haitians and relief workers question role of US military in recovery
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 13:38
- Length: 5:04 minutes (4.63 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Some schools in Haiti have reopened for the first time since the January 12 earthquake, but many provincial schools remain closed and officials said that children in Port Au Prince could be on the streets for months to come. Close to 90 percent of the capital's schools have been damaged or destroyed.
Also today, after a nearly five-day suspension, Medical evacuation flights have resumed from Haiti to the United States. The airlifts of some of the most seriously injured quake survivors were stopped after Florida's governor warned of a lack of hospital space and questions arose over federal and state logistics. The White House said flights resumed Sunday night.
People are also being treated on the US military and hospital ship Comfort. The US military maintains a strong presence in Haiti but on the ground the lack of visibility of US troops distributing aid has many Haitians puzzled as to what is the real purpose of their stay. Dolores M. Bernal brings us this report from Port-au-Prince.
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Copters on the ground
I listened to this news-cast this afternoon and need to comment on one part. Near the end of the spot the reporter asked a gentleman why the military helicopters where sitting on the ground with their engines running. According to the gentleman in the spot, the helicopters hadn't taken off throughout the morning and the reporter had wondered why the engines were not shut off.
Turbine engines, which these helicopters have, are typically inspected for damage, wear and tolerances based on the number of start-ups and shut-downs (cycles), not the number of operating hours. By idling, maintenance can be reduced and this keeps the helicopters available for missions. I'm guessing the crews and helicopters in the report were on alert for cargo and other support missions.