To be annoyed by the BBC's comments on the Haiti relief efforts?

[abra1d]

I keep picking up from the BBC these implications that somehow the relief agencies are being 'slow' in getting supplies and rescue teams and equipment into Haiti.

Given that the airport is small, and limited in its ability to unload cargoes, and given that the port is completely bust, and that there are really no other entry points into Haiti, it doesn't surprise me that things are taking days to get through. There are teams holed up in the Domincan Rep. trying to get flights into Haiti and they have been turned back.

Journalists travel comparatively light, so no surprises that they are walking around smashed-up streets before heavy lifting equipment and field hospitals can get there.

NBU. Journos also can ignore government warnings and bureaucratic requirements, while aid teams, diplomats, etc have to dialogue wiht government and comply with their requests. I'm always furious when consular staff are unfavourably compared to journos for this sort of reason.

There was a very good interview on Radio 4 at 8.10am with a man who was very caring but very firm about just why it takes more than a day or two to get things up and running - airport not having fuel to get the landed planes away again, unable to get lorries in sufficient quantities to unload the planes, getting people on the ground to assess what is actually needed so that relief can be specific and appropriate to each circumstance - you can't just go haring in willy nilly - the slightly slower but more methodical approach saves more in the end.

hannah - it was Mark Malloch Brown on Today. Yes, he was talking a lot of sense.