US military accused of 'occupying' Haiti
Haiti has been left devastated by the earthquake
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By Alistair Potter. |  |
Tuesday, 19, Jan 2010 05:35
By Richard James.
The US military has begun delivering aid to the millions of people affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti last week.
Latest estimates claim the total number of people killed in the historic quake could reach around 200,000.
Some 2,200 US marines arrived in Haiti at the start of the week, with the military commencing airdrops of urgent food and water supplies around Caribbean nation.
The extra troops are set to join 1,000 already stationed in Haiti as the international aid effort continues to battle against the total lack of infrastructure in the western hemisphere's poorest country.
Former US president Bill Clinton also arrived in Haiti on Monday to oversee the operations.
The arrival of the US military comes amid growing worries over violence and looting as desperate survivors of the quake continue to take matters into their own hands due to the slow arrival of crucial aid.
The scale of the operation launched by Barack Obama though led France's cooperation minister, Alain Joyandet, to claim the US was in the process of "occupying" Haiti.
Speaking on Monday he declared: "This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti," and called on the United Nations to clarify the American role in the international aid effort.
The Geneva-backed charity Medecins Sans Frontieres echoed Mr Joyandet's concerns, alleging planes carrying vital medical supplies were being turned away from Haiti's airport by American traffic controllers.
On Tuesday it was confirmed the United Nations security council had voted in favour of the recommendations made by secretary general Ban Ki-moon for an 2,000 extra troops and 1,500 police staff to be stationed in the country for the next six months.