UN Staff Say Media Irresponsible In Their Reports On Haiti
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 9:43PMThe head of the UN mission in Haiti, Edmond Mulet, criticized reporters today for their unfair coverage of recent UN earthquake recovery operations. At a live teleconference, he told reporters that media coverage of the quake has focused too much on the relatively few looting incidents on the streets of Port-Au-Prince. “Coverage has been greatly exaggerated.”
The international media has come under increasing attacks by UN personnel working inside Haiti who claim they are being “demoralized” by the press in the wake of the disaster. Mulet said the UN is working day and night to locate the 278 national staff still unaccounted for.
According to media reports, the slow delivery of goods, and the sharp rise in gas and food prices have contributed to looting and lawlessness.
In an interview with TRNS via telephone from Haiti, David Wimhurst, UN Spokesman for Haiti, added:
“News is all about conflict, but some people come looking for a conflict. We need stronger solidarity in the media and to stop these unfair attacks in newspapers. The idea of looting seems to have been blown up. It is not going on day and night and not widespread. So when working through this exhaustion, the UN is trying to help, and staff see nothing but criticism in newspapers. The media need to try and look at this (crisis) in a holistic way.” ” He added later, “Haiti already had a poor and weak infrastructure. From rebuilding the prison system, to working to build law and order —the crime rate has always been a problem before the earthquake and when poor people have nothing, it is natural and not at all surprising that some will loot to get something to keep them alive.”
It has been one week since the 7.0 magnitude disaster struck the tiny island. Mulet said the main focus of his team is to get UN operations back up and running. “Its like being in an airplane and when the gas masks drop, we have to help ourselves first before we can help others.”
Robert Skinner from the UN Foundation also spoke with TRNS by phone from Port-Au-Prince this afternoon. The UN Foundation has so far donated US $1 million dollars to Haiti’s central emergency relief fund. Currently, Foundation staff are working with UN and partners to deliver medical supplies, surgical masks and water. Skinner said the situation among civilians was “calm,” but many UN staff were dealing with personal tragedies while trying to do their jobs.
Michele Montas, who has recently retired as UN Secretary-General Spokesperson, was in Haiti at the time of the quake. A native of the country, she told reporters that on the night of the quake, she was preparing dinner for colleagues and friends when she heard what seemed to be the sound of rolling tank rushing through her neighborhood. “It was one of the most horrifying experiences I have lived through. Everything was shaking, and for every aftershock, you thought that would be your last day.” One of her colleagues coming to dinner, Deputy Head of the UN mission, Luiz Carlos da Costa, was killed by the quake. Montas too blamed the media for not uniting in “solidarity” to cover what is being done by the UN and its partners to help those affected by the devastation.
Observing a minute of silence today for those killed throughout its offices, the UN is hopeful that additional troops will build security and ensure that the national police are able to protect civilians from any unwanted aggressive actions. The nation’s central penitentiary collapsed as a result of the quake and it is believed some of the country’s most notorious criminals are out walking the streets. Wimhurst said the UN is concerned criminals will gain access to the slew of small arms available throughout the country.
Twenty-three hospitals are now running inside Port-Au-Prince and additional field hospitals are being set up by governments including Mexico, Israel, Indonesia and the United States—to name a few. With assistance from the Unites States and Canada, the mission will focus on security while the two latter countries will team up to boost delivery of essential humanitarian goods.
This morning, the United Nations Security Council authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 troops to bring the overall troop level in Haiti to 9,000.
Reader Comments (2)
Sorry for what happened in Haiti. However, it is my humble prayer that God opens each and every ones heart so as to give assistance to the people of Haiti, spiritually and materially. All the world shold come together regardless of colour,race and location. I am one of the volunteers ready to come and support my feellow peacekeepers. However, we should appreciate and thank those who are currently handling the situation because it is not easy. Incase my help is urgently needed please contact me thru my email address I am over ready to give a hand. Says Peacekeeper AK FB
I am sorry for the spellings