Haiti Earthquake: Food Distribution by UN Peacekeepers

United Nations, New York, 16 January 2010: Food distribution continued today (16 January) in the devastated Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, four days after a massive earthquake killed thousands, left scores homeless and created a dire humanitarian situation.

In contrast to the chaos witnessed at other points of distribution, this operation handled by Bolivian peacekeepers who were doling out their own food rations appeared to go smoothly.

People waited patiently in long lines for plates of rice and beans, a welcome respite to the high energy biscuits and meals-ready-to-eat distributed elsewhere.

The success of the operation highlighted the need for good security at distribution points, with soldiers on hand to guard the supplies.

SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Hendrick Jose Tavarez, Bolivian Peacekeeper:
"We have about seven or eight of these trucks for giving food in all the city. In this moment we are giving food and water; and this if for maybe 500 or 1000 persons."

The World Food Programme (WFP), meanwhile, is gearing up to distribute ready-to-eat food rations to 2 million people as most people have no access to cooking facilities. In order to help it achieve that goal, the UN food agency is appealing to its donor governments to offer excess stocks of ready-to-eat meals for use in the Haiti emergency. WFP will also try to establish food kitchens in Port-au-Prince to provide prepared foods to the hungry.

Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake is said to have affected one-third of Haiti's 9-million strong population. Many of the people in the hard-hit capital, Port-au-Prince, do not have access to food, water, shelter and electricity.