As international help continues to flow into Haiti, those who are already on location, including 54 rescuers from Poland, face extreme challenges during their operations, not only of logistic nature. As chaos and fear of an epidemic spreads throughout Haiti, EU's development ministers debate how to step up the bloc's part in the UN-led aid operation and reconstruction projects in the disaster area.

 

Six days after the tragic earthquake shook Haiti on Tuesday several dozen teams continue their search and rescue operations. The first to arrive the next day, were the French followed by rescuers from America, Canada, Great Britain and Russia. Polish workers arrived to Port-au-Prince on Sunday. Soon after they started their operation Polish rescue workers in Port-au-Prince had to vacate the area, Sunday, after shots were heard in the Haiti capital.

Polish rescue team comprising 54 workers from Nowy Sacz, Warsaw, Gdansk, Lodz and Poznan is one of 11 worldwide that are certified by the UN to be able to carry out such a task. It was dispatched from Warsaw on Friday.

 

After 15 hours flight they arrived in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, where they stayed overnight at the Dominican-Haiti border. They brought with them four tonnes of equipment and 10 rescue dogs. Their mission proved extremely challenging from the very beginning as they faced dangerous conditions and chaos on the spot 

Polish charity organizations continue appealing for help for the victims. Caritas, run by the Roman Catholic Church is preparing a transport of vital medical supplies. The Polish Humanitarian Organisation (PAH) launched a collection via the internet while the Polish Red Cross began nationwide money collections.

 

Further assistance to one of the poorest countries in the world was also discussed by EU's development ministers at an emergency session in Brussels.