Indian troops guard quake-hit Haiti's wealth

Paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force personnel have been guarding banks and other vital centres in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, to prevent looting besides providing security to Indians in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

The Indian contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) did not suffer causalities after the 7.0 quake that hit the Caribbean nation on January 12, according to the United Nations.

There are presently 140 paramilitary personnel who are heavily armed, eleven unarmed police officers and one military staff official stationed in Port-au-Prince.

UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told journalists here that the UN and the Haiti government were working on get business back on its feet, which would require protection of banks and fuel stations. The Haitian government will reportedly open the banks this week.

Protecting the banks is one of the several tasks that the Indian paramilitary forces have been engaged in for the past nine days. The UN troops have been providing security to banks and distribution centers, escorting humanitarian convoys and patrolling the streets.

But as incidents of looting grew in the city, several Indian police officers along with their Brazilian counterparts were dispatched to safeguard the banks. The Indian team swung into action soon after the quake, officials said.

Chief Liaison Officer Col Pronob Roy took charge of UN operations as the head of MINUSTAH Hedi Annabi and his deputy Luiz Carlo da Costa were killed when their headquarters Hotel Christopher collapsed.

Roy made contact with the Indian Mission in New York while making arrangements for the UN staff in the logistics base that had survived the quake.

The UN has lost 61 members of its staff, and that number is expected to rise, making it the single biggest loss in the world body's history.

Meanwhile, the 140 officers of the CISF led by Shrikant Kishore ensured the safety of the Indians in the peacekeeping force as well as all the Indian civilians living in Haiti.

Four Indians have been evacuated back to India while others who have made their life in the country continue to stay on.

Also distributing aid and helping in relief efforts are 35 members of the Sisters of Charity.

India has donated five million dollars to relief efforts in Haiti, which according to Indian diplomats, is the highest amount given by a developing country.

Also on the way to the quake-hit nation are 140 officers of the Assam Rifles paramilitary forces as part of an arrangement made before the disaster.

Several reports of looting are emerging from Haiti but the UN has stated that these are isolated incidents and the overall situation remains calm.

Extra UN troops will be deployed in case the security situation worsens, and to help create humanitarian corridors for the safe passage of relief supplies.

The Security Council passed a resolution on Monday authorising 2000 UN military troops and 1500 police officers to join the 3,400 UN troops already stationed in the capital.

While the UN has not released official figures on the death toll, it is estimated that somewhere between 100,000 to 200,000 people died in the 7.0 earthquake.

Speaking to journalists at the UN headquarters, former US President Bill Clinton and UN special envoy to the UN said that recovering from the disaster would be an opportunity for Haitians to "re-imagine their country."

"I see getting out of this earthquake as part of Haiti's larger developmental strategy," he said.