Evening Buzz: 100,000+ Feared Dead in Haiti
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/haiti.earthquake/t1main.haiti.aftermath.05.afp.gi.jpg]
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Tonight on 360°, Anderson will be reporting live from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a city left in ruins, its two million people in crisis mode. Their lives have been shattered. Death and destruction is seemingly everywhere. Dead bodies are piled in the streets, some covered with white sheets. Other loved ones are missing and feared dead. The survivors of yesterday's massive earthquake are doing what they can to rescue those trapped in the rubble.
"No matter what street you go down in this area, there is someone trying to be rescued. There are flattened buildings with small groups of neighbors and family, literally, digging through the rubble, digging through concrete with their hands, with their fingers. Occasionally you see a shovel or pic ax or a chisel. It is slow, laborious work and it is often unsuccessful work. Many times the voices which were crying out hours ago are now silenced," Anderson reported on CNN earlier today.
"There are bodies. I don't want to say on every block, but it's every few blocks, you see a white shroud on the street corner or in the gutter. And you know it's a body, or three bodies or four bodies. Sometimes they're not even covered in shrouds. They're just laid out like that. I just saw what must have been probably a 5-year-old, a 6-year-old girl, whose body was covered by a part of a cardboard box. It is a somber sight here, " Anderson said.
There is no official death count, but the Haitian Prime Minister said today that several hundred thousand may have been killed. Meanwhile, Haitian President René Préval said, "It's too early to give a number."
But, amid the death, there are stories of survival. Anderson saw the frantic and successful work to free a 13-year-old girl, named Bea, from the wreckage of a building just about a block from the National Palace. She was trapped in the rubble since last night. They discovered her this morning and people just started digging, for hours, trying to get her out.
"You could see two of her feet. You could hear her crying out, and there was a lot of arguing about how to try to get her out. They were, literally, digging with their hands, and just an extraordinary moment, a few moments ago, they pulled her out. She's alive, she's well. Four members of her family are dead. They are piled up right outside the destroyed building that she was rescued from. But it's one small victory on a street that has seen so much misery, " Anderson said.
Darkness has now fallen on Port-au-Prince. Many people are just wandering the streets. They are homeless with nowhere to go. There is no clean water. No power. No first aid. But help is on the way. The U.S. and other countries are rushing aid to the scene.
There are ways you can help.
Just a short time ago, Anderson talked with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti. We'll have the interview for you tonight on the program.
"They're hurting, but they're good people and they need our help," Clinton said of the Haitian people.
Join us for our breaking news coverage starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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Prayers and action to respond ! Way to go CNN and Mr. Cooper ! Looks like they need back hoe's and how many do they currently have ?
Thank God. I thank each and everyone who stand with the haitians in this crisis. I ask that we pray continuesly for haiti, and for the safety of those who travel to haiti to help.safe return, mercy,etc...
What is the United States doing to help these people, saying that they will help is one thing doing it is another. I'm a Haitian working hard in this country i pay taxes like any Americans in this country. Thank god for my mother and father for bringing me and my siblings to the us. right now my brother and his wife are in Haiti IN laplaine,my Husbands families leave in Delmas 22 we heard nothing from them yet. Where are all these help that we heard about, those are people not things, it hurt to see my people in pain and nothings been done for them. Time is all the gov talking about well these people have no time please do something, we are strong people we will always be strong nothing can bring us down, With tears in my eye please do something, God is good all the time God is good.
My gratitude goes out to Anderson Cooper and CNN for relating
to the world the devastation that has taken place in Haiti as a result of the earthquake.
We need to support the rescue efforts by donating to the various organizations that are helping the victims.
We must ask our family and friends to make donations because our help is greatly needed.
Haiti is not only the poorest western hemisphere country but also the first to gain independence.
I understand that careful planning will mean effective aid in the long-run, but can't the U.S. government rush over basics in the mean time, water, food, medical supplies, blankets, etc.
On another note, thank you Anderson and team for your compassionate reporting that has pulled at my heart throughout tonight's segment. Thank you for telling these stories.
Thank you so much, Anderson, for your coverage of the tragic situation in Haiti. It's so important that all of us outside Haiti are made aware of what's going on, as a global community. It's my hope that this terrible tragedy will call people to action and perhaps educate more people about Haiti's already existing struggles with poverty, lack of medical care and the very severe food crisis ravaging the country BEFORE the earthquake. Haiti needs our help. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti tonight.
Having been in the 89 quake that the San Francisco Bay Area endured, my heart and prayers go to the people of Haiti. On the great CNN coverage of this disaster I keep hearing and seeing the bodies of the dead along the roads. They are covered but my concern is has anyone addressed or taken the responsibility to gather the dead and bury them. With the weather and the amount of people it would not take long for the bodies to become another ill that could cause additional problems of disease etc. for the survivors. The survivors need to be told what to do. Not because they are not smart enough to know, but because of the shock of this event one does not always think that they are in a reality of crisis. You just do whatever while your mind and heart tries to catch up with events and accept. Gods blessings to Haiti and her people.
Anderson, thank you for the excellent coverage tonight. My prayers go out to all. I would rather see Dr. Gupta using his medical skills, rather than reporting, though. The need is so great for medical care.
Now that I have begged for live coverage, let me add that Anderson, Sanjay, Gary, Susan, Ivan, Chris and everyone else on the ground behind the cameras are doing amazing work!! Sanjay, you, as always, are a hero to me and I love that you are a doctor first. Also, keep showing the TRUE devastation–it is hard for us to see a baby, dead and covered-up outside a clinic; yes, it's hard to see 25 bodies lined-up, but showing some of that is absolutely necessary to having people understand the scope of human suffering. Thank you for your wonderful work!!! (But please return to live coverage so our Haitian-American brothers and sisters can feel as plugged-in to events in their homeland as possible - you are all they have right now!
OMG! Whats happening to our world! TY Cooper for shedding light on this horrific situation. When one feels like they dont know what to wear , what to eat, where to go , from day to day, take a look at those more unfortunate than yourselves!!!
As far as President Preval?? Worrying about a place to sleep at night?? What about his people?? Shame on him to think he doesnt have a bed! Some people in is country have NOTHING..............
I do not wish to be a prophet of doom but:-
There are some hard decesions for Haiti and the UN to take.
Port au Prince should not be rebuilt where it currently stands therefore it is pointless for people to stay there.
They need a morgue a big one, send a referidgeration ship(s) a big one; one used to transport meat there!
Send any and all old cruise liners, troop transports there and get people away from there, organise Haiti refugee camps in every UN country, you have to reloacte three million people!
All planes going in should have body bags, food and water and leave with UN-INJURED people.
Accept the fact that law and order will fail in Port-au-Prince.
Protect that Airport and Port be prepared to use force to do that!
UN should declare Haiti a failed state and take it over!
Be prepared for as many peoiple to die in the next few weeks as have already died!
If the UN does not act soon then the death toll could reach into the millions!
Michael J Clarke Australia.
I feel that many of the western viewers do not realize it is around 90'F outside in the sun there in Haiti and many of those still alive that are trapped and pinned inside of the heavy concrete rubble are going to die from a lack of heavy equipment that is desperately needed to remove and shift the rubble from the streets and from the overbearing structures where those people are trapped.
Front end loaders are also desperately needed there in Port au Prince to begin clearing out the roads and emergency lanes for water and food aid to be brought in.
I've heard tonight that a heavy lift transport, a C17 was able to land in the Port au Prince airport and begin unloading badly needed emergency supplies. The other major sized airport is nearly 2 hours away from Port au Prince and is likely going to have to be used for a unified airlifted support equipment to be brought in.
Evacute the Haitian people to locations in the United States-within our communities we can save them and help them rebuild their country and hope for the future. Many Americans would gladly open their arms to our neighbors-in the spirit of humble humanity.
Kudos to CNN and Anderson for their coverage. I remember Anderson going to my hometown New Orleans 5 yrs ago the guy is an Angel he is the best no jaded elitist attitude like others may God be with these people.
Dear Anderson, Dr. Gupta, and the entire CNN crew that’s covering the Haiti tragedy, you are doing an AWESOME job! I am aware that America is experiencing a difficult time. However, immediately after hearing of the sheer devastation caused the earthquake that occurred in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, my prayers went out to the Haitian citizens and no-citizens. As a consequence of your coverage of this event, Anderson, which is a part of the Americas and ninety miles from our shores, we really need to step up the plate. Granted the CNN Website list a host of ways individuals can help the Haitian people who have loss everything. We are fortunate and blessed to have the essentials of life. My challenge to every Church in America: take either the regular Sunday’s collection or hold a special collection and donate it to the Red Cross or one of the other organizations providing assistance to Haitians in their time of overwhelming need. WHEN: Sunday, January 17, 2010
Wonderfull and fantastic job in general. I can not believe that you are already in the ground in Haiti.
GOD bless you
I thank you for the great reporting work that you are doing. Thanks to CNN and its entire crew for being only reliable source of news at this crucial moment in the history of Haiti.
Thank you so much for providing us with so much coverage. I haven't heard from any of my family in Haiti. Your constant updates are all that's keeping my family and I going. I appreciate CNN and Anderson Cooper so much.
my daughter racquel in jamaica has friends in haiti but is unable to reach them she is still wondering if they are safe
THANK YOU CNN FOR YOUR COVERAGE ...ESPECIALLY ANDERSON COOPER , YOU DOING A GREAT JOB ...
Come on United Nations, get off of your rear and take the lead in this disaster!
First I want to thank CNN for its wonderful coverage, Anderson Cooper, I love you even more tonight and everyone who are helping us in this tragedy. This is such a sad and harsh situation. We need help desperately and I want to tell the President Preval and his crew to acknowledge the severity of the matter because it seems like there are not much efforts that are being done in their parts.
Need to leverage US DOD assets and capabilities to quickly get the air and eaports capable of receiving and staging cargo. DOD has put new programs in place since Katrina that improve joint agency response, command and control and physical goods movement when there are conditions like this. They should be put to use to help these people.
Dig deep America...give whatever amount you can afford. Both my mother and I donated money to the RedCross through the CNN website. There are several donation sites available through CNN.
These are tough times for most of us but nothing compared to what the terror those in Haiti are experiencing. Please donate and save some lives.
Yesterday, after hearing of this disaster, I mentioned to my wife that Anderson was probably already enroute to offer genuine reporting, I was right, look forward to seeing his thought provoking coverage.
To the people of this region I offer my prayers & to try and help the only way I know, a donation to the Red Cross.
Thank you CNN for your coverage. You are saving lives
What a tragic disaster. By the time they send in medical resources in and set up field hospitals and infrastructure the seriously injured will all be dead, and medical workers will be left with just giving out tetanus shots.
Haiti is less than two hours by air from Miami. Medical care and infrastructure can never be established in the ruins of Port-au-Prince fast enough to save those who have serious injuries who with immediate care might survive. Patients with severe crush injuries often develop renal failure, and require kidney dialysis within 48 to 72 hours to survive.
What is needed is immediate organization of "medivac" flights from Haiti to Miami and other selected international airports in the southern US. The US government and military could set up military facilities to triage and stabilize patients (hydration, splints, control bleeding, start antibiotics, tetanus shots) and then refer them to civilian facilities within those cities or within another 90 minutes airplane flight away.
This would include military hospitals in the southern United States. While this will be expensive, it will have the greatest potential impact on the death toll among the seriously injured. It will also be a valuable training exercise for potential mass casualties which might occur in the future in the United States.
The medical teams sent to Haiti can deal with the real post-disaster public health issues – providing clean water, preventing and treating cholera, providing for infant nutrition, providing tetanus shots.
But to save a significant number of the seriously injured requires a more expensive and perhaps less politically acceptable course of action, to remove the most seriously injured who are stable enough to transport to facilities in nearby countries which an provide life-saving care.
– an ex-military doctor
Keep up the good work Anderson...
I have no relatives or friends in haiti but i wept as the news/pictures of the devastation started to pour in and could only imagine the pain, tears,and heartache.May GOD be with all the people of haiti ,all those involved in the rescue/relief efforts,and with all those affected.My Heart and Prayers are with you all.
Anderson,
Thank you for the unwaving coverage of this tragedy, you and CNN keep us up to paar at a moment where most of of us are unable to make contact with our love ones back home. Thank you!!! Thank you!!
JOB WELL DONE. CNN/ ANDERSON COOPER
Good reporting.....it seems that what airlift is available should immediately drops thousands of candy bars all over the streets there just to keep people alive until rescue workers and relief can get it.
This reflects how fragile and "in the blink of an eye" life can be and is.
Hello Maureen,
Your update here was excellent. I'm looking forward to seeing what Anderson has to report.
The people of Haiti sound like they are real survivors and they are in the prayers of many!
Keep the light on for Haiti tonight.
Tremendous effort for rescue
Lit your candle and pray for
we are all Haitians
My heart and soul cries for the people of Haiti. What more can I say.
Just looking at the amount of destruction and people in misery is heartbreaking. I hope the aid that the US is sending gets there quickly; I worry about the children especially and the babies that need food and water/milk and who get dehydrated so quickly and badly. I like the idea Lia had of the big corporations giving some of their bonus money to Haiti – at least that money would go to people who really need it and deserve it.
Good coverage so far on the quake from CNN. Looking forward to hearing the coverage tonight from there as the 360 crew report in.
Thank you for your story and excellent reporting. Sounds like the next best thing for us all to do is to reach in to our pockets and help the Haitian people. Like President Clinton said even $5 is better then nothing. For some of us it will be that or what we can afford. I have an idea – one I want to start to spread – how about all the fat cats on Wall Street who got big bonuses – they could pony up some some serious $$. And they won't be sacrificing – what do you say Goldman Sachs?
Many prayers will be said tonight and in the coming weeks for these unfortunate people/
Best news coverage ever!! I cant wait for Anderson Cooper 's report tonight!!
My thought and prayers to all who is missing and hurting!!
I was born on St.Thomas Virgin Islands and have all my family there still and this was so close to home !!!
It is so unfortunate that this has had to happen again. This is at least the third time that this area has been destoyed by earthquakes.
The extreme damage of earthquakes in this region has been documented since the 1600's.
The level of destruction is directy attributable to the Many Goverment's of the island ignoring history and failing thier people.
My heart goes out to the people of the area.
I want to thank all of those assisting in the relief effort of my nation. My thoughts and prayers go out to my people. I have family members whom i cannot get in touch with since the tragedy occured. The people in Haiti needs to be made aware that their government have failed miserably since their independence. It is shameful in this day in age, no running water, hospital, first responders nor communication are not common in such a small country? These issues must be address at once. All branch of government should submit their resignations to the people of Haiti. They have done absolutely NOTHING to better the lives of the Haitian people.
Long Live Haiti.
Please pray for my friend Molly Hightower who is missing in Haiti. She was in the hospital that collapsed. Please come home Molly!
Hospital in Haiti damaged will have to transport to ships for medical care the extreme cases
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for give me update from Anderson in Port-au-Prince. That will hard for people who have struggled love lost ones dear. MY heart goes to Haiti people. I will be there on Live Blog tonight.
Thank you for your coverage, still hoping to hear something from my grandparents, Lovell and Virginia Cary from Cleveland, Tennessee. They were staying at the Hotel Villa Creole.
cwhitt@gsw-w.com
Your coverage of this disaster today has been great. Can't wait to see more from Cooper tonight.
The video and pictures of this earthquake's aftermath are just horrible! It's very saddening to even look at. All of those people left homeless, with no food, water or anywhere to go. Not to mention not knowing if their families are alive or not. My thoughts and prayers really go out to these people.
I hope that they start getting aide in there soon. It can't happen soon enough!!
I hope Cooper and the crews be careful and stay safe there!
Cindy..Ga.
I'm just heart broken to see the devastation that has happened there. May God protect them through this disasterl and may He provide comfort to those who have lost loved ones. They are in my prayers.
Hi Maureen!
How much sorrow, pain and suffering! Thanks for the reports of you! You are great!
RIP Zilda Arns, who created the Pastoral Care for Children, she was one of Brazilian's most charitable I've ever seen. She lived to save poor children in infant mortality, malnutrition and violence in their family and community context and died fulfilling her mission in Hiati.