Port-au-Prince airport usable but damaged
UN peacekeeping operations head Alain Leroy earlier told reporters "the airport is operational" and that aid would start flowing soon.
By Agencies |
PORT-AU-PRINCE: The international airport in Haiti's earthquake-ravaged capital is damaged but usable, authorities said today as countries line up to fly in relief supplies and rescue teams.
Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told CNN television planes were landing at the airport but added, "I know that there is some problems."
US Air Force General Douglas Fraser, head of US Southern Command, said in Washington that the airport runway had survived the quake but communications were knocked out and the passenger terminal sustained damage.
Fraser's deputy commander who happened to be in Haiti when the earthquake hit had visited the airport, he said.
"He says the runway is functional, but the tower does not have communications capability," Fraser said.
UN peacekeeping operations head Alain Leroy earlier told reporters "the airport is operational" and that aid would start flowing soon.
The use of the airport closest to hard-hit Port-au-Prince would be crucial for swiftly bringing in help that is desperately needed to rescue people trapped under rubble and attend to casualties of the disaster.
Albert Ramdin, assistant secretary general of the Washington-based Organisation of American States, said problems at the airport could snarl the flow of supplies.
"The runway seems to be functioning, but there's no electricity, that means landing in the evening or in the night is impossible," he warned.
Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told CNN television planes were landing at the airport but added, "I know that there is some problems."
US Air Force General Douglas Fraser, head of US Southern Command, said in Washington that the airport runway had survived the quake but communications were knocked out and the passenger terminal sustained damage.
Fraser's deputy commander who happened to be in Haiti when the earthquake hit had visited the airport, he said.
"He says the runway is functional, but the tower does not have communications capability," Fraser said.
UN peacekeeping operations head Alain Leroy earlier told reporters "the airport is operational" and that aid would start flowing soon.
ADVERTISEMENT
The use of the airport closest to hard-hit Port-au-Prince would be crucial for swiftly bringing in help that is desperately needed to rescue people trapped under rubble and attend to casualties of the disaster.
Albert Ramdin, assistant secretary general of the Washington-based Organisation of American States, said problems at the airport could snarl the flow of supplies.
"The runway seems to be functioning, but there's no electricity, that means landing in the evening or in the night is impossible," he warned.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
