Following yesterday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Icelandic government decided to send the country’s International Crisis Response Unit, the members of which are specially trained in wreckage search and rescue. They will be among the first foreign teams to arrive.
All 37 international team members were called to the ICESAR (Iceland Search and Rescue) headquarters last night and were sent away again to prepare around midnight. They took off at around 10.00 GMT this morning.
The team’s equipment weighs ten tonnes, as well as three tonnes of water, high tech telecommunications equipment and water purification equipment. The equipment the team land with will allow them to work for a whole week without any outside assistance at all.
Luckily, an Icelandair jet was scheduled to be lying idle at Keflavik International Airport today, but was instead prepared for the long haul flight to Haiti, Visir.is reports.
The team received final confirmation in the early hours of the morning after the Haitian government formally accepted Iceland’s offer of help.
After taking off at 10.00, the plane is scheduled to land at Boston in the USA to take on additional fuel and cargo before heading on to Haiti.
It is still not known whether or not the main airport in Haiti is in service following the quake; but if it is not, the plane will land in the Dominican Republic, with the final leg of the journey across the land border taken by road.
Good heart!!
I do not mind helping but what is the interest of the Icelandic government to show how good of a Samaritan is , so the world and nation feels sorry for them?
Who is paying for this?
“They will be among the first foreign teams to arrive”
Why not other nations that are closer and even have political relations with Haiti?
Well, I’m glad that the Icelandic government is not thinking “we shouldn’t help right away or other countries might think we’re only doing it to look good”.
I think that thee people that are going are voulunteers with equipments that they already own. Guess that the government then pays for the flight.
(Not sure though!)
@ Aggi
No country in the world has more active volcanos than Iceland, and we are no strangers to eartquakes, that is one reason why we help Haiti,
another reason would be that its the right thing to do, the search and rescue team should be backed up with medical staff, this seems to be total destruction of the city, at least some thousands dead or dying.
Glad to see that the Icelandic government doesn’t follow the same logic as was expressed in the first comment. The devastation I’ve seen in pictures is unimaginable and anyone who can should do all they can to help. I’m proud Iceland is taking the lead in offering immediate assistance instead of first sitting around and making a list of reasons why helping would be in the country’s best interest.
this is good decision even if its expensive, now we can all see how small our problems are.
NBC News did a special live report tonight on prime time from the airport in Haiti and both Brian Williams and Al Roker mentioned that the Icelandic plane had arrived, but was sitting with all the other aircraft waiting for crews to organize relief. Al in fact did a live report for NBC’s Today Show once from Reykavik reporting on green energy.
Totally agree with the post of polish worker, that is exactly what i thought.
the Iceland government great.good decision.
“Aggi said:
I do not mind helping but what is the interest of the Icelandic government to show how good of a Samaritan is , so the world and nation feels sorry for them?”
Why should humanitarian help be motivated by anything else than helping people in a dire situation.
In times of need immediate assistance is needed especially if it is from the heart because of some tragic experience. Sometimes the heart knows no bounds in hard times. It is a common knowledge that Iceland is a volcanic country and have experienced earthquakes.Saving lives is foremost and needs immediate action.
This is not for the first time or the last time that Iceland sends help to other countries in neat. So Aggi, no this is not to shove of and they were among the first because they worked fast and they are prepared.
I am so happy for people that are willing to help others in neat. Where would we be if no one lend a helping hand?
hi im a haitian living in canada,i was surprised to see iceland on the list of help.but thank you so very much
I admire Iceland for being amongst the first to offer practical help to Haiti. The country has got its own problems to take care of and yet it is offering help straight away without wasting time on arguing about what should be done and not done. Well done, Iceland.
Randi, Norwegian living on the Isle of Man
lets not forget when Iceland was hit with their earthquake (financial market) how fast other wealthier nations was fast to see to it that the country never crumble, and wrote plenty checks too keep them afloat, so remember this before one ask why does iceland help haitie.
No one is stupid enough to believe that Iceland would send a plane load of relief supplies to a truly devastated country in dire need just to try and change public opinion about Iceland’s debts. Even I’m not that cynical!!!!!
Thank you so much to the Government and the people
of Iceland for sending such a professional volunteer team to help the people devastated by the earthquake in Haiti.We will never forget Iceland!We will pass it on!
Thank you for helping saving lives
“Why should humanitarian help be motivated by anything else than helping people in a dire situation.”
Is sad but humanitarian help many times is not just from the heart, there are many disasters around the world every year as devastating as this or even more and the help is not there.
It’s very great that Iceland is sending out their best resccue unit. I recal when I was reading the news in Iceland back in 2009 an international rescue institution did and inside investigation of the Icelandic Wreckage and Rescue Unit, and the result was: “One of the best in the world”.
Joe.
The Icelandic people is a nation well acquainted with the horrors of earthquakes and other natural catastophies. They have endured more than their fair share of natural catastrophes of different kinds for centuries. Let alone the economic one threatening their very existence for the past 1 1/2 years or so. Which probably has made them more understanding of the needs of other victims of disasters. They are also the friendliest and the most generous people in the world and it is not surprising that they were among the two first nations to send help to Haiti, the other nation being the Chinese, from the other side of the globe…. Icelanders know that time is important. In catastrophies you don´t have the luxury of contemplation as e.g. the Swedes time and again believe. If you want to make a difference: act! fast!
When you see that a neighbour is in a dire need, you don´t make an appointment with your accountant next week to go through your finances to see if you can afford to contribute. You just do! That is the Icelandic way! A neighbour, a friend, a total stranger, a country on the other side of the world is in need: you help! Now!
“This is not for the first time or the last time that Iceland sends help to other countries in neat.”
Maybe instead of only sending rescuers we should also send engineers with courage as this is a result of corrupt government=NO building codes.
I saw the Icelandic rescue teams on the television. It would seem that while others (particularly the Americans) are still trying to decide why, if and how to assist, the Icelanders are already unloading their equipment and supplies on the ground in Haiti, being among the first to arrive. Thank you so much for your wonderful efforts!
The Black Rose
Portland, Oregon
” If you want to make a difference: act! fast!”
i think that is very important, it motivates the local people who are digging trough the ruins to see organized rescue opperations get started and gives people hope, it will take many hands to finish this job and the time frame is limited.
Why must we always seek ulterior motives in other people’s actions?
Iceland and Haiti share much in common. Both are islands is the Atlantic Ocean and both are literally on the edges of the earth, subject to the whims of earth quakes and volcanic activity. This has led to severe economic hardships for both countries and the loss of human resources due to forced emigration.
Don’t try to over analyze why someone acts, instead act yourself. Donate what monies you can. If all you can do is pray than do that too.
If you know someone in your community who is of Haitian background than give them some moral support because more than likely they have friends or relatives who are dead, injured or missing.
ICELAND, my hat is off to you good people. The Lord will look favorably upon you. You have what it takes!!!
“Donate what monies you can”
Dont forget that Haiti is rule by the 1% elite and they are the ones that will get all the money wile the 99% will have to struggle to get something or get it from the gangs.
Did anyone follow Haiti before the quake? I did and I know that the gangs and the UN soldiers dont help much, any one remember Haiti as the capital of the kidnappings? and as the once rich island that is now the poorest nation in the Caribbean? The kaos is not over, gangs are going to get more ruthless fighting the people and the UN for control of supplies to make a profit, now even more dangerous.
I really hope I am wrong.
Proud to be an Icelander!
“Dont forget that Haiti is rule by the 1% elite and they are the ones that will get all the money wile the 99% will have to struggle to get something ”
The same applyes to Iceland, UK, USA and EU to name a few states,
Haiti had the guts to fight slavery some 200 years ago and became a pariah state, what is the west threatening to do Iceland, you are not understanding how the world works Aggi.
UK/NL and EU and the nordic countries can declare Iceland as a pariah state because we refuse to give the icesave deal(deed) state guarantee, its not going to change any ones mind, we are far better equipped to fight the elite(bankers etc)
we have endless enery, plenty of fish, very good agriculture etc, and if we need something, we just jump abord one of our long ships and get it, Europe isnt the world, just a small part of it.
“The same applyes to Iceland, UK, USA and EU to name a few states,”
Thats a silly comparison, im sure you live in a nice house with a nice toilet compared to that of the 99% of Haiti or other poor nations.
You dont have to think on how that hell you will have something to eat or if you will be alive the next week. And if you have a job no matter how much you work you still are taking a shower on dirty water to save what ever is clean to drink if you find clean water among other things. And im sure you find crime as the only solution to have something OG ?
Do you really understand the world? PLEASE!!
“we are far better equipped to fight the elite(bankers etc)”
You mean we, here in Iceland? I must tell you that We will not fight crap in the sense that other nations fight when we allow the one that destroyed the nation still walk around and drive around living the nice life wile many people have to move out of the country for economical difficulties.
Why are they not organising to take real action and show the disappointment in a way that will be taking serious?
People is program to be slaves by consent as your comparison with the slaves in Haiti was not by consent, but by force.
Something else I want to bring to your attention is that HERE and the nations that you mentioned apart from the USA, this 1% uses Psych Ops not force. BIG!!! difference!!
“Thats a silly comparison, im sure you live in a nice house with a nice toilet compared to that of the 99% of Haiti or other poor nations.”
How much are we told we owe now, 3-400 % GDP ?
we had no debt in 2001 when the banks were privatized.
“You dont have to think on how that hell you will have something to eat or if you will be alive the next week. And if you have a job no matter how much you work you still are taking a shower on dirty water to save what ever is clean to drink if you find clean water among other things. And im sure you find crime as the only solution to have something OG ?”
If we allow foreign investors to take over energy companies and other assets, then this is not a unlikly description of the future,
its a good thing all Icelandic natural assets belong to the people by law and guarded by the constitution, there for can not be sold by any government, to bypass that, one would have to buy over half of parliament, the president, go trough general elections, buy the comitty that would change the constitution, and deal with a civil war at the same time,
or make a deal like the icesave deal, where all sovereign rights are waived and ovnership of natural assets can be secured by use of threats and “debt collectors” like IMF.
http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2010/01/09/energy-for-debts-a-potential-solution-for-iceland/
The idea behind the icesave deal is to make sure iceland defaults and when it does all assets are collateral, the aim is hostal takeover and asset strip, investors get the energy and the EU get the fishing stocs and the people, the people get the debt.
“Why are they not organising to take real action and show the disappointment in a way that will be taking serious? ”
Because this takes time, lots of people are going to prison, i dont see how anything can prevent that.
“People is program to be slaves by consent as your comparison with the slaves in Haiti was not by consent, but by force.”
What UK/NL are trying to force on us is debt slavery, its definetly not by concent.
Thank you Iceland for stepping up right away for helping in Haiti. It brought tears to me eyes when I saw an icelandair aircarft in the Haitian airport a day after the disaster. This is what the world needs. God Bless You Iceland.
Thank you very much for help our neightboors, they need all the help that we can give. You get there almost as soon as Dominican. Thank you very much !!
I heard that a rescue team from Iceland were in Haiti and was a big surprise, I was looking for information about your country… God bless you !!!
Im discussted in people here talking about ANYTHING else than the much needed help that Haiti needs to deal with the rescue operations at this stage. Thinking that helping out is nothing more than a PR is a disgrace. Those rescue workers that are now working in Haiti all ALL there based on their obligation to help – risking even their own lifes.
It has nothing to do with Icelandic government, nor anything else politcal related. Its what EVERY human beeing should be focusing on in time of crysis. Help those that are in dire needs. We have an obligation to help others as long as we CAN help. And Icleandic rescue workers are well trained to help in these conditions. The airplain that was provied by IcelandAir was desission by the company – and they went in the air without having a landing permission in Haiti at the time.
Again – Im totally discussed in people here that think this is a selfish act to turn public opinions. Helping others is our obligation in time of needs. It says more about the people that comment here about Anything else.
some of my friends who work in haiti were also victimized by that terrible earthquake. i was very thankful that they only suffered minor scratches.