Security becomes a concern in Haiti; Canada protecting embassy

OTTAWA – Canada is helping boost security in Haiti as "a growing sense of desperation" sets in among survivors in the earthquake zone, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Friday.

He spoke at a briefing with Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon who said Canadian officials have not been able to contact 1,415 Canadians who were known to be in the disaster-stricken area in and near the capital Port-au-Prince.

"This is a very difficult and dark time for many Canadians," MacKay said, referring to tens of thousands of lives believed to be lost and the difficulties in communicating with survivors.

Amid reports of looting in Port-au-Prince, MacKay said desperation is growing among people needing "life-sustaining" food and water.

Officials have been in contact with more than 550 Canadians. Four Canadians are dead and 13 injured. And 272 have been airlifted and returned to Canada.

The ministers spoke at a briefing as Immigration Minister Jason Kenney prepared to announce a humanitarian program on Saturday to ease rules for entry of Haitians to Canada.

MacKay said armed soldiers are protecting the Canadian Embassy compound, where 50 Canadians have taken refuge in tents.

Cannon said police across Canada have volunteered to go to Haiti to bolster a team of 80 Canadian police officers, most from Quebec, stationed with the United Nations stabilization mission. The UN is looking at the security issue as "an urgent priority," he said.

"We have a force protection unit that will be there at the embassy," MacKay said. "The soldiers that have been deployed will be armed. International rules of engagement will apply. They are there to protect and assist in all of the relief effort."

"The focus remains on saving people, on protecting people, on helping to maintain a sense of calm to the greatest degree possible and also protecting not only the embassy but some of the triage areas that have been set up."

Since Thursday, Canada has airlifted 272 Canadians and that will continue, with Canadian military aircraft delivering rescue and relief personnel and equipment ferrying Canadians on their return trips for more supplies.

The Canadian plan as of Friday is to send two C-17 transport aircraft to Haiti daily and three flights of C-130 Hercules planes every two days.

As of Friday, 144 Canadian military, police and humanitarian officials had arrived in Haiti. Two ships loaded with humanitarian supplies and about 500 personnel also were on there way.

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