perseus
Active member
I'm not convinced these aid efforts are of much immediate use to those with serious injuries, especially those trapped in rubble, exposed to the heat or cold etc in disaster areas since most must be long dead before any international help arrives. Medium term help such as clean drinking water, food, medicines should be possible, but even this takes ages to arrive due to the crumbled transport infrastructure of a disaster zone.
This has got me thinking. Is this a renewed role for genuine paratroops who can be dropped on any flat land from an aircraft at very short notice. Perhaps a pre-prepared quick response unit could provide some emergency aid within hours of a quake especially in this case being situated not too far from the US mainland air bases. These initial aid workers might also prepare air strips for medium term aid. Perhaps marines with landing craft could also provide medium term aid via the beaches.
All this doesn't seem far removed from a 'D-Day' or Ichon type operation where one has to get lots of supplies on land using a largely non existent infrastructure. Except in this case it should be a bit easier since there is no military opposition.
I suppose countries with potential disaster zones would have to agree in advance who exactly would be allowed to 'invade' them and in what circumstances. Presumably these aid workers would still have to be armed and therefore consist of full time troops.
Just some loose thoughts.
This has got me thinking. Is this a renewed role for genuine paratroops who can be dropped on any flat land from an aircraft at very short notice. Perhaps a pre-prepared quick response unit could provide some emergency aid within hours of a quake especially in this case being situated not too far from the US mainland air bases. These initial aid workers might also prepare air strips for medium term aid. Perhaps marines with landing craft could also provide medium term aid via the beaches.
All this doesn't seem far removed from a 'D-Day' or Ichon type operation where one has to get lots of supplies on land using a largely non existent infrastructure. Except in this case it should be a bit easier since there is no military opposition.
I suppose countries with potential disaster zones would have to agree in advance who exactly would be allowed to 'invade' them and in what circumstances. Presumably these aid workers would still have to be armed and therefore consist of full time troops.
Just some loose thoughts.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8460574.stmBottlenecks and infrastructure damage have been holding up aid efforts in Haiti, where a devastating earthquake has left as many as 45,000-50,000 dead.
Aid has been arriving from around the world, but there is little sign of help beyond the airport, correspondents say. Many are spending a third night without shelter or in makeshift camps in the ruined capital, Port-au-Prince.
US President Barack Obama pledged a huge aid effort, but warned it would take time for help to reach people. President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, working with Brazil, Canada and other countries, will organise a conference on reconstruction in Haiti, the French presidency has announced.
'Nothing coming'
But on the ground, correspondents said there was little immediate sign of a co-ordinated relief effort.
Planes queued to land at Haiti's airport, while the port was too damaged to use. Roads were blocked by debris.