It was another devastating earthquake that struck the south-west of Haiti on 19 August with a magnitude of 7.2. More than 2,200 people lost their lives and well over 10,000 were injured. In addition, countless families lost the roof over their heads and with it a large part of their possessions. Not only the American armed forces are present to provide emergency aid, but other nations are also providing help on the ground.

The emergency operation is also supported by the Netherlands. A Dutch navy ship is permanently stationed in the Caribbean islands, as far as availability allows. Its actual task is to secure the coasts and in particular to prevent drug smuggling. The HNLMS is currently HollandThe ship, a member of the Offshore Patrol Vessel class of the same name, was in the region for several months. Together with its on-board helicopter, the ship was therefore able to move quickly towards Haiti to provide logistical support. At the request of the coordinating aid organisations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the men and women of the Holland provide various relief services. They were particularly active on the hard-hit south coast of the island. For example, they brought 40 people from the French military fire brigade ashore at Les Cayes in their two fast Frisc boats. Due to the severe damage to the island's infrastructure and the danger posed by criminal gangs, they were denied other transport options. In further missions, a suitable location for an emergency hospital financed by the EU was located from the air with the help of the on-board NH 90. No easy task in view of the extensive destruction and the sometimes difficult terrain on site.

Text: mb; Photos: Koninklijke Marine