Costa Rica ends mission in Haiti

By María Córdoba

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica - The team of Costa Rican technicians who traveled to Haiti to help in the search and rescue of victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake returned home on Jan. 23.

"We worked six days, in which we were in six different sectors, searching and locating people in two different ways," said Walter Fonseca, who ran the squad out of the Port-au-Prince airport. "One, in specific locations where there were reports of relatives or friends who expressed the possibility of finding people alive. Secondly, we worked in areas where we swept all structures."

Fonseca, however, said the team failed to find any survivors.

"We have not located people alive, but rather about 20 dead, although some bodies [could not] be removed from the debris because the structures collapsed completely and the spaces were very small," he said. "The work must continue with heavy machinery, when the authorities [order] the general removal of debris."

Costa Rica's team, made up of 55 officials of the national commission for risk prevention and emergency response, the Red Cross, firemen, security forces, doctors from the Costa Rican social security fund and technicians of the Costa Rican institute of electricity, arrived in Haiti on Jan. 16.

"During the early days the atmosphere was very tense, we had a lot of security, with UN vehicles and Blue Helmets, as we were assigned to sectors that were very dangerous," Fonseca said. "We came to a devastated country, where there was no access to any services. But we knew what to expect. Of course, after six days of work under the intense heat we are tired, worn out physically ... but the team's spirit is excellent. We came wanting to provide everything possible for the Haitian people, which we've accomplished."

Fonseca added: "The shock phase is over" and now "comes a process of rehabilitation and recovery, aimed at rebuilding the city."

"The people of Haiti need everything, mainly housing and basic services like water and electricity," he said. "However, most often in this type of event, what is needed is cash for development agencies and government authorities to implement the reconstruction."

It is unclear when - or whether - Costa Rica will send another team to the impoverished Caribbean nation, according to Rebeca Madrigal of the national commission for emergencies.

Costa Ricans also have assisted in the relief effort by donating to the Red Cross.

Óscar Arias Sánchez, the country's president, presented a donation of more than $300 million colones (US$550,000) to Tadateru Konoe, the president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, who accepted the gift via a teleconference.

Source: Infosurhoy.com-26/01/2010

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