Haitians see US troops on ground as ray of hope in darkness (Feature)

By Anindita Ramaswamy Jan 20, 2010, 4:24 GMT

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Thousands of Haitians living in temporary shelters opposite the presidential palace watched in awe as US troops landed Tuesday on the lawns of the shattered seat of power.

While the US and Haiti have a troubled history, people abandoned by their government in the aftermath of last week's earthquake said that only the United States could protect them and and bring their country back from destruction.

Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division first went to l'Hopital General, the largest hospital in the capital, which had requested protection in order to continue caring for the wounded, US Army Lieutenant Ryan Smedile told the German Press Agency dpa. There were 80 soldiers guarding the hospital.

'We need the troops for crowd control. Thousands of people were trying to get in looking for food and water. We were not able to do our work and care for the severely wounded,' said Dr Jean Louis Dupiton.

Outside, the homeless masses quickly gathered to gape at the soldiers. Only a few days ago, it was dangerous to walk around in the district because of gun battles in neighbouring areas. A young boy shyly walked up and asked what he needed to do to join the US Army.

'I'm happy the Americans are here. They will help people and stabilize the situation,' said Cadet Luxon, a school teacher, who said his future was bleak as the earthquake flattened every school in Port-au-Prince as well as the Education Ministry.

'The government can't do anything for this country. The Haitian people need the American people, otherwise the Haitians can't manage,' said Luxon, who is now helping police control crowds at rescue sites in La Ville, a neighbourhood that continues to witness violence.

Widespread looting and unrest have rocked some of the poorest parts of Port-au-Prince as ravenous survivors wait for international aid in the form of food, water and medicine. Prisoners who escaped when the main prison collapsed have returned to unleash a wave of revenge killings.

The Haitians have a long list of expectations from US troops, ranging from security and crime control to employment and food. In the Haiti that existed before the earthquake, it was 'impossible to find a job if you were not part of politics or knew officials. They took everything for themselves and their families,' Luxon said.

He paused and smiled: 'Most of the people who worked in the palace died. All the government officials were at work when their offices were destroyed.'

There are more than 2,000 Army soldiers already on the ground to provide security and move in humanitarian supplies, said Major General Daniel Allyn, deputy commander of the US relief operation. A Marine amphibious fleet arrived offshore Tuesday and was expected to deliver 800 Marines in the next few days into Haiti.

The US military presence was expected to grow to 10,000 this week.

By Tuesday morning, the US military had brought in more than 400,000 bottles of water and 300,000 rations, and within the next several days, would have more than a dozen water purification units set up.

Smedile, whose division is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, said they arrived two days ago: 'We absolutely feel very welcome here. There were kids following us everywhere.'

Contrary to the scepticism and distrust expected, the US troop deployment has been applauded in diverse quarters, even by a former gangster who said the Americans were Haiti's only hope to stop the ongoing gang violence.

Others, like Antenor Peterson, a bystander outside the hospital, said he was proud to be Haitian but welcomed the presence of soldiers because his country needed the help.

When asked why he was so optimistic about what the troops could achieve, Luxon, the teacher said: 'Haitian people are scared of the American soldiers - they know they don't play.'