Haiti Earthquake Medical Aid May Take 'Military'-Style Operation

Jan. 14, 2010— -- Doctors and health care workers familiar with Haiti say it will take the type of resources, organization and execution found in a sophisticated military operation in order for aid workers to succeed in the unfolding chaos of Port-au-Prince.

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The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit the nation's capital Tuesday afternoon not only destroyed most of the nation's fragile medical infrastructure, it blocked roads and existing communication networks aid workers will need to help earthquake victims, doctors told ABCNews.com.

At least 19 countries, including the United States, Ireland, China, the United Kingdom and Brazil have pledged manpower, supplies or financial aid to Haiti, according to The Associated Press.

But "With this disaster, the biggest challenge is going to be finding places to care for people," said Alison Lutz, the Haiti program coordinator for the nonprofit Partners in Health, which has a permanent presence in Haiti.

"We are seeing wave after wave of vehicles coming from the Port-au-Prince area and bringing patients," said John Walton, board chairman of the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, a 120-bed facility in the rugged Artibonite Valley of central Haiti, about 40 miles north of the stricken capital

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Normally, aide workers would set up at a nearby hospital, but the quake destroyed Port-au-Prince's main hospital -- a 700-bed facility -- and left other smaller hospitals inoperable. Doctors Without Borders reported Maternité Solidarité hospital, a 75-bed facility, had to move patients out of the building, fearing it would collapse from structural damage.

Lutz said the capital city has very little open space because buildings are built side by side, surrounded by unstructured shanty towns that take up most of the open areas. Roads have been destroyed and she said finding a structurally safe building or open space to set up aid operations will be a problem.

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