U.S. Troops Land At Haiti's Presidential Palace

by Scott Neuman
January 19, 2010


Haitians watch as a U.S. Navy helicopter lands Tuesday in front of the heavily damaged presidential palace in Port-au-Prince.

Dozens of U.S. troops landed by helicopter at Haiti's ruined presidential palace Tuesday to help with security and expand the flow of aid in the Caribbean nation. Their arrival, part of an influx of thousands of U.S. military personnel expected this week, comes as desperate earthquake survivors increasingly turn to looting amid the devastation and as officials say the death toll could reach 200,000.


A U.S. Navy helicopter takes off in front of the National Palace after members of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne, front, landed in Port-au-Prince, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. U.S. Navy helicopters touched down on the grounds of Haiti's damaged presidential palace bringing reinforcements in the struggle for security and earthquake disaster relief.

Hundreds of Haitians gathered outside the wrought-iron gates at the palace in the capital, Port-au-Prince — some to cheer, others simply to gawk — while the U.S. Navy copters landed and soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division took control of the palace. U.S. Marines landed in helicopters west of the city, the first of about 800 expected to go ashore.

One week after the tragedy, authorities say 1.5 million residents of Port-au-Prince are displaced, and aid deliveries are only reaching a small portion of the population. Meanwhile on Tuesday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved 3,500 additional troops and police officers to help bolster the 9,000-strong international force.


A woman gestures as she waits in line for food from the United Nations in the Cite Solell neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. The food ran out before most of the line could pass. The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved 3,500 extra troops and police officers to beef up security in Haiti and ensure that desparately needed aid gets to earthquake victims.