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HAITI: Poor nation turns back food aid, fearing Mexican navy ship could carry swine flu
Caribbean news briefs
Associated Press
2009-05-07 10:09 AM
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HAITI: Poor nation turns back food aid, fearing Mexican navy ship could carry swine flu
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) _ Haitian officials rejected a Mexican aid ship carrying 77 tons of much-needed food aid because of "unfounded" swine flu fears, Mexico's ambassador said Wednesday.
The Mexican navy ship El Huasteco was to arrive May 2 in Port-au-Prince carrying rice, fertilizer and emergency food kits to help the impoverished country respond to chronic hunger and devastating tropical storms.
But Mexican Ambassador Zadalinda Gonzalez y Reynero said Haitian officials told her April 29 they would not accept the ship, which was still in Mexican waters near the Yucatan peninsula at the time.
"The crew was in perfect health and there was no risk at all," Gonzalez y Reynero told The Associated Press, adding that the cargo and 64 sailors aboard the ship had all been screened in Mexico. "We did not want to turn back the ship, but we also did not want our crew to be mistreated."
She said it was possible the ship could try to deliver the aid in the future. The shipment is part of the $324 million promised at an April 14 international donors conference held at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington.
The executive director of Haiti's Health Ministry, Dr. Gabriel Thimothee, said no ships from Mexico are being allowed in Haitian ports. He said he could not say when that policy began.
Earlier Wednesday, Thimothee had said all ship crews coming from Mexico must fill out questionnaires to determine if they carry a swine flu threat.
The new virus has killed 44 people and more than 1,750 in 23 countries. But there have been no confirmed cases in Haiti or the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Caribbean news briefs
Associated Press
2009-05-07 10:09 AM
Fonts Size:
E-Mail This
Printer-Friendly
HAITI: Poor nation turns back food aid, fearing Mexican navy ship could carry swine flu
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) _ Haitian officials rejected a Mexican aid ship carrying 77 tons of much-needed food aid because of "unfounded" swine flu fears, Mexico's ambassador said Wednesday.
The Mexican navy ship El Huasteco was to arrive May 2 in Port-au-Prince carrying rice, fertilizer and emergency food kits to help the impoverished country respond to chronic hunger and devastating tropical storms.
But Mexican Ambassador Zadalinda Gonzalez y Reynero said Haitian officials told her April 29 they would not accept the ship, which was still in Mexican waters near the Yucatan peninsula at the time.
"The crew was in perfect health and there was no risk at all," Gonzalez y Reynero told The Associated Press, adding that the cargo and 64 sailors aboard the ship had all been screened in Mexico. "We did not want to turn back the ship, but we also did not want our crew to be mistreated."
She said it was possible the ship could try to deliver the aid in the future. The shipment is part of the $324 million promised at an April 14 international donors conference held at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington.
The executive director of Haiti's Health Ministry, Dr. Gabriel Thimothee, said no ships from Mexico are being allowed in Haitian ports. He said he could not say when that policy began.
Earlier Wednesday, Thimothee had said all ship crews coming from Mexico must fill out questionnaires to determine if they carry a swine flu threat.
The new virus has killed 44 people and more than 1,750 in 23 countries. But there have been no confirmed cases in Haiti or the neighboring Dominican Republic.