US Resumes Haiti Medical Evacuations After Cost Dispute
In Haiti, the US military resumed medical evacuations of critically injured Haitian earthquake victims Monday after a five-day suspension over a cost dispute. The flights were halted last week after Florida state officials and the federal government argued over who would shoulder the costs. Some observers had cited Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s bid for the Republican Senate nomination as a factor in his stance. But on Monday, Crist denied neglecting Haitian victims.

Gov. Charlie Crist: “Florida never said that we wanted to stop taking Haitians. All we said was that we would appreciate help in being able to continue to help our friends from the island. And that’s exactly what has happened and has occurred today.”


10 US Baptist Missionaries Arrested for Trying to Smuggle Out Haitian Children
Haitian authorities have arrested ten Baptist missionaries from the United States after they were caught attempting to smuggle thirty-three Haitian children out of Haiti. Haiti’s Prime Minister Max Bellerive accused the missionaries of “illegal trafficking of children." Child welfare groups expressed outrage over the group’s attempt, saying some of the children had parents who survived the January 12 earthquake. The missionaries say they were only trying to rescue abandoned and traumatized children. The children have been taken to an orphanage in Haiti run by the international aid group SOS Children’s Villages, headed by George Willard.

George Willard: “The situation for children in Haiti at the moment is really dramatic. There are thousands of unaccompanied children. We, SOS Children’s Villages and other NGOs, have to take care of them. We have to give them a safe place, safe and secure place, because outside they are really vulnerable and they are living in danger. So we have to bring them in and then slowly checking if their relatives or family is still capable.”


Report: US Military Spending in Haiti More Than Triples Assistance to Haitian Gov’t
The Haitian government is appealing to the international community to improve the earthquake relief effort as the confirmed death toll is now near 170,000. On Wednesday, Haitian President René Préval said he is thankful for the international assistance, but said it needs “better coordination.” Préval’s comments come as the Associated Press reports his government is receiving less than a penny for each dollar the United States spends on aid efforts in Haiti. Thirty-three cents of every dollar goes to US military aid, over three times the nine cents spent on food.


Survivor Found Beneath Rubble After 15 Days
Rescue teams meanwhile continue to find survivors beneath the rubble. On Wednesday, a teenage girl was pulled from the rubble of her home after fifteen days buried underneath.

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