Haiti: 1,000 more CF personnel confirmed

Further to this post here (many related links), the MND has made the deployment increase official:

Another 1,000 Canadian soldiers depart for Haiti this week to provide relief and security, as anger, desperation and the death toll from last Tuesday's earthquake mount.

The troops from 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment (Vandoos) based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier in Quebec will be involved in peacekeeping and reconstruction, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Sunday [the battalion was last in Afstan in 2007-2008].

"The situation in Haiti is grave and fragile and in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake a lack of basic needs such as food and clean water are causing stress and anger amongst the local population," MacKay told a news conference.

"The government of Canada feels it has a moral imperative to do everything in its power to help with the international relief and stabilization efforts in (Haiti), and to do so as quickly as humanly possible."

The capital of Port-au-Prince was teetering on the brink of chaos, pushed closer to the edge by a deteriorating security situation and a relief effort that many Haitians feel has been far too slow in coming.

Crowds were reportedly attacking UN vehicles in the slums outside the city, accusing the international community of doing too little to distribute food. There were also reports of looting, including at least one case in which looters made off with a coffin from a funeral home.

The Quebec-based troops will complement 500 soldiers [sic] aboard two Canadian navy vessels expected to reach Haiti's shores early this week, as well as the 200-plus members of Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team, who are also in the process of deploying.

Two Canadian Forces Hercules and two C-17 heavy-lift aircraft, along with a helicopter contingent, are also operating in Haiti, delivering relief supplies and evacuating Canadians. Officials estimate more than 200 Canadian Forces personnel are already on the ground.

Between Haiti, the Afghanistan mission, a new rotation preparing to deploy to Kandahar [they are now training in California] and preparations for next month's Olympic Games in British Columbia, there are "four major muscle movements happening in the Canadian Forces simultaneously," MacKay said.

"It's something that the Canadian Forces do very well ."..["The army's stretching here."]

The new contingent of soldiers will bring along engineering units, as well as headquarters and support elements and 60 additional vehicles, he added. The contingent includes almost enough medical staff to man a field hospital...

More from CTV, with several videos:

...

According to MacKay, two Griffon helicopters left Saturday and are scheduled to arrive in Haiti in three or four days. Another two Griffon choppers will depart Monday.

Three water purification units were scheduled to leave 8 Wing Trenton Sunday to arrive in Haiti later in the day and "begin operation immediately," MacKay said.

Light utility vehicles, medical personnel, medical supplies and additional personnel with Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) continue to arrive in Haiti via C-17 and C-130 aircraft.

"The military under the Government of Canada direction is pursuing a full-court press to get into theatre and affect the changes positively for Haitians and Canadians still there," MacKay said...

From the official news release:

...
This CF operation, known as OPERATION HESTIA, will include:

• The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), including engineering, medical, logistical, and defence and security platoons;
• A Naval Task Force, made up of a destroyer and frigate, and a CH-124 Sea King helicopter;
• Six CH-146 Griffon helicopters;
• One light infantry battalion [emphasis added];
• CC-177 Globemaster and CC-130 Hercules airlift support; and
• Medical facilities.

The number of CF personnel dedicated to Op HESTIA will give Canada the ability to provide relief to a greater number of Haitians.

“On behalf of the Government and in support of other Departments and aid organizations, the Canadian Forces has responded with determination to assist in relief efforts in Haiti,” added General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff. “Brigadier-General Guy Laroche will command a joint Air, Land, and Sea humanitarian task force in support of the Canadian Ambassador and in support of the UN Force – MINUSTAH, our allies and partners.”

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Note to Editors:
Video b-roll and still imagery of the Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Relief Team (DART) preparing to deploy to Haiti is available for media download at the following sites:

Still imagery: www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca by keyword search “Haiti”; and Video b-roll: http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/site/news/

The footage is transmitted over the Internet in MPEG 4 format and needs to be re-sized for broadcast. Directions for re-sizing are also posted. The audio from these files can also be used for radio.

Media who experience difficulty in downloading the footage or require additional information are asked to contact the number below for assistance.

Mr. André Rousseau, CF Combat Camera / Video Editor
Tel: (613) 995-8736
E-mail: andre.rousseau@forces.gc.ca