Operación Hispaniola

Operación Hispaniola[1] (Operation Hispaniola[2]) is Spain's military relief operation for Haiti, following the 12 January 2010 earthquake. The mission was expected to last until at least 4 May 2010.[3]

The headquarters for the mission is the SPS Castilla.[2] Their encampment at Petit-Goâve was named "Camp Gloria".[4]

Force composition

Mission timeline

On 17 January 2010, the Unidad de Emergencias Militares (UME) arrived to help. It was the first deployment of the UME outside of Spanish territory.[11]

On 19 January 2010, it was announced that Casitlla would transport a field hospital, 50 medical officers, 450 troops.[7] Also on board are three helicopters,[5] and several fast boats.[6]

On 21 January 2010, the mission for the 37 members of the Unidad de Emergencias Militares (UME) ended.[12]

Castilla left Rota (Cadiz) on 22 January 2010, carrying 23 members of the Guardia Civil, 423 troops, and 4 helicopters, headed for Petit-Goâve, Haiti.[1][8]

On 29 January 2010, the first six troopers of the expanded mission arrived in Port-au-Prince.[13]

On 1 February 2010, Castilla arrives at San Juan in Puerto Rico to pick up additional supplies.[9][14]

On 4 February 2010, Castilla arrives at Petit-Goâve.[9] 350 people were treated, and 2 surgeries performed at the onboard sickbay.[15]

As of 5 February 2010, landing craft from the ship have started disgorging equipment. Spanish military sappers have started to clear the road to Port-au-Prince, which had been covered by landslides.[16]

Castilla is expected to remain on-station at Petit-Goâve for three months.[17]

As of 7 February 2010, the Spanish medical team has been using the hospital in Petit-Goâve, Notre Dame de Petit-Goâve.[18]

On 9 February 2010, 10 kilolitres of water were distributed. The water purification plants have been producing 12 kL of water per day.[19]

As of 11 February 2010, 155 patients have been treated, 144 tonnes of aid have been delivered.[10]

As of 15 March 2010, the Spanish frigate Álvaro de Bazán, delivers supplies and fresh personnel.[20]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 (Spanish) El Pais, "Tes Zarpa el buque 'Castilla' con ayuda", Elsa Cabria, 23 January 2010 (accessed 11 February 2010)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Barcelona Reporter, "Spain’s Defence Minister, Carme Chacon, said she is “proud” of Spanish society for their generosit", 16 February 2010 (accessed 16 February 2010)
  3. ↑ Nam News Network, "Spanish Defence Minister to Visit Haiti", Prensa Latina, 23 March 2010 (accessed 27 March 2010)
  4. ↑ (Spanish) ABC.es, "Infantería de Marina en «la gloria»", Jueves, 25 March 2010 (accessed 27 March 2010)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 (French) Mer et Marine, "L'Espagne dépêche le TCD Castilla à Port-au-Prince", 20 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 (French) Le Figaro, "Haïti: l'Espagne envoie 450 militaires", AFP, 19 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Monsters and Critics, "Spain to send warship to Haiti (2nd Roundup)", Deutsche Press-Agentur, 19 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 (French) Ouest France, "Le navire-hopital espagnol devrait arriver à Petit-Goave début février", 27 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Latin American Herald Tribune, "Spanish Aid Ship Reaches Haiti", EFE, 4 February 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 (Spanish) Atenea, "Las FAS comienzan a aliviar el dolor haitiano", Gema Nieves, 12 February 2010 (accessed 18 February 2010)
  11. ↑ (Spanish) La Gaceta, "El despliegue español de ayuda en Haití cuesta 18,8 millones", 10 February 2010 (accessed 11 February 2010)
  12. ↑ (Spanish) Libertad Digital, "La ayuda española a Haití tiene un coste de 18,8 millones de euros", EFE, 10 February 2010 (accessed 11 February 2010)
  13. ↑ (Spanish) Ideal, "Llegan los primeros soldados de operación Hispaniola para ayudar a población", EFE, 30 January 2010 (accessed 10 February 2010)
  14. ↑ (Spanish) Agencia EFE, "El buque "Castilla" hace escala en Puerto Rico camino de Haití", 2 February 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
  15. ↑ (Spanish) El Mundo, "El despliegue español en Haití cuesta 18,8 millones de euros", Europa Press, 10 February 2010 (accessed 11 February 2010)
  16. ↑ Latin American Herald Tribune, "Spanish Military on the Ground in Haiti", Jose Luis Paniagua, 5 February 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
  17. ↑ AOL news, "Rural Haitians Say Aid Is Still Lacking", Meredith Mandell, 8 February 2010 (accessed 9 February 2010)
  18. ↑ (Spanish) "La operación "Hispaniola", totalmente operativa en Haití", Gema Nieves, 8 February 2010 (accessed 11 February 2010)
  19. ↑ (Spanish) Europa Press, "La agrupación española distribuye 10.000 litros de agua potable en Petit Goave", 10 February 2010 (accessed 11 February 2010)
  20. ↑ (Spanish) Xornal Galicia, "El Castilla recibe la visita de la fragata Álvaro de Bazán frente a las costas de Haití ", XG, 16 March 2010 (accessed 19 March 2010)