AFP says some Filipino peacekeepers trapped in collapsed Haiti buildings
MANILA
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed on Wednesday that some of its soldiers doing peacekeeping operations in the troubled Haiti were trapped inside buildings that collapsed following an intensity 7 earthquake on Tuesday.
AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner made the disclosure, quoting from the conversation of the Filipino peacekeeping commander, Lt. Col. Lope Dagoy, and his wife through a satellite phone.
“He (Dagoy) was able to borrow a satellite phone and called his wife,” Brawner said, adding that the communication system in the area was down. He said the AFP has been trying to get in touch with Dagoy but to no avail.
“Based on his account, there was an earthquake and many buildings collapsed, and he (Dagoy) said that some of our contingents, some of our troops are now trapped in some of the buildings,” Brawner said.
The Philippines has 155 soldier-peacekeepers and two observers in Haiti. The peacekeeping force left in August and is about to return to the country after completing its six-month tour of duty.
The other circumstances of the soldiers' ordeal were not immediately known, including how many of them were trapped, Brawner said.
“He (Dagoy) did not give any numbers. He did not give results or if there were casualties or none,” he said.
Brawner said Dagoy also revealed that majority of the peacekeepers are safe and are even helping in the search and rescue for the trapped soldiers and for the other nationals in the area.
“Majority of the troops are safe,” said Brawner. “He (Dagoy) said that majority of the Filipino contingents living in the main building of the Philippine company headquarters were already evacuated,” he added.
“Right now, our Filipino contingent in Haiti is helping in the recovery and rescue of those who were trapped, not only the Filipinos who were trapped in Haiti but including the other locals and the other nationals in the area,” Brawner said.
“Instead of just being victims themselves, they are helping in the recovery, search and rescue effort in Haiti and right now we are still trying to get more information. We are contacting our contingent in Haiti and we are also trying to contact the United Nations headquarters in New York,” Brawner added. (PNA)
Tags:
buildings, collapsed, filipino, haiti, peacekeepers
Posted at: 09:25 | Add Comment
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