The Dutch contribution to the relief effort after the earthquake in Haiti
Immediately following the earthquake, preparations were made to help mitigate Haiti's plight. The Air Force made the KDC-10 aircraft 'Jan Scheffer' and 12 crew members available for the transport of relief goods and for the Dutch Government's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team. The KDC-10 returned to Eindhoven with 4 evacuees and 6 orphans on board.
The USAR team consisted of 60 individuals. In addition to 2 service members, the team included police officers, firefighters and ambulance personnel. In addition to searching for survivors under the rubble, the USAR in Haiti recovered bodies and evacuated children who were to be adopted. Lieutenant Colonel Hans van de Ven, the team’s commander, was the first to arrive in the affected area. He started preparations for the arrival of the other team members.
The Royal Netherlands Navy also contributed. HNLMS Pelikaan travelled to Haiti carrying:
- 15 crew members;
- 45 marines;
- the Aruba boat group;
- 6 members of the Aruban militia;
- 2 members of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
These additional personnel were tasked with:
- assisting the USAR team;
- evacuating orphans who were to be adopted in the Netherlands;
- making the port of Port-au-Prince accessible.
Arriving on 18 January, the Pelikaan was the 1st foreign vessel to reach the port of Port-au-Prince. 2 days later, the naval vessel left for the US naval base at Guantanamo to pick up a mobile diving and salvage unit. After arrival in the port of Port-au-Prince, this unit was deployed to remove underwater obstacles. The Dutch military personnel left Haiti on 28 January.