On Saturday, the Military Sealift Command hospital ship Comfort sailed from its pier in Baltimore and is now on its way to Haiti to assist in relief operations. On board are 550 doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff who, according to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery of the United States Navy, will give a variety of medical services, among them primary care, trauma care, pediatric care and orthopedic care.
Due to the devastation in Port-au-Prince, specifically the capital’s port, there are no specific arrangements set yet for how Comfort will treat Haitian patients, according to a report on the Navy Times. What will most probably happen is that the ship will drop anchor out in the harbor. Patients will then be transported to and from the ship by the Navy and Marine Corps using ships and helicopters.
Thus far, Navy choppers have begun dropping rations and Gatorade into a soccer stadium with refugees. Unfortunately, a brawl soon ensued as the refugees tried to get supplies. The U.S. Army has helicopters trying to scout for possible areas for distribution points to add to the 14 that had already been set up by the Haiti government for food and supplies.
Paratroopers who belong to the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division flew to and set up a base for handing out food and water at a hillside golf course where an estimated 50,000 people are currently sleeping in a makeshift tent city. More than 2,000 US Marines who are expected to help in aid delivery and provide security are also reportedly going to sail from North Carolina.
Unfortunately, there have been some conflicts between the United States and other donor countries; the U.S. is reportedly denying landing permission to relief flights coming from other countries.
January 17th, 2010 - 7:15 pm
The Earthquake was Tuesday. Knowing the situation with the hospitals in Haiti, why did it take 4 days to get the hospital ship underway?
January 17th, 2010 - 8:52 pm
[...] Hospital Ship Comfort On Its Way To Haiti – US Navy SEALs Blog & Information [...]
January 18th, 2010 - 2:56 am
I thank the U.S. Government & U.S.Navy Ship Comfort for provided future relief to the earthquake victims of Haiti. I know the U.S. Government has a destiny in showing the world the civilized nature of nations.
A Patriot & Concerned U.S. Citizen
Robert Bienenfeld
Long Island, NY
January 18th, 2010 - 12:39 pm
Seems a little slow they can not get there fast enough!
January 18th, 2010 - 4:50 pm
the us is denying landing permission to relief flights coming from other countries…
way to “showing the world the civilized nature of nations.”
January 18th, 2010 - 5:36 pm
I am very upset that the ship comfort has taken so much time to get there butts going. I was under the impression that this was the type of situation it was set up to adress. If the Israelies half way around have had a fully outfitted field hospital up and running for about a week. shame on us.
January 18th, 2010 - 8:21 pm
Whatever happened to our completely outfitted field hospital that was supposed to be up “soon?” Israel (so far away) got theirs up and running very quickly. Were we trying to get everything “just perfect” before we started helping people? I can’t imagine there’s an acceptable excuse for our delay.
January 19th, 2010 - 9:08 pm
So many negatives! The Comfort loaded a day earlier than expected. It travels 35 miles an hour. The people on board come from all over the United States. They have to load supplies depending on the disaster. They have to have a game plan when they arrive. These are what you should consider before you mouth off about how long this and why that ! If you can’t say something good than don’t say it when it comes to a disaster relief group. Get your butt over there. How long would it take…how come you’re not on your way !
January 19th, 2010 - 9:09 pm
What?
January 19th, 2010 - 9:10 pm
They left a day earlier than was thought. These people come from all over the U.S. to help. Stop complaining and say something good about them. Why aren’t you packing your bags and leaving? Probably just sitting at home doing nothing but critizing.
January 20th, 2010 - 7:08 am
I think it is legitimate to question why a disaster relief group can not respond in a timely fashion. I am donating money to World Jewish Relief. As an American non Jew, if and when disaster strikes in the US, I am counting on the Israelis.
January 20th, 2010 - 3:54 pm
I am a viet nam vet and i can’t believe the time it takes these idiots like gordo to react. i too am now putting my money on the Israelis. i flew hueys for 8 years and could have made 3 sorties a day to haiti with food and water. what happened to us ?
January 20th, 2010 - 5:02 pm
No way are we blaming the front line doctors and nurses and support personnel. The prob is always the management. We done this before, for a long time. Certainly this is a science by now. Nobody should be required to wait for some superior to get himself and his team ready for these situations.
January 21st, 2010 - 5:01 am
Listen all of you that know nothing about what it takes or the ones that think you do the ship was set in near dry dock not to deploy again till June. From the time of the disaster to time of departure was 4 days recall of the crew which was on leave to bringing on navy hospital sailors, to supplies was only four days. i know because my better half is on that ship again after returning just 4 months ago on the Comfort doin humanitairian mission there and other places in south America. the Comfort is a follow on support not first in support and we if you would pay attention to everything the US was first to have medical and search and resque personal there. and before any of you can dought my creditials i am retired USMC and with 5 combat tours and a few missions similar to this on the ground side all of you arm chair complaining so called supporters try your own hand in the armed forces and see what it is like to pick up and leave at a moments notice not knowing what you are getting into and see if you can pack your gear and say good bye that fast. If not shut up and sit there and do or say nothing at all.
January 28th, 2010 - 7:30 am
It is amazing to me that all of the critics who make comments such as some of these concerning the slow response, etc. have no clue what it takes to get a ship of this size underway. I am on it! I guess there are those that want to just be negative about everything, and not see the good we have done. You leave your family, work, and LIFE with less than 12 hours notice, then you have a right to complain about what we are doing. The crew of the Might Comfort are amazing people how about supporting them…
January 28th, 2010 - 7:32 pm
You just turn a key to start a huge ship like the Comfort in one day. That ship has only a skeleton crew on it until they get the word to go somewhere. I was amazed they got to Haiti as fast as they did.
Right now the hosp. ship is so overcrowded that the Navy is considering to bring another large ship along side to use as a relief, messing and barracks ship.
If you go to Google Earth you can see the ship in the harbor at Port au Prince.
The USNS Comfort is doing a great job. Can you imagine the poorest people on the planet being given the best medical care on the planet for free? Thanks to the USA taxpayers and all the other nations that came to help.
February 2nd, 2010 - 4:25 am
Navy personnel and the Comfort should be ready to go at a moments notice. No excuses.Training, readiness, preparation. The taxpayers should not be responsible for airlifting because the Comfort is docked there. They should be able to care for the patients. Come on …best medical care?
February 4th, 2010 - 4:56 am
Mike i understand my other half is on board aswell she is there and being a marine vet i understand what goes on many do not understand that at all. so everyone that does not understand can just keep there comments to themselves.
February 4th, 2010 - 5:04 pm
[...] name the personnel on board christened her with, was brought on board, a woman went on board the USNS Comfort searching for her newborn baby girl. The description of the woman’s baby fit that of “baby [...]
March 20th, 2010 - 6:06 pm
[...] assistance and assisting in relief operations following the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, according to a feature on the Navy [...]