Haiti - Gonaïves : Despite international aid the fire destroyed the entire market
In the early hours of 21 May, the peacekeepers from the Mission for the Stabilization of Haiti's Argentinean Company (ARGBAT) responded when a fire erupted in the Raboteau Central Market in Gonaives City.
Two firefighting teams were deployed to combat the flames. Working together with members of the Haitian National Police, United Nations Police, the Pakistan Formed Police Unit (FPU), and the Gonaives Regional Bureau, the ARGBAT personnel attempted to control the blaze. Using fire extinguishers and water hoses, the Peacekeepers and the other firefighters attempted to put out the blaze but were ultimately unsuccessful.
"ARGBAT personnel supported the local firefighters by filling their waters trucks. A water truck from Pakistan FPU was also working at the scene," said Commander Nelson Sampieri, ARGBAT commander. "We used more than 30 fire extinguishers but the central market was completely destroyed. Fortunately though, we were all able to keep the fire from spreading to nearby buildings and no one was injured by the fire," said Sampieri.
Give Haiti a corps of firefighters, volunteers and professionals, properly equipped, should be part of the roadmap of the new Government, to avoid the tragedies that result all too often, to loss of life.
