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

• SPS Castilla (L52), an amphibious assault ship^[1]
  • Castilla's complement:
    • 4 helicopters^[5]
    • Fast boats^[6]
  • Transported on Castilla:
    • Field hospital^[7]
    • 423 ground troops^[8]
      • Engineering unit^[1]
        • Bulldozers^[1]
      • Logistics unit^[1]
        • 2 water purification units^[1]
    • 50 medical officers^[7]
      • 28 doctors and nurses^[9]
    • 23 Guardia Civil^[1]
• 37 members of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias^[10]

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. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} (Spanish) El Pais, "Tes Zarpa el buque 'Castilla' con ayuda", Elsa Cabria, 23 January 2010 (accessed 11 February 2010)
2. ^ ^{a b} 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. ^ ^{a b} (French) Mer et Marine, "L'Espagne dépêche le TCD Castilla à Port-au-Prince", 20 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
6. ^ ^{a b} (French) Le Figaro, "Haïti: l'Espagne envoie 450 militaires", AFP, 19 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
7. ^ ^{a b c} Monsters and Critics, "Spain to send warship to Haiti (2nd Roundup)", Deutsche Press-Agentur, 19 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
8. ^ ^{a b} (French) Ouest France, "Le navire-hopital espagnol devrait arriver à Petit-Goave début février", 27 January 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
9. ^ ^{a b c} Latin American Herald Tribune, "Spanish Aid Ship Reaches Haiti", EFE, 4 February 2010 (accessed 7 February 2010)
10. ^ ^{a b} (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)