Task Force Danbi
Task Force Danbi[1](Korean: 단비부대[2]) is the South Korean military mission to Haiti for earthquake relief in the aftermath of the 12 January 2010 earthquake.
This became South Korea's sixth UN Peacekeeping Mission.[3] The mission is expected to last until 31 December 2010.[3][needs update]
Name
[edit]The name "Danbi" (단비) was chosen after a competition of 8 days. Danbi means "long awaited rain", or "sweet rain after a long drought". It won over the other two suggested names, "희망", "서애".[4]
Mission timeline
[edit]On 13 January 2010, a 25-member military rescue team was sent as part of a 41-member Korean rescue squad to Haiti.[5]
On 18 January 2010, the South Korean government announced a peacekeeping mission (PKO) to help Haiti.[6]
On 5 February 2010, the UN announced that the South Korean military engineering teams would be deployed to Léogâne.[7]
On 9 February 2010, South Korea's National Assembly gave unanimous assent to the military mission to Haiti.[8]
On 10 February 2010, the first group of 30 troops left for Haiti.[9]
As of 18 February 2010, the force has started constructing a hospital.[10]
On 23 February 2010, the[clarification needed] announced that it would provide the Korean military task force with 400 portable toilets.[11]
On 27 February 2010, 190 PKO personnel were sent to Haiti.[12]
On 28 February 2010, the entire force had arrived in Léogâne.[1]
As of 8 March 2010, the name 단비 (Danbi) had been chosen for the mission.[4]
Reactions
[edit]Koreans have criticized their own government over the slow response, and small and poorly equipped initial response to the earthquake.[13]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b (in English) The Korea Herald, "Korean peacekeepers arrive in Haiti", 8 March 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in Korean) MBC News, "아이티 재건지원단 애칭 '단비부대'로 결정" Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, 박승진, 8 March 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ a b (in English) Korea Times "Korea Launches PKO to Help Rebuild Haiti", Na Jeong-ju, 17 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ a b (in Korean) Yon Hap News, "아이티 파병부대 애칭은 `단비'", 이상헌, 8 March 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) Korea Times, "Korean Rescue Team Sent to Caribbean Nation", Oh Young-jin, 15 January 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in French) KBS World, "La Corée du Sud réfléchit à l’envoi de troupes à Haïti", 19 January 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) JoongAng Daily, "Korea set to send PKO to quake-torn Haiti in Feb.", Lee Min-yong, 6 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) People's Daily, "S. Korean parliament approves peacekeeping dispatch to Haiti", Xinhua, 9 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) Chosun Ilbo, "Korean Peacekeepers Depart for Haiti", VOA News, 11 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) The Dong-A Ilbo, "Reconstruction Unit", Donga, 18 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) Korea Times, "Troops in Haiti to Get Portable Toilets", Jung Sung-ki, 23 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) Arirang, "190 Korean Peacekeeping Troops Leave for Haiti", Chery Kang, 27 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
- ^ (in English) Chosun Ilbo, "Lagging Response to Haiti Disaster Reveals Korea's Real Status", 25 January 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)