No green light for Belgian rescue team in Haiti

Belgium's emergency response team B-Fast has yet to receive an explicit request for help in Haiti after Hurricane Matthew razed through the country at the weekend, leaving widespread death and destruction. "We never got the green light," says the team in De Standaard.

"Are you on standby? Your help will be needed,” read one message addressed to B-Fast last week. It was sent by Maarten Boute, CEO of the largest Haitian telecommunications company Digicel. Boute recalled the work of the Belgian first aid support team in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. “The B-Fast team was one of the first to respond, saving hundreds of lives."

B-Fast jumped into action following Boute's message, quickly preparing a team of 40 volunteers, including doctors, nurses and engineers, all ready to depart for Haiti at a moment's notice. The material was gathered to provide medical assistance, sanitation and shelter for the hurricane survivors.

It was the FPS Foreign Affairs in particular that put the brakes on the operation, prompting a storm of criticism, writes De Standaard. "It makes one question the point of having such an organisation as B-Fast," said MEP Louis Ide. More politicians voiced their dismay, confirming that every time there is a disaster, B-Fast gets caught in a political game between supporters and opponents.