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.

A soldier from the Task Force Danbi.

This became South Korea's sixth UN Peacekeeping Mission.[3] The mission is expected to last until 31 December 2010.[3]

Name

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

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 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

Koreans have criticized their own government over the slow response, and small and poorly equipped initial response to the earthquake.[13]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Task Force Danbi.
  1. (in English) The Korea Herald, "Korean peacekeepers arrive in Haiti", 8 March 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  2. (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)
  3. (in English) Korea Times "Korea Launches PKO to Help Rebuild Haiti", Na Jeong-ju, 17 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  4. (in Korean) Yon Hap News, "아이티 파병부대 애칭은 `단비'", 이상헌, 8 March 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  5. (in English) Korea Times, "Korean Rescue Team Sent to Caribbean Nation", Oh Young-jin, 15 January 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  6. (in French) KBS World, "La Corée du Sud réfléchit à l’envoi de troupes à Haïti", 19 January 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  7. (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)
  8. (in English) People's Daily, "S. Korean parliament approves peacekeeping dispatch to Haiti", Xinhua, 9 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  9. (in English) Chosun Ilbo, "Korean Peacekeepers Depart for Haiti", VOA News, 11 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  10. (in English) The Dong-A Ilbo, "Reconstruction Unit", Donga, 18 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  11. (in English) Korea Times, "Troops in Haiti to Get Portable Toilets", Jung Sung-ki, 23 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  12. (in English) Arirang, "190 Korean Peacekeeping Troops Leave for Haiti", Chery Kang, 27 February 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
  13. (in English) Chosun Ilbo, "Lagging Response to Haiti Disaster Reveals Korea's Real Status", 25 January 2010 (accessed 20 March 2010)
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