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