Task Force Danbi ^[1] ( Korean : 단비部隊 ^[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, "希望", "西厓". ^[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 Leogane . ^[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 Leogane. ^[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 ]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Task Force Danbi .