Haitian capital sees looting, violence

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Desperation grew on Haiti nearly a week after an earthquake broke the country, as reports surfaced of several hundred Haitians looting a supply store Monday.

Fights broke out among some of the looters and men wielding two-by-fours with protruding nails attacked each other on the Port-au-Prince street, CNN reported.

Police fired shots into the air. CNN reported once the store was looted, the crowd moved to another nearby store.

Some people were stealing candles for homes without electricity or possibly to sell them, CNN reported. Others came with money to try to buy supplies from looters.

Earlier Monday, Kenneth Merten, the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, said "overall, people are very calm."

"The first line of law and order here is, No. 1, the Haitian police, No. 2, the U.N. forces. The U.S. forces are standing by to provide security as needed," Merten said on CNN.

Thousands of Haitians crammed onto vehicles to get out of the devastated capital, searching for shelter, water and a more stable environment beyond the city's borders, The New York Times reported.

The United Nations World Food Program said it would distribute 200 tons of food aid to 95,000 people at eight locations.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations was working to ensure that as many people as possible received humanitarian aid, the non-government agency said in a release.

"The Haitian people need to see that today is better than yesterday," Ban said. "They need to believe the future will be better than the past. That is our global responsibility."

Merten said rescue crews have saved more than 75 people from the rubble as they search for survivors six days after the quake devastated much of the country, CNN reported.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said Monday the department's Maritime Administration deployed five Merchant Marine ships to assist with relief efforts in Haiti.

"Sending these ships will help those on the front line of this effort save as many lives in Haiti as possible," LaHood said in a release. "These ships will add crucial capabilities by supporting operations to move large volumes of people and cargo."