MaximsNewsNetwork: 19 January 2010 - UNTV: United Nations - New York - United Nations (UN) Special Representative Edmond Mulet told reporters that the general situation in Haiti was quite stable and almost normal, despite news reports of looting and gunshots in the capital. Mulet, who spoke to reporters via videoconference from the UN compound from Haiti, criticised the media and called news reports generalizing the security situation in Haiti as irresponsible. He added that the security situation in the country is not more different than what it was before the earthquake. The UN reported that there have been some incidents of looting, but it is working with the Haitian government to get the security situation under-control. There are currently 4,000 Haitian police and 3,500 peacekeeping troops patrolling the streets and distributing humanitarian aid. Mulet added that 200 peacekeeping troops from outside Port au Prince have also been brought in. Earlier today, the Security Council adopted a resolution enhancing the role of the peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSTAH). Many more troops from Brazil, France, Chile and other countries are expected to arrive shortly. On the humanitarian front, the UN reported that more water has been distributed. Diesel from neighbouring Dominican Republic was brought in to aid water distribution. Twenty-three hospitals together with several field hospitals are serving the population of Port-au- Prince. The UN is working with the Red Cross on a communal burial site so that decaying bodies do not pose a major health risk. On the death toll, Mulet said that it has been hard to tell how many people in total have died during the earthquake as many of the bodies have been disposed of by the people themselves. He added that several thousands of people have been thrown into a garbage dump outside of the Port au Prince. Soon after the earthquake, thousands of Haitians started leaving the city to neighbouring towns and the Dominican Republic. Former UN Spokesperson Michele Montas who joined Mulet at the press conference called the exodus a positive development and added that the Dominican authorities have been allowing Haitians to cross the borders. When asked about the situation in Haiti, she said that there has been tremendous solidarity among the people. She said that people looked out for each other and made sure, out of respect, that every single body was covered with a sheet. MINUSTAH spokesman David Wimhurst was also at the press conference with Montas and Mulet. Mulet, is in Haiti currently replacing Special Representative Heidi Annabi, who died in the earthquake. ................................................................................................................ MaximsNewsNetwork: News Network for the United Nations and the International Community. See: http://www.MaximsNews.com. "GIVING POWER & RESONANCE TO THE VOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" ......................................................................................................................................................................