(Thumbnail image: The New York Times)

The crisis is Haiti is deepening, with thousands without food and water, a roof to sleep under, or security.  U.S. media are examining the conditions in Haiti and what is hampering the relief effort.

We’re looking at perspectives from FOX News, CBS News, True/Slant, MSNBC, and The Wall Street Journal.

Bill Hemmer reports on FOX News that the streets of Port-au-Prince are surprisingly peaceful.

“I must emphasize to our viewers and everyone watching us in the States and around the world for that matter, it is remarkably calm on the streets of Port-au-Prince. For everything this country and its people have been through over the last three and a half days, it is striking to see just how much peace there is.”

But a reporter for CBS News tells a very different story of the situation on the ground in the capital city.

“With the smell of death and the stink of smoke, downtown Port-au-Prince now feels like a war zone.  Gangs with machetes rule the streets here. Desperation is turning to violence in the city’s old commercial center.  Crowds are emptying the stores, grabbing anything they can carry.  Mattresses, to avoid another night sleeping on concrete."

A writer for True/Slant is riled up about the media’s use of the word looting, given that people have been without of food and water for days.

“From all I’ve heard and read, the people of Haiti thus far have been remarkably restrained, helping their neighbors… So a question: Is it looting to feed yourself and your family? One man’s looter is another’s humanitarian or mother or father.  I’d urge the media to choose their words with care.”

But on MSNBC, Kerry Sanders reports that unrest is a real concern, and could slow down the aid that should ease the harsh conditions.

“The city is on edge, that there is anger out there, some of that anger turning into small sporadic violence.  I asked the general today what happens if we have American soldiers on the streets trying to help and people are so angry they start turning on the soldiers.  He said that the U.S. soldier have the mandate to protect themselves first.  So they will be out there armed but of course the plan is to have the weapons slung over their back and not there in anything other than a humanitarian role.  But there is a real concern on the streets here of what potentially could happen.”

An editor for The Wall Street Journal gives his take on what’s hampered the relief movement, and what has to happen next.

“Well I think what we found yesterday Kelly was what happens when you try to stuff a lot of relief effort into a funnel with a very narrow neck.  I mean you have a country with a seaport that’s essentially crippled and closed down, and a very tiny airport with one runway and no real air traffic control system.  The question today and it’s crucial in the next 24 hours is whether some things can be done to get around those obstacles.” 

So what do you think of the relief efforts thus far?  Has the U-S been too slow to respond?  Or are the conditions that they're dealing with impossible? 

Writer: Newsy Staff

Producer: Nathan Giannini