The United Nations has stepped up its food aid distribution efforts in Port-Au-Prince.

 

The boost comes as Haitian officials said they were shifting their focus from rescue to caring for the thousands of survivors living in squalid, makeshift camps.

On Sunday, survivors lined up in the capital's streets to receive aid supplies, distributed by international troops as part of the UN peacekeeping mission there.

Ken Keen, US Lieutenant General, said, "We are at the beginning of the massive effort to sustain, providing food, water and medical assistance throughout the city.

World Food Program officials estimated that some aid had reached more than two-thirds of the survivor camps.

Survivor, said, "We are happy. Very happy for what you have done and would be very pleased if you could keep bringing food."

Meanwhile, many rescue teams were shifting their focus as the Haitian government announced the end of the search for people still alive in the rubble.

Santiaco Martinez, Spainish Firefighter, said, "Our task now is to supervise the public buildings such as hospitals and schools and see to their security concerns. If we see that the situation is dangerous, we will secure those buildings with wood structures so they can work again."

UN relief workers noted that the shift in focus is critical. While deliveries of food, medicine and water have picked up after initial congestion, the need continues to be overwhelming. Doctors expressed fear of disease outbreaks in the camps.