The Brazilian Army announced on Wednesday that the country's Defense Ministry is studying the possibility of sending additional troops to Haiti, in order to help with the rescue and reconstruction works after the earthquake which devastated the country on Tuesday.

The additional troops may be necessary because transportation is difficult in Haiti's capital city Port au Prince, due to the earthquake, many streets are full of debris, making it impossible for vehicles to circulate freely.

In order to better assess Haiti's situation and determine what else Brazil can do to help the country, Defense Minister Nelson Jobim headed to Port au Prince on Wednesday. The Minister's retinue also includes some religious representatives, politicians and military.

Earlier in the day, Brazil announced a financial aid of US$10 million to Haiti. Additionally, two Air Force planes, each with 14 tons of food and water, are to head to the country by Thursday at the latest.

Brazil has already 1,266 military in Haiti, who are part of the United Nations peacekeeping force (Minustah). At least 11 of those military died in Tuesday's earthquake; eight others were injured and at least four are missing.

According to the Army, most Brazilian military were in base when the earthquake hit Haiti. The base, as well as the Brazilian embassy in Port au Prince, resisted the tremors; the embassy, however, was evacuated as a precaution.

Besides the 11 military, Brazilian humanitarian Zilda Arns diedin the earthquake as well.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2010)