The Brazilian Navy announced on Thursday that it will send to Haiti, in the next few days, a ship carrying a special water treatment equipment, in order to increase the supply of potable water to the local population.

The lack of potable water was one of the major problems detected by a Brazilian team headed by Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, who arrived in the country on Wednesday to asses the damages caused by Tuesday's massive earthquake.

Other problems detected were the lack of food, the low security, and the small number of qualified personnel to provide medical assistance to the injured, the three largest hospitals in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city, have collapsed in the earthquake, killing many doctors and nurses.

In order to help with the assistance to the injured, the Brazilian government also announced that it will set up a field hospital in Port-au-Prince. A plane carrying 46 military physicians and nurses is expected to head to Haiti on Thursday afternoon.

The plane will also carry a shipment of medicine and medical equipment such as x-ray machines, lab equipment and ICU units, as well as 13 tons of food and water. Later on, the Brazilian Navy's ship will send more supplies to the field hospital.

Fifteen Brazilian citizens died in the Haitian earthquake. Fourteen of them were military who participated in the United Nations' mission in the country (Minustah). The 15th victim was physician Zilda Arns, founder of a large humanitarian organization which promotes the development of children in poor areas.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2010)