PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (BNO NEWS) – U.S. officials on the ground gave an update Sunday on the status of the humanitarian relief operations that are ongoing in Haiti.

U.S. officials on the ground in Haiti, including Tim Callaghan, Senior Regional Advisor from USAID, and Col. Buck Elton, Commander of Special Operations Command in South Haiti, provided an update on the situation in the aftermath of the earthquake.

“Major needs are urban search and rescue, food, water, and sanitation,” said Callaghan. “The key is coordination.” U.S. Air Force Col. Buck Elton followed up with reports of the situation at the, now U.S. controlled, Port-au-Prince airport. “When we arrived, there was no electricity, no communications, no support,” said Elton.

He confirmed that the airport tower and terminal were both being condemned due to damage, and operations going through the airport are being done via radio on the ground. “The airfield has not been closed since we started operation, it has just been full,” explained Elton, when describing the scope of the operation in Port-au-Prince. “We had fifty diverts, some had to refuel and come back, a few had to go back to their original location.”

When asked about reports of looting on the ground by BNO News editor Joda Thongnopnua, Callaghan responded by saying that they investigated claims of looting in the UN food stores but found out they were false. Regardless, USAID will continue to investigate any reports of violence or crime that they are made aware of.

Both Callaghan and Elton said they will continue to provide updates from Haiti on a daily basis as the situation continues to develop in the aftermath of the earthquake.