Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew ended his tour of Haiti saying he sees major progress in moving food aid through the flood-ravaged country. But for many, the delivery of that aid isn't happening fast enough.

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    Aid workers say repeated looting of relief trucks has been a problem. A UN official agreed that the biggest problem is security.

    Peacekeeping troops have fired shots in the air to try to keep order as aid workers distribute food. The looters are frequently heard shouting above the gunfire that they are hungry.

    Pierre Pettigrew in Haiti
    Pierre Pettigrew in Haiti

    On Thursday, Carol Bellamy, UNICEF's executive director, toured the worst-hit areas. "There are at least 8,000 people living in temporary shelters in Gonaives. They have nothing. They lost everything in the floods," said Bellamy, whose organization is seeking $8.2 million US in emergency funding.

    Also on Thursday, the UN troops turned back scores of rebels in Gonaives who offered to deliver food aid and organize security patrols. The peacekeepers say they don't mind the rebels helping. But they will have to give up their weapons if they want to stay in the city.

    The UN has 3,000 peacekeepers in its force in Haiti, although it promised to send 8,000 when it took over from the U.S. marines in June.

    Aid supplies waiting to be distributed. (AP photo)
    Aid supplies waiting to be distributed. (AP photo)

    The rebels arrived in Gonaives on Thursday with three truckloads of food. Their leader was a colonel in the disbanded Haitian army. He says no foreigner has the right to tell Haitians to put down arms.

    At least 1,500 people were killed in flooding triggered by tropical storm Jeanne and another 900 are mssing and presumed dead. A further 300,000 have been left homeless. About 200,000 of the homeless are in Gonaives.