Troops complete disaster relief mission in Haiti

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GULF OF GONAVES, Haiti (AFPN) --  The USS Kearsarge departed Haiti Sept. 29 after completing a 19-day disaster relief mission in the storm-ravaged Caribbean nation.  The humanitarian effort included robust helicopter and sealift support to U.S. relief efforts led by the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

During the support to USAID-led relief efforts in Haiti, Marine and Navy helicopters aboard Kearsarge flew more than 100 sorties and landing craft transported more than 30 loads of supplies. These operations led to the timely delivery of more than 3.3 million pounds of food, water and other relief supplies to Haitian communities devastated in recent weeks by several tropical storms and Hurricane Ike.

In response to a formal request for engineering assistance, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy engineers on board the Kearsarge assisted Haitian officials with assessing the condition of roads and bridges damaged by the storms and determining the extent of repairs needed.

The assessments conducted by Kearsarge engineers were turned over to Haitian officials and other agencies supporting or overseeing reconstruction efforts who will use the assessments as they work to restore damaged critical infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions. 

Kearsarge engineers also assisted residents of Bainet by replacing damaged pipes vital to the delivery of fresh water in the southern city.

A team of medical personnel conducted health assessments in Marose, Dolant, Grande Saline, Gros Morne, Tres Ponts, Terre de Negres, Terre Nueve, Ennery, Saint Michel, Anse Rouge, Bainet, Les Cayes, Jeremie, Chomeil, Belle Anse and Casale and provided basic medical care to more than 1,000 Haitian citizens in affected areas. Doctors from the ship performed health examinations, looking for diseases inherent to natural disasters, and conducted preventive services, such as environmental assessments.

Prior to its departure, Kearsarge medical personnel delivered their assessments to the various agencies assisting with recovery efforts to ensure a seamless transition of the ship's aid distribution activities to other relief organizations in Haiti.

The Kearsarge's crew partnered with non-governmental organizations, the U.N. stabilization mission in Haiti, Haitian government officials and other agencies providing aid to storm victims in the country.

"The ship and all its embarked elements were able to quickly respond and support USAID disaster relief efforts here," said Capt. Fernandez Ponds, commander of U.S. military relief operations in Haiti. "Our timely assistance to the people of Haiti reflects our nation's compassion for the many individuals and families impacted by these storms and its commitment to helping nations in times of crisis."

According to USAID officials, as of Sept. 22, U.S. officials has contributed more than $30 million in disaster assistance to the people of Haiti during the 2008 hurricane season.

"Through close coordination and cooperation with the numerous government and non-government organizations participating in this important mission, we've been able to obtain an equivalent, if not superior, lift capability to continue distributing aid to those in need," explained Ponds. "Though our mission here has ended, the people of Haiti remain in our thoughts and prayers. It is our hope that we were able to provide some measure of comfort during this crisis."

Kearsarge will remain in the Caribbean as part of Continuing Promise 2008, a humanitarian assistance mission that began with visits to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, and Santa Marta, Colombia, where medical teams provided health-care services and engineers completed various construction and infrastructure repair projects.

Kearsarge will remain in the region through November and will continue its humanitarian assistance mission during scheduled visits to the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Continuing Promise 2008 is a collaborative effort that includes the participation of U.S. military personnel, military medical personnel from Brazil, Canada, France, and the Netherlands, medical volunteers from the U.S. Public Health Service, and volunteers from NGOs, such as Operation Smile, Project Hope and International Aid. 

(Courtesy of U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs)

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