DOD tsunami-relief efforts in transition

  • Published
  • By Samantha L. Quigley
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Department of Defense tsunami relief efforts are "transitioning to something different," the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs told a House subcommittee here Jan. 26.

"A lot of what the U.S. Department of Defense has provided may not be as necessary as it was, and we're in the process of handing this over," Peter Rodman told the House Appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations and export financing and related programs.

"The military headquarters in Thailand, for example, has stood down; the one in Sri Lanka (will) later this week," he said. "Of course, the effort in Indonesia, because it's bigger, will continue a little bit longer."

Mr. Rodman called the overall level of involvement "a longer-term reconstruction effort."

"There are many other capable agencies, certainly, in this government and internationally," he said. "And again, the capabilities of the governments, the host governments themselves, they are increasingly ready to take on the main responsibility."

Mr. Rodman assured the subcommittee that "we will manage this transition very carefully, flexibly, (and) will be guided by what is right, whatever is still needed from us in light of circumstances on the ground."

Andrew Natsios, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, reported that some DOD assets pulled out of Sri Lanka are now assisting in the Maldives, another South Asia tsunami-damaged island-nation in the Indian Ocean.

He said the American military was helping flush out the wells.

"The biggest problem in the Maldives is no fresh water left," Mr. Natsios said. "All of the wells -- because it's 3 feet above sea level -- were completely inundated with saltwater, which, of course, you can't drink. And so we're pumping out the saltwater and (then) flushing (it) out so that the wells can recharge themselves. That's being done with heavy support from the U.S. military, which is the request of the Maldives government."

Mr. Rodman also dispelled rumors that the U.S. military had been asked to leave Indonesia by March 26.

"We've had assurances from the Indonesian government that this is not the case," he said. "Their vice president had made a comment about three months, and we were told that this is a target date that they have set for themselves to be able to take responsibility. And it's not about kicking us out at all."

Upon notification of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis in the region of Southeast Asia, U.S. Pacific Command officials took action in anticipation of U.S. involvement in relief efforts, said Marine Brig. Gen. John Allen, DOD's principal director for Asia-Pacific affairs.

An operational planning team formed up, followed by orders Dec. 27 to move military assets -- aircraft, ships and people -- to the scene.

In short order, the military moved a total of 26 ships, 58 helicopters, 43 fixed-wing aircraft and nearly 15,000 people into the disaster area, Mr. Rodman said.

"The figure(s) I have for what they provided … include 2,200 tons of relief supplies, 260,000 gallons of water provided and, of course, the kind of logistical help that made a lot of other efforts possible," he said.

Mr. Rodman put the total operational costs for the military's involvement in the neighborhood of $90 million to $100 million, but cautioned against considering that the final cost.

House members gave the department high praise for its contributions to the tsunami disaster-relief operations.

"I cannot tell you how appreciative I am of the response of our military forces," Rep. Jerry Lewis, said. "They truly have given a different picture ... of the fabulous work of our forces."

"I think the American people have an absolute right to go to bed every night extremely proud of our military and extremely proud of this particular operation," General Allen said.