U.S. Military Personnel Deploying to Indonesia with Medical AidContingent part of larger, coordinated U.S. response, Pacific Command says The U.S. military is sending medical personnel, equipment and supplies to Indonesia to assist the victims of the May 27 earthquake, the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), headquartered in Hawaii, announced May 28. "The deployment is part of a larger U.S. government response to a request from the government of Indonesia for humanitarian assistance" being coordinated through the departments of State and Defense, according to PACOM. The 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck at 5:54 a.m. local time near the city of Yogyakarta, which is 400 kilometers east of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. The densely populated city is a popular tourist attraction. In the wake of the disaster, President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged U.S. assistance with response and recovery efforts. (See related article.) On May 29, the official death toll reached 5,136, and UNICEF estimated the quake had left 20,000 injured and more than 130,000 homeless. The earthquake also badly damaged power facilities and deprived tens of thousands of electricity - making delivery of aid to a disaster area spread over hundreds of square kilometers difficult. However, the U.N. World Food Programme announced May 28 that three trucks carrying enough high-energy biscuits to feed 20,000 people for a week had arrived in the districts of Bantul and Klaten. Approximately 100 U.S. military personnel, drawn from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Pacific Air Force units in Guam and the USNS Mercy are bringing surgical, shock/trauma, laboratory, dental and X-ray equipment as well as preventive medicine expertise to the earthquake-ravaged area of Indonesia, according to PACOM. The Mercy, a U.S. Navy hospital ship, currently is operating in the Philippines as part of a five-month medical deployment to Southeast Asia and Western Pacific countries. PACOM said the deployment of some Mercy personnel to Indonesia "will not impact her ability to continue the mission in the Philippines." (See related article.) A number of international aid organizations currently are accepting donations to help victims of the earthquake in Indonesia. Information about making donations to earthquake relief through the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the International Red Cross, Islamic Relief, Catholic Relief Services and the International Medical Corps is available on those organizations' Web sites. Following is the full text of the PACOM release: (begin text) U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND RESPONDS TO INDONESIAN EARTHQUAKE CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii (May 28, 2006) - Medical personnel, equipment, and supplies from U.S. Pacific Command are being sent to Indonesia to contribute to the international humanitarian relief efforts in the wake of a devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck near the ancient city of Yogyakarta. The deployment is part of a larger U.S. government response to a request from the government of Indonesia for humanitarian assistance. Coordinated through the U.S. Department of State, the Department of Defense has committed U.S. military resources to the relief operation. "Doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and supplies are rapidly deploying to Indonesia to support the humanitarian efforts near Yogyakarta. The goal is to reduce further loss of life and help alleviate human suffering. We offer our sincere condolences to the people of Indonesia affected by this tragedy, and will do our best to ease their suffering with available medical assets. The U.S. has strong regional ties to Indonesia, and we are a longstanding friend of the Indonesian people," said Brigadier General Dana Atkins, U.S. Pacific Command Director of Operations. Approximately 100 personnel will deploy to Indonesia bringing surgical, shock trauma, laboratory, dental, x-ray, and preventive medicine expertise to the earthquake ravaged area. The personnel will come from the Third Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in Okinawa, U.S. Pacific Air Force units in Guam, and the USNS Mercy, which is currently operating in the Republic of Philippines as part of a five-month medical deployment to Southeast Asia and Western Pacific countries. The personnel and equipment deploying from USNS Mercy will not impact her ability to continue the mission in the Philippines. The U.S. military and all organizations aboard the Mercy remain committed to providing humanitarian and civic assistance as previously planned and coordinated with the government of the Republic of the Philippines. Source: U.S. Department of State [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright © 2006, NewsBlaze, Daily
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