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U.S. Help Haiti during Hurricane Relief
September 9, 2008, 8:25 am |
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The US Navy has deployed a helicopter carrier off the coast of Haiti to help with relief efforts in the aftermath of a series of storms, the military said Monday.
The USS Kearsarge was redirected from Santa Marta, Colombia and has arrived near the island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, the US Southern Command said in a statement.
It said the Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship loaded with relief supplies, will help move cargo and equipment between Port-au-Prince and Gonaives, Jeremie, Saint Marc, Port de Paix, Jacmel and Les Cayes.
Four storms in a little over three weeks have killed at least 600 people in Haiti and left hundreds of thousands in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter.
"We moved as quickly as possible to get here, following the passing of Hurricane Ike, and we are rapidly moving to distribute relief supplies to the citizens of Haiti in the affected areas," said Captain Fernandez Ponds, the mission commander.
The Kearsarge has eight helicopters and three landing craft.
Helicopters were flying from the Kearsarge to identify suitable landing sites, the command said.
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