On Sunday August 15, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin authorized the United States Southern Command to support the efforts of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The humanitarian effort is led by Rear Adm. Keith Davids, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command South.

The US Navy sent the 25,000-ton amphibious warship USS Arlington (LPD-24) based in Norfolk, Va. to assist with the humanitarian aid mission in Haiti following the August 14 earthquake, the Pentagon confirmed.

The USS Arlington left for Haiti on Tuesday evening after loading a dozen trays of relief supplies, two helicopters and heavy machinery. He should arrive Friday evening in Haiti "These are medical supplies, water, food, and products for small children like diapers and formula" said Captain Eric Kellum, Commander of the USS Arlington.

"Once 420 sailors and around 200 marines arrive, they will work together to provide aid in Haiti : clearing rubble and reopening roads, search, rescue and evacuation of the wounded. We have a fleet surgical team on board who will be able to provide medical assistance," said Lt. Col. Cory Murtaugh of the US Marine Corps.

The troops could stay in Haiti for up to four months or more as needed.

The USS Arlington will be deployed with two MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, a surgical team and landing craft. In addition, the United States is sending the USNS Burlington Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF-10) which will also serve as a platform to launch drones for aerial surveillance as well as two P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to provide aerial images of areas devastated by the earthquake. The images will be used by experienced disaster planners to determine what emergency capacities and supplies are needed immediately and where.

In addition, "[...] 7 US Coast Guard ships will join the relief operation," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday, adding "We expect four Southern Command field hospitals of the United States be installed in southern Haiti by the end of the week."

Read also about the earthquake :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34525-haiti-flash-the-toll-is-growing-nearly-15-000-victims-partial-assessment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34522-haiti-humanitarian-update-on-international-aid.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34520-haiti-unicef-nearly-540-000-children-in-haiti-were-affected-by-the-earthquake.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34516-haiti-flash-nearly-2-000-dead-and-10-000-injured-partial-assessment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34512-haiti-earthquake-rain-of-messages-of-sympathy-part-2.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34509-haiti-earthquake-mexico-chile-taiwan-japan-venezuela-international-aid-is-coming.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34507-haiti-flash-1-417-dead-6-975-injured-84-225-houses-destroyed-or-damaged-partial-assessment.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34501-icihaiti-earthquake-food-for-the-poor-in-action.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34500-haiti-usa-american-aid-arrives-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34498-haiti-flash-the-partial-death-toll-increases-nearly-1-300-dead-and-5-700-injured.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34496-haiti-flash-the-toll-is-increasing-724-dead-international-aid-is-arriving.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34493-haiti-earthquake-rain-of-messages-of-sympathy-part-1.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34492-haiti-earthquake-the-international-community-has-started-to-show-its-solidarity.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34488-haiti-flash-more-than-300-dead-nearly-2-000-injured-very-significant-material-damage-provisional-assessment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34487-haiti-flash-the-human-toll-promises-to-be-heavy-already-227-dead-and-hundreds-injured.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34486-haiti-flash-7-new-aftershocks-in-the-southern-peninsula.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34480-haiti-flash-second-earthquake-in-haiti-magnitude-52.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34479-haiti-flash-magnitude-72-earthquake-in-the-nippes-updated-10am.html

HL/ HaitiLibre