Navy, Marines to help after Bangladesh storm

[unhappycamper]

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, carrying members of the 22nd MEU, is on its way to Bangladesh to assist victims of Cyclone Sidr, which devastated that country last week, killing at least 3,113 people.


Navy, Marines to help after Bangladesh storm
Staff report
Posted : Monday Nov 19, 2007 17:51:51 EST

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, carrying members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, is on its way to Bangladesh to assist victims of Cyclone Sidr, a MEU spokesman confirmed Monday.

At least 3,113 people were known dead and more than 1,000 were missing after Thursday’s storm, said Lt. Col. Main Ullah Chowdhury, a Bangladesh army spokesman. The Red Crescent Society, the Islamic cousin of the Red Cross, warned the death toll could rise to 10,000 once rescuers reach outlying islands.

A Nov. 17 White House press release said the Kearsarge and the Sasebo, Japan-based amphibious assault ship Essex are en route to Bangladesh. The U.S. will airlift 35 tons of supplies, such as plastic sheeting, jerricans, hygiene kits and other supplies, according to the release.

Two Marine Corps transport planes had arrived in the capital, Dhaka, with medical supplies, said Chowdhury, the army spokesman.

An American military medical team was already in Bangladesh and two Navy ships, each carrying at least 20 helicopters and tons of supplies, would be made available if the Bangladesh government requested them, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement.

Bangladesh is a densely populated nation sitting on a vast river delta. Storms batter its low-lying lands every year, often killing large numbers of people. The most deadly recent storm was a tornado that leveled 80 villages in northern Bangladesh in 1996, killing 621 people.


Article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/marine_cyclone_response_071119/

[liberal N proud]

1. See, there are peaceful things we can do with our military

Then the world would still love us.