Military

DATE=1/7/2005

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=US / TSUNAMI EFFORT (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-321597

BYLINE=AL PESSIN

DATELINE=PENTAGON

HEADLINE: US Commander Says Peak of Tsunami Crisis Near, Focus Shifting to Long-Term Needs

INTRO: The general commanding the U.S. military relief operation in the tsunami region of South and Southeast Asia says the peak of the crisis is near. He says the effort is now shifting to planning for long-term concerns such as care for the injured and the prevention of outbreaks of disease. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

TEXT: U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Robert Blackman calls the tsunami a disaster of "historic proportions." But in a conference call from his headquarters in Thailand, the general indicated that the worst of the crisis may be nearly over.

///1st BLACKMAN ACT ///

"We are at a point now where we can see, I believe, the top of the crisis curve."

///END ACT///

General Blackman says the countries involved, mainly Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka, have significantly improved their ability to deal with the medical aspects of the crisis, with help from foreign governments and international organizations. He described the U.S. military role as "ancillary," and explained that his troops provide mainly such services as transport, delivery of key supplies like food and water, and repair services for local facilities.

///BEGIN OPT/// As an example, the general said a team of engineers from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier made a service call to the hospital in the Indonesian town of Banda Aceh on Thursday, where a broken part in an electrical generator had left the hospital without power. He said the navy engineers were able to make a replacement part in their machine shop aboard the ship during the night, and restored power to the hospital on Friday. ///END OPT///

The most highly-publicized aspect of the U.S. presence in the tsunami region has been the delivery of supplies and evacuation of injured people by military helicopters. Military medical teams have also treated thousands of people on shore, and on board some of the 18 U.S. Navy ships that have moved to the area.

///BEGIN OPT///

But General Blackman says his troops often contribute to the relief effort in other, less technical ways, doing things soldiers and Marines do every day.

He told the story of something that happened in Sri Lanka on Friday.

///2nd BLACKMAN ACT ///

"They had 14 Marines there today with shovels, who were digging a trench on the beach to drain a four kilometer-long stagnant pool of water that had been captured inland after the tsunami receded."

///END ACT///

The general says Sri Lankans nearby pitched in to help.

///3RD BLACKMAN ACT ///

"Where we have started those types of operations, we have had Sri Lankans, in particular, join the effort and begin a teamwork-like effort to recover from this disaster."

///END ACT///

///END OPT///

General Blackman says his mission is to help the people of the tsunami region, but he also says it may have some additional impact as well.

/// 4TH BLACKMAN ACT ///

"We are here to minimize any more loss of life, to mitigate human suffering wherever possible. And in doing so, we hope that the people of this region better understand the generosity and compassion of the American people, and that in doing so we can improve relations and improve our opportunities here in the region for continued peace and stability."

///END ACT///

General Blackman commands a task force of more than 13 thousand U.S. troops in the region, most of them on Navy ships. He is stationed at a Thai military base, where the United Nations and other international aid groups have established a coordination center. He says their focus now is to determine the long-term needs of the countries affected by the earthquake and tsunami last month. (Signed)

NEB/AWP/KBK/RH