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U.S. Navy Provides Tremendous Sea-Based Capability in Relief Effort

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050126-02
Release Date: 1/26/2005 7:10:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class James Kimber, Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

UTAPAO, Thailand (NNS) -- Deputy Commander Naval Forces, Combined Support Force (CSF) 536, Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory, hosted a Department of Defense (DoD) briefing on Operation Unified Assistance, the post-tsunami relief effort, Jan. 14.

Currently, more than 15,000 Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, 24 U.S. naval ships and one Coast Guard vessel are providing aid to the people of the stricken region and have distributed more than 2.7 million pounds of relief supplies, as identified by the host nation.

"Our efforts here continue to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the many people who were afflicted by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami," said Guillory. "Speaking on behalf of the Sailors and Marines that represent the naval forces supporting this relief effort, we are proud to be part of this global effort to help the afflicted nations reach the road to recovery."

"We have tremendous capability sea-based in the region to provide support in the relief effort," added Guillory. "Over the last week, we have witnessed many ships from different nations also coming to the aid of the region and coordinating activities to provide relief to where it's needed. So while the overall numbers continue to grow as countries respond and support the effort here or the combined effort, I think it would be premature to say we have reached the top."

According to Guillory, Naval Forces CSF-536 is moving from a supply-based strategy of pushing immediate relief supplies to the people that need food, water and medicine, to more of a targeted effort that is the product of assessments by government and non-government organizations; basically providing surgical delivery that is more in tune with where the forces are in the operations.

"We're meeting the requirements of the host nation by working closely with the military," said Guillory. "I think the product of that effort is getting the relief supplies to people that need it most. I have been, from my vantage, very impressed with how that cooperation has supported the relief effort."

"There's a lot of capability out there and a lot of it is being used to support the relief effort, as it should be," said Guillory. "We are meeting the requirements of the host nation, and I think we have the right capability to do the job. That capability will be there for as long as it takes."