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U.S. Military Transitions Relief Efforts

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050203-07
Release Date: 2/3/2005 12:39:00 PM

From CSF-536 Public Affairs

ROYAL THAI NAVAL AIR BASE, UTAPAO, Thailand (NNS) -- The U.S. military support effort for tsunami relief is nearly complete.

The commander of Combined Support Force (CSF) 536, on scene military headquarters responsible for U.S. forces involved in relief operations, has announced that the remaining U.S. military units in the effected region will begin redeployment.

- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) will depart the Northern Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 3.

- Feb. 10, the country headquarters known as Combined Support Group Indonesia will be disestablished based on the departure of its subordinate military units.

- With the disestablishment of Combined Support Group Indonesia, the overall Combined Support Force (CSF) 536 headquarters will be disestablished Feb. 12.

Three days after the Dec. 26 tsunami, U.S. military forces, under the command of Combined Support Force 536, deployed to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia to provide humanitarian assistance in support of host nation disaster recovery activities.

This assistance was spearheaded by Combined Support Groups in each country and was designed to minimize loss of life and mitigate human suffering, while the resources of other U.S. government agencies, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and international and regional organizations were brought to bear in the affected areas.

While the redeployment of military forces has begun, US Government efforts continue.

- USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), with an extensive array of medical and humanitarian capabilities, arrives Feb. 3 off Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, to provide relief assistance to the GOI.

The deployment of U.S. military forces to Southeast Asia was part of a much larger U.S. commitment to providing long-term humanitarian assistance and disaster support. This assistance and support will continue to be directed by USAID, the U.S. government's lead agency for support to the region.