U.S. Pledges Continued Support for Philippine Mudslide Relief
21 February 2006
Three U.S. Navy ships now off Leyte coast to assist in recovery efforts
Washington -- President Bush called Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo February 20 to offer the United States' condolences and pledge continued support for mudslide rescue and relief efforts in the Philippine province of Southern Leyte, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said in a February 21 statement.
Ereli said the United States has provided military and civilian assets in response to the natural disaster, which occurred February 17 near the village of Guinsaugon. Nearly 1,800 people -- most of the village’s population -- are missing and feared dead. (See related article.)
Three U.S. Navy ships -- the USS Essex, the USS Harper's Ferry and the USS Curtis Wilbur -- arrived off the coast of the island of Leyte on February 19. In addition, the United States has deployed 1,630 Marines and 16 helicopters from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to assist in searches for landslide victims.
Ereli said the United States has donated $100,000 to the Philippine Red Cross and has airlifted emergency supplies to the stricken region.
"We will continue to work closely with our friends in the Philippines to help those in need," he said.
The text of Ereli's statement is available on the State Department Web site.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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