Military to continue tsunami aid

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

CAMP SMITH — The number of service personnel sent to tsunami relief efforts in the South Asia region has reached more than 14,000, and the troops and ships will remain there until the job is done, the head of the U.S. military's Pacific Command said yesterday.

Fargo

"It's important to recognize that the duration of U.S. military presence will be as long as required," he said. "As civilian relief capability and capacity grows, we'll reduce our presence appropriately, based on the requirements of the host nation and the lead relief organizations."

Fargo provided an update on the extent of military relief efforts at a news conference yesterday.

With two crucial assets — helicopters and organizational skills — the U.S. military is likely to stay on the devastated coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island, and near other tsunami-affected countries, for an extended period, U.S. officers said Sunday.

According to the military, there are between 12,000 and 14,450 U.S. military personnel assisting the 11 nations affected by the deadly underground earthquake and tsunami that struck the area Dec. 26. There are at least 200 Hawai'i-based troops in the area and that number is expected to grow.

The military rarely provides specific troop numbers due to security concerns.

Fargo said most of the personnel are on aircraft carriers and troop ships at sea in order to keep the number of people working on the ground to a manageable number. On Friday, Fargo is heading to the region to tour the area.

Reports from the region describe a chaotic and unorganized relief effort. International aid workers, military personnel from several countries, volunteers, government workers, and grieving families are all trying to bring relief to an area where the full magnitude of the disaster is still unfolding.

During the past nine days, U.S. Navy helicopters have rushed food, water and medical supplies to areas that are likely to remain inaccessible and in desperate need for weeks. The monster waves in the Indian Ocean exacted their greatest toll and damage on Sumatra. More than 104,000 Indonesians were killed, and the total death toll has eclipsed 150,000.

"I don't see an end to this for a long, long time," said Capt. Larry Burt, who commands the air wing on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. "The biggest shortage is still airlift to the coast."

Some U.S. officers also said there was no coordination on the ground among the growing number of non-governmental organizations, major international organizations and various foreign military units.

"It's me walking to them, asking for a helicopter," said Ina Bluemel of the German Red Cross, describing what channels she went through to get 10 tons of hospital equipment flown by U.S. helicopters to a German field hospital being set up at Teunam, about 80 miles southeast of Banda Aceh.

At the air base in Banda Aceh, the international aid hub in Sumatra, relief, medical and rescue workers from a dozen nations sat idle in what is becoming a tent city. Others tried to find a niche in the humanitarian effort.

Cartons of food and medical supplies, unloaded from C-130 transport planes, lay in large piles by the runway, with many water-logged and coming apart from the heavy downpours the last two days.

Adding to the anxiety is the threat of a rekindling of armed conflict between the government and separatist forces in Banda Aceh.

Fargo said it is important to monitor the situation in Indonesia, but he doesn't believe the rebels are impeding the relief effort.

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.