22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit assists U.N., non-government relief organizations in aid distribution

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Bobbie Curtis | Locals carry bags of rice for at a food distribution site in Carrefour, Haiti, Feb. 12, 2010. Marines from Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and United Nations Security Forces are assisting the Adventist Development Relief Agency and the World Food Program during their major two-week distribution over the first half of February 2010.  

CARREFOUR, HAITI

02.12.2010

Story by Cpl. Bobbie Curtis 

22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

CARREFOUR, Haiti — When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, Jan. 12, 2010, the world quickly reacted, bringing a huge, multi-national relief effort to the devastated country.

Within a week of the disaster, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off the coast of the Ouest region of the Caribbean Island country, establishing multiple humanitarian aid distribution points in the most effected areas of the country including Leogane, Petit Goave and Grand Goave.

With assistance from the 22nd MEU, 24th MEU, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, United Nations, and a host of non-government relief organizations and other countries' militaries, the people of Haiti are on their way to achieving a bit of normalcy not seen since the disaster.

The Marines of Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU, are continuing relief operations, this time closer to the devastated capital of Port-au-Prince, assisting the World Food Program in a major influx of humanitarian relief supplies, aimed at leveling out food needs in the area.

Operating out of Landing Zone Argonaut, in Carrefour, the Marines are in more of a support role, as NGOs, the WFP and Haitian locals take primary responsibility for humanitarian relief in the area.

Though the Marines aren't the ones personally handing out aid supplies in this effort, Kelvin Rivas, a food distribution coordinator with Adventist Development Relief Agency, one of the NGOs supporting the WFP in the operation, said their assistance is still critical.

"The Marines have definitely helped us with providing safety for the people in line and the volunteers," he said. "Honestly, without the Marines, the operation would not be running as smoothly, they're an extreme source of help."

The Marines have assisted ADRA and the WFP conduct two food distributions a day at two different sites. The 22nd MEU along with the U.N. and NGOs distributed more than 86 tons of rice since Feb. 7, 2010.

As the Marines help U.N. security forces provide security at the mass distributions, ADRA with the assistance of local volunteers distribute bags of rice to residents of the Carrefour and Port-au-Prince areas.

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jeffrey A. Cummings, platoon commander, Combined Anti-Armor Team, Battalion Landing Team, 3/2, 22nd MEU, explained the Marines have a specific role in the massive distribution.

"We are here in a limited capacity to assist the U.N. in their direct role of running peace keeping operations and to help organize local NGOs ... in order to provide the people of Haiti with the most responsive solution in their time of need," he said.

The West Chester, Pa., native, also explained the goal of the distribution is to decrease the demand for food in the area.

The Marines from the 22nd MEU took over the area of operations from the 24th MEU, Feb. 7, 2010, after extensive operations in other areas in Haiti. This relief in place, allowed the 24th MEU to continue on to the Central, European and Africa commands areas of operation.

The WFP plans to open up new distribution sites and expand the operation an extra week, which will give the Marines of BLT, 3/2, new areas to conduct joint-operations in the near future.

• Date Taken: 02.12.2010
• Date Posted: 02.15.2010 10:45
• Story ID: 45381
• Location: CARREFOUR, HT