Photo By Chief Master Sgt. Raymond Sarracino | Honduran Commissioner of Disaster Preparation and Response, Moises Alvarado, left,...... read more read more
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TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Rear Adm. Scott Jerabek, director of U.S. Southern Command’s Theater Engagement Directorate, and leadership from Honduras’ emergency management agency joined to commemorate the opening of a disaster assistance warehouse Wednesday, April 8.
The warehouse, part of a donation which also included firefighting equipment, delivery trucks and dewatering pumps, were provided to the Honduran emergency management agency, COPECO (Permanent Commission for Contingencies), to help provide assistance in disasters.
According to Jerabek, the donation is part of an ongoing program to help Honduras continue to improve their ability to provide fast and efficient response to natural and man-made disasters.
“We’re here to let our partners and the people of Honduras know that we are committed to working with them to ensure that they are able to respond effectively to challenges,” He said.
The event represents months of effort by both nations to build a disaster relief warehouse capable of holding substantial amounts of supplies which could be quickly distributed to affected areas.
U.S. Ambassador to Honduras James Nealon spoke of the importance of the relationship between the nations and what the donation would mean to their capacity to respond to crises.
“As Hondurans know all too well, this country is vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters – whether it is a hurricane, earthquake, flooding or mudslides. The United States was pleased to partner with Honduras to ensure that these facilities will assist COPECO to deliver critical relief in times of crisis,” Nealon said.
The donated warehouse will serve as points of storage and distribution for food and aid supplies for use by relief forces in the event of a disaster. The emergency operations center will facilitate communications and transportation to all affected areas in a timely fashion should disaster strike.
The donations were coordinated and funded through U.S. Southern Command's Humanitarian Assistance Program. The program oversees a series of projects aimed at bolstering partner nation capabilities to respond to a natural or man-made disaster. Projects include the construction of disaster relief warehouses, emergency operation centers, shelters, wells and schools.
COPECO worked closely with SOUTHCOM and U.S. officials to identify needed projects.
To date, more than 100 disaster relief warehouse and emergency operations center projects have been completed or are underway in 25 countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean. The facilities strengthen and expand the capabilities needed to aid citizens in times of disaster, while reducing the need for foreign assistance from countries like the United States.
(U.S. Embassy Honduras Public Affairs contributed to this article.)
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2015 16:24 |
| Story ID: | 159547 |
| Location: | TEGUCIGALPA, HN |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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