MIAMI, Fla. — Major General Cornell A. Wilson, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South and Operational Commander of Marine Forces supporting Operation Unified Response, the humanitarian relief effort in Haiti, gave a press conference today at the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters here.
Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group are arriving in Haiti today to assist in the relief effort. Wilson told reporters about the unique capabilities that the Navy-Marine Corps Team is bringing to support the relief effort.
"This sea-based force will be able to aid relief efforts without taxing the already strained infrastructure ashore," said Wilson. "From this sea-base of amphibious ships, the Marines and Sailors of the 22nd MEU will assist in the offload of relief supplies from ships offshore and transport supplies inland to where they are needed. Our amphibious capability is critical to this mission because of the damage to the port."
Along with their Navy counterparts, the Marines will support relief efforts and provide security in the support of the Government of Haiti.
"Our number one priority is to get potable water, food and medical supplies ashore as quickly as possible and provide support for the humanitarian relief effort," said Wilson. We are here under the command of U.S. Southern Command to support the interagency relief efforts led by USAID. We also will work with our international partners and MINUSTAH to aid the people of Haiti. Our helicopters, landing craft and vehicles will provide critical mobility needed to support this mission."
Together with their Navy counterparts on the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, the 22nd MEU will bring helicopters, landing craft, amphibious vehicles, trucks, water purification units and approximately 2,200 Marines to assist in the relief effort.
The 22nd MEU trains to conduct humanitarian assistance missions as part of its routine pre-deployment training. U.S. Marines were involved in the Asian Tsunami relief operation in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005.