Support for Pakistan

26th MEU to support Pakistan relief efforts

More than 2,000 Marines and sailors from Camp Lejeune’s 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit received orders to deploy a month ahead of schedule this week in order to bring aid to the monsoon-flooded nation of Pakistan.

Late Thursday night, unit officials announced that the MEU would deploy with the three ships of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group later this month to bring humanitarian aid and assistance to Pakistan.

Monsoon rains at the beginning of this month brought rising floodwaters that have killed more than 1,600 and threatened tens of thousands more with waterborne disease. In addition to $71 million pledged in emergency assistance, the United States has so far provided aid in the form of elements of Camp Pendleton’s 15th MEU, including CH-53E Super Stallion and CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters.

The 26th MEU, which returned from its most recent deployment last March, was scheduled to deploy at the end of September, unit spokesman Capt. Richard Ulsh said. On Wednesday, Marines and their family members were informed about the change in schedule.

The Kearsarge ARG includes the U.S.S. Kearsarge, U.S.S. Carter Hall, and U.S.S. Ponce. Elements of the MEU include Battalion Landing Team 3/8, Combat Logistics Battalion 26 and an Osprey squadron, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (reinforced).

Lejeune’s 24th MEU, which returned home from a seven-month deployment this week, were the first to use Ospreys in a humanitarian mission in February when it deployed to Haiti in the wake of a devastating earthquake.

Ulsh said that there were no current plans to bring additional equipment or troops to assist with flooding relief.

This won’t be the first time that the MEU has come to the aid of flood victims. In June 2008, while completing an urban training exercise in Indiana, troops from the unit rushed to the aid of local rescue workers when parts of the state flooded with up to 11 inches of water, providing Sea Knight helicopters for equipment evacuation and documenting the storm damage.

“The 26th MEU is anxious to provide the much needed assistance to the government of Pakistan,” Ulsh said. “More importantly, we know we can bring some reprieve to the Pakistani people and look forward to doing that as soon as possible.”

With a quarter of the country affected by the flooding, Pakistani and UN officials fear the toll that waterborne diseases, including acute diarrhea, malaria and skin ailments, may take on the population.

The MEU’s commanding officer, Col. Mark Desens, said that the unit was up to the task.

“This is an opportunity for 26th MEU Marines and sailors to help a key partner nation,” he said. “We have a versatile and flexible force that we will use to alleviate suffering of the Pakistani citizens affected by this disaster.”

A spokesman for Headquarters Marine Corps told The Daily News he was not aware of current plans to send additional Marine units to the country.

http://www.jdnews.com/news/26th-81507-support-efforts.html