U.S. Keeps Eye on Health in Tsunami Response

In the aftermath of the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami, the U. S. is monitoring for disease outbreaks in the region. According to the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), while the risk of water-borne disease has been reduced, malaria and measles are still a threat. Tom Fry of USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) said Agency teams are keeping a close eye out for measles outbreaks and have an eye on preventative measures across the health spectrum. The United States is providing food, temporary shelter, health care, clean drinking water and sanitation.

In partnership with host nations who are leading the effort, USAID disaster teams are working very closely with nongovernmental organizations; with United Nations agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Program and UNICEF; and with international organizations like the International Organization for Migration. USAID is coordinating disaster response operations, working with the U.S. Department of State, particularly American embassies. There are currently about 150 USAID officers working in this function in the four countries that have been affected.

At this time about $100 million of the $350 million pledged by the United States to aid victims of the December 26 earthquake-tsunami has been provided to U. N. and nongovernmental entities participating in disaster relief efforts in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other stricken South and Southeast Asian nations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided expert assistance in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. In addition, HHS has deployed, or is in the process of deploying, 24 people in support of WHO and UNICEF activities in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, and five individuals to Utapao, Thailand for coordination. HHS will also be providing 20 to 50 commissioned officers for clinical services aboard the Mercy hospital ship, which is underway to the region.

More than 15,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are providing tsunami relief support, and 24 U.S. Navy ships and one Coast Guard vessel are deployed in the region. With 25 ships and 94 aircraft, the U.S. military has delivered more than three million pounds of relief supplies to the region. U.S. military aircraft have been flying from sunrise to sunset evacuating people, transporting doctors and medical supplies, and carrying food supplies such as biscuits, rice, noodles, milk and water.

USAID is also coordinating with local partners and other donors to develop longer-term reconstruction plans, based on the countries' own priorities that aim to ensure the economic recovery of the affected areas.