US Coast Guard in support role in Haiti

Friday, March 26, 2004

MIAMI, USA (AFP): The US Coast Guard announced its involvement in Haiti's stabilization process, in support of the Haitian Coast Guard and in humanitarian work.

As of Sunday, two US Coast Guard vessels "Thetis" and "Nantucket", with some 50 staff, were deployed to Haiti and its coastline. Members of a maritime security team are also present.

Caring for Haitian orphans is one of the humanitarian tasks it is charged with, as well as helping the Haitian Coast Guard to reestablish security and port access.

On Wednesday, US and Haitian Coast Guard operatives inspected a Colombian cargo vessel in Port-au-Prince, in an initial joint operation to control drug trafficking.

Some 3,350 US, French, Canadian and Chilean military are participating in a multinational force in Haiti to help restore order in a crisis that grew into an opposition rebellion last month, followed by the departure February 29 of president Jean Bertrand Aristide.

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