Task Force Helping Hands Still Helping Haiti
U.S. Military Continues Humanitarian Mission in Haiti
Task Force Kout Men, which in Creole means "Helping Hands", is engaged in a training and humanitarian mission in the north of Haiti, in and around the city of Gonaives. While this region escaped damage from the earthquake, tens of thousands of refugees from the stricken regions of the country have fled here. The mission began in mid-June and will continue into September.
The Haitian government has asked the United States to help with four schools in the Gonaives area. These schools are in need of some rebuilding, reinforcement for hurricane season and general improvements. The Haitians have also asked for medical outreach in the region, which will consist of ten MEDRETE's, medical and dental readiness training exercises. These are primary care visits to local villages and cities, supplementing local medical care and referring serious conditions to local hospitals.
Col. Michael Borrel, the task force commander has briefed bloggers and news media several times. The most recent briefing was on July 12. Other officers briefed on the school construction efforts and on the medical outreach. The construction work is nearing completion for the four schools. About 20,000 Haitians have been seen by the medical teams thus far.
The most unique aspect of this mission is that it is headed by the Louisiana National Guard and many participants are from Guard and Reserve units in other states, such as Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North and South Dakota, Texas and U.S. Virgin Islands. Troops from the Central American nation of Belize are also attached to the mission.
About 550 Americans are on the ground in Haiti. Some are at the port in the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince and at a support position in that city while the remainder are in and around Gonaives.
Task Force Kout Men can be followed on the following social media:
Facebook: New Horizons - Task Force Kout Men
Flickr: Task_Force_Kout_Men_New_ Horizons_Haiti_2010's photostream
Twitter: @tfkoutmen
Published by Charles Simmins
Charles Simmins is a native Western New Yorker with nearly thirty years of experience at senior level accounting positions in non-profit and for profit organizations. He was a volunteer firefighter, and a vo... View profile
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