The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) arrived off the coast of Haiti on Friday. Saturday at the request of the Haitian Government, the U.S. military began flights for damage assessment on Haiti. These flights and photographic records will identify the areas most affected and those where people need help.

Learn more about the USS Iwo Jima:

Large Wasp-class ships, such as Iwo Jima (LHD 7), resemble small aircraft carriers with the ability to conduct air and naval operations. 8 CH-46 Sea Knight, medium-lift, dual-rotor helicopters, 2 MH-60 Knight Hawk helicopters and 2 amphibious landing craft units (LCU's) are on Iwo Jima to support relief and quickly move staffs and cargo making it an ideal platform to support logistics during humanitarian disasters.

1,600 military and civilian medical, engineering, aviation, logistical and other support personnel are embarked aboard Iwo Jima, including U.S. Navy engineers, a contingent of 500 Marines with logistical-support expertise, volunteers from the U.S. Public Health Service and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Europe, North America and South America.

BF/ HaïtiLibre