Commander, U.S. Southern Command, Douglas Fraser, authorized the mission "Continuing Promise 2010" (CP10) aboard the amphibious ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) to leave Haiti on Tuesday, November 9, 2010...

The U.S. ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten said: "After reviewing the need for post-cyclone with the Haitian government and the United Nations, I said to the Commander Douglas Fraser that the support of helicopters aboard IWO Jima is no longer necessary in response to damage caused by the storm Tomas".

November 6, following the passage of the storm, helicopters aboard the USS Iwo Jima began overflights to assess damage, in support to the international effort led by the Haitian government to take appropriate actions after the hurricane.

"This rapid response is demonstrative of the mission "Continuing Promise 2010", said Thomas Negus, commodore of the USS Iwo Jima.

The reports submitted by teams of damage assessment indicates that although some areas of Haiti have suffered damage in agricultural and flooding due to Tomas, mitigation measures, including those implemented by the USAID, have helped reduce casualties and property damage. Recent mitigation measures supported by the Government of the United States include soil stabilization and reforestation, cleaning and construction of canals and storm drainage systems, and initiatives in watershed management. To protect those living in camps after the earthquake of 12 January, the government of the United States had funded work on drainage ditches, grading, excavating retention ponds, sand bags, stabilizing slopes in camps at risk, and building security fences and retaining walls. Together with the support of the Direction of Civil Protection, the agency that led the campaign that had included several donors in preparation for the hurricane, these efforts have effectively reduced the vulnerability of thousands of Haitians.

HL/ HaitiLibre