U.S. to double helicopter fleet
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military says it will double the number of helicopters operating in the tsunami-stricken regions from 46 to more than 90, in a bid to help speed aid to desperate survivors in remote areas.
The helicopters, which are proving to be the best way to get food, water and medicine to areas where many roads are cut off, will come from U.S. assets in South Korea and Guam, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said on Tuesday.
In addition, three ships loaded with helicopters are en route to the region, including the amphibious assault ships, USS Fort McHenry from Okinawa and USS Niagara Falls from Guam, as well as the Marine Corps' WestPac Express, also from Okinawa.
The WestPac Express is a high-speed catamaran that will unload its helicopters in the hard-hit regions, and then will be used to shuttle personnel and equipment the long distances between Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
"I think that's going to answer the mail in terms of the capability that we need in these countries," Adm. Thomas Fargo, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.
Helicopters from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln are already in the region, being used to shuttle relief supplies to Indonesia's Aceh province that was devastated by the tsunami disaster.
In addition, Japan, India and Singapore all have ships in the region with helicopters being utilized for the relief efforts.
The United States is also providing forensics teams from part of its POW-MIA accounting command team to try to help in the identification of bodies.
The Pentagon is also considering airdrops of pre-packed meals to isolated regions, like the U.S. military did over Bosnia in 1993.
William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said the military is sending field hospitals to help with the medical needs. The military could set up as many as eight field hospitals, he said.
Authorities are most concerned about the possibility of an epidemic, fearing outbreaks of E.coli, cholera, hepatitis A, dengue and malaria.
"We are prepared to provide a significantly enhanced effort, a major effort, if needed," Winkenwerder said.
In addition to a greater U.S. Navy presence, more Marines will begin arriving in the region.
The first Marines arrived Tuesday in Sri Lanka, bringing along with them helicopters, bulldozers and relief supplies.
"All of these will contribute in a major way to preventing a second wave of disaster and grief in the way of medical and public health problems and diseases," Winkenwerder said.
The White House earlier Tuesday authorized Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to provide disaster assistance to 12 countries affected by the disaster that has killed more than 155,000.
Those countries are Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Bangladesh and the Seychelles.
A senior administration official said the order allocates $65 million for the operations, including airlift and sealift support, as well as material such as body bags, tents, cots, blankets, food and medical supplies.
CNN Correspondents Jamie McIntyre and Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report
