HHS Staff to Assist Tsunami Survivors on Board USNS Mercy

February 2, 2005 - On January 5, 2005, the naval hospital ship USNS Mercy set sail for the Indian Ocean as part of relief efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that recently struck southern Asia. The Mercy is scheduled to arrive off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on February 2, 2005.

Working together with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has deployed a total of 19 Public Health Service Officers to serve on board along with over 100 private volunteers organized by Project Hope. Assistance will be offered on board the Mercy as well as at nearby land locations. The Mercy's mission is to support United Nations organizations and NGOs working on the west coast of Sumatra between Calang and Meulobah. RADM William (Craig) Vanderwagen is on board the Mercy and will be directing HHS activities throughout the region.

This mission is part of the ongoing HHS effort to conduct humanitarian and relief activities to help the tsunami affected nations in the Indian Ocean region. To assist the victims of this tragedy, HHS has offered technical expertise in the areas of water and sanitation, disease surveillance, primary health care, and mental health services through the coordinating relief agencies.

Thus far, HHS has deployed 32 staff members from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in support of the World Health Organization, UNICEF and NGOs in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. These individuals have primarily been assigned to disease surveillance and control activities.

As of January 31, more than 152,000 people were reported dead and another 128,000 were presumed dead from the December 26, 2004, tsunami caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off of the Indonesian coast.  In Indonesia alone, 233,000 people are dead or presumed dead, and over one million people have been displaced in the region. The United States has pledged to work with the affected governments, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other concerned states and organizations to support the relief and response to this terrible tragedy, and President Bush has committed $350 million to the relief effort.

For more information:

• U.S. Support for Earthquake and Tsunami Victims (White House)

Last revised: October 10, 2007