Halifax-based ships join military deployment to Haiti
Posted Jan 14, 2010 05:50:50 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two Canadian warships based in Halifax are headed to Haiti as part of Canada’s response to the earthquake.
Canada has committed $5 million dollars in humanitarian assistance for Haiti and a C-17 military airplane left CFB Trenton Thursday morning, loaded with personnel, food, water and clothes.
Here in Halifax, the dockyards were bustling all night as the crews of HMCS Halifax and HMCS Athabaskan prepare to sail for Haiti this afternoon.
The deployment of the vessels is expected to last at least a month.
The Halifax just returned from deployment in the eastern seaboard on Wednesday. Cmdr. Josee Kurtz says the fast turnaround means her crew is ready to go.
“The crew is already prepared to conduct some type of operation in the region,” she said. “Coming back allows us to take greater capacity to be able to deliver on something that’s very tangible at the moment.”
Commander of Maritime Operations Group Five Capt. Art McDonald says lifesaving measures are happening in Haiti right now, but when our forces arrive they will try to sustain life.
“We’ll be protecting the vulnerable is what I would say,” he said. “At that stage a troubled and desperate population is going to be looking for help at a time when there is damage to critical infrastructure.”
The Athabascan and Halifax as well as a Sea King helicopter detachment are due to arrive early next week – and are planning to be away for at least a month.
