(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The US Pacific Command has activated Joint Task Force 505 to support the government of Nepal and the overall US government and international response to the April 25 earthquake, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke announced on Thursday.
The joint task force consists of approximately 500 personnel, and its headquarters will coordinate US military relief efforts, working in support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) disaster assistance response team, which is coordinating the overall US government response, as well as with senior representatives from the US State Department and other agencies, Rathke said during a briefing.
"And with the monsoon season fast approaching in June, USAID is focused on addressing the critical needs of shelter and medical care," he said. "They are airlifting 2,190 additional rolls of plastic sheeting to Nepal to be transported to critical districts identified by the government." This is in addition to the emergency medical supplies USAID is also in the process of airlifting that will help 40,000 people for three months, he said. Both commodities are scheduled to arrive this weekend.
The death toll from the earthquake has risen to 8,413, the Nepal Red Cross Society said on Thursday. (end)
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