Arrival of Task Force BON VOIZEN in Haiti

Review of Crane Operations Prior to Deployment

The Embassy of the United States of America in Haiti announces the recent arrival of the first soldiers of Task Force Bon Voizen, deployed as part of the humanitarian mission New Horizons 2011.

This mission, which continues the efforts begun last year near Gonaives, will conduct medical treatments for the local population and construct a school and several clinics. The mission will be carried out between the end of April and the end of June; during that time, there will be around 500 troops.

As was the case last year, the Louisiana National Guard will lead Task Force Bon Voizen and provide the majority of these humanitarian soldiers, though the task force will also receive soldiers from Belize, Canada, and Colombia.

During the coming weeks, units will arrive at Port-au-Prince airport and will be in the area of Cite Soleil and Saint Marc to make the logistical preparations before going to their base in Mandrin, in the Artibonite Department.

The U.S. government has coordinated this deployment with the Government of Haiti, especially the Ministries of Education, Public Health, and the Interior. After consulting with the Haitian government, the decision was taken to conduct the mission in the spring to allow our citizen-soldiers to return to their home states ready to respond to hurricane season contingencies.

Task Force Bon Voizen will have numerous transport vehicles, as well as heavy construction equipment and four helicopters for medical evacuations and movement of personnel and equipment.

This mission is another example of the continuing commitment of the U.S. government to help the people of Haiti rebuild their country.

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