US marines hold disaster assistance exercise

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Table Top Exercise with participants from the US and Nepali militaries, Government of Nepal, international and national agencies, and multinational observers ended in Kathmandu today.

The exercise, held February from 2-8, was an effort to develop a coordinated approach to disaster planning in the event of a major earthquake, the US Embassy said in a statement. Thirty members from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Okinawa, participated in the exercise.

US Ambassador to Nepal Peter W. Bodde joined Lieutenant General Nepal Bhushan Chand, the Nepali Army Chief of General Staff, in thanking all of the participants.

In his closing remarks Bodde said, “Joint planning sessions like this table-top exercise are a tremendously valuable tool in disaster mitigation. The United States is committed to working with the people of Nepal, government and private citizens alike, to help them prepare as well as possible for a major earthquake.” Nepalnews.com