USGET (UNITED STATES SUPPORT
GROUP EAST TIMOR)
| Monday, August 13, 2001 08:59:14 AM
|
We are helping in whatever
way we can improving life in this part of the world.(did/irs).
 
USGET Commander does the Santa round along the
waterfront on children and families living in squalid condition denied
of any any hint that Christmas is forthcoming.
 
Sometimes it pains us to see that there
are people still denied of comfort amidst the strides of
civilization. LT. Col. David Dawley confers with a Pakistani
engineer in another prospective project site of USGET at
Aileu 3o K south of Dili.
 
Lt. Col Craigboard in his work
station mapping out the details of the next project. The
Liaison Officer with Mr. Rick Rye from US mission meet with
an Aileu sister regarding the USGET rehabilitation project at their
school.
 
Posing shot for two Timorese little darlings
who warmly greet visitors on first sight. Another is a Falintil
guard, the future Defence Force of East Timor who may shoot
any militia at first sight.
|
USGET MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
The
continued presence of the United States Support Group East Timor (USGET) is a
critical element in East Timor’s nation building process and in maintaining
regional stability. USGET’s
presence makes the statement that the United States of America has a commitment
both to the United Nations, the region, and most importantly the future of the
East Timorese people and their evolving democratic state. It is our request that the United States Government
continues its commitment by maintaining the USGET staff and rotational units in
their Humanitarian Assistance role.
Although only a small permanent party of staff and a platoon of
engineers, the USGET has performed and coordinated an inordinately high amount
of the Humanitarian Assistance projects in the Dili area.
The USGET Engineer Platoon has rebuilt 14 local schools, an orphanage,
two clinics, and two water treatment plants. Its engineers have mentored local
carpenters so they can maintain the facilities, providing continuity that will
exist long beyond their tenure. These
projects are critical to start bringing elements of normalcy into the lives of
the average East Timorese Family.
USGET staff have coordinated rotational three medical, two dental, two
hygiene, one veterinary and other specialized teams to run clinics and
educational programs in direct assistance to the East Timorese People. Health concerns were always issues in this nation but with
the deliberate destruction of its health system by the militias last year health
care has become a paramount issue. These
rotational teams have provided direct assistance to over 10,000 east Timorese.
In a nation of roughly 850,000 this is an amazing accomplishment with a
use of only minimum human and material resources.
The cost to benefit ratio is definitely in favor of continued USGET
operations of this kind.
The six rotational ship visits have been critical both in their
humanitarian role and as a continuing political statement of the United States
support for the East Timorese. Humanitarian
Assistance projects of the ships crews and assets have included air and sea lift
of humanitarian supplies, the painting of local schools, DENCAPs and MEDCAPs at
local clinics, and donations of food and clothing to East Timorese charities.
Most impressive and effective of these was the visit of the 13th
Marine Expeditionary Force (MEU) to East Timor during 14-16 September 18, 2000.
It’s presence in the Area of Operations (AO) made a statement of
support for the East Timorese struggle to build a democratic nation, the United
Nations, and America’s allies in the region.
The MEU’s Humanitarian Assistance (HA) projects and security presence
on the shores both helped rebuild the nation of East Timor and reassured the
East Timorese people in a time of national anxiety due to the violence in West
Timor. The 13th MEU’s and
future similar visits are key elements to maintaining regional security and
assisting the East Timorese in their nation building challenges.
In conclusion, the presence of the USGET staff, it’s organic engineer
platoon, and coordination of rotational US Military units is critical for the
rebuilding of the nations infrastructure, successful completion of the UN
Mission, and evolution of the East Timorese Democracy. It is the hope of this
Head Quarter that the presence of USGET will continue also in next year.