Topic: US Hospital Ship To Visit Philippines

New York Times on the Web
April 15, 2008
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A U.S. Navy hospital ship will visit the eastern and southern Philippines next month on a humanitarian mission, including areas where Muslim separatist rebels are active, Philippine and American officials said.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said Tuesday the USNS Mercy, one of two Navy hospital ships, will make stops in Samar, southeast of Manila, and the main southern island of Mindanao at the invitation of the Philippine government.
Muslim regional Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan told reporters late Monday the ship staff will conduct hundreds of surgeries -- about half to repair cleft palates -- and rehabilitate school buildings in the central Mindanao region.
They also plan to work in areas considered strongholds of the Muslim separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is in peace negotiations with the government, he said.
Thompson said the assistance programs ''are all about furthering our efforts with partners in the Philippines to help those in need and achieve prosperity and peace.''
The Mercy spent about a month in 2006 treating hundreds of people in the southernmost island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, where U.S. troops are helping the Philippine military fight al-Qaida-linked militants.
Since 2002, U.S. troops have been training Philippine soldiers in counterterrorism while also conducting humanitarian missions in areas regarded as breeding grounds for Islamic militants, such as the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for numerous bomb attacks, kidnappings and beheadings.
The ship's crew will be doing humanitarian assistance and community outreach activities together with Filipino medical staff, Thompson said.
Ampatuan said the Mercy personnel will be in central Mindanao from May 29 to June 12.