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US Marines going to Jaffna
By Mahangu Weerasinghe
The United States' relief effort in Sri Lanka is to go north as well with a team of 25 Navy doctors and their staff to be sent to the Point Pedro Teaching Hospital in Jaffna, a spokesman for the Marines said.

"We have heard that this hospital was understaffed even before the tsunami, and we felt this would be a good place for our medical personnel to work," Marines Combined Support Group Spokesman 1st Lieutenant Eric Tausch said.

He said that apart from minor surgical equipment, a hundred thousand US dollars worth of medical supplies would be taken to north. Marine Corps and Navy personnel will also visit the Maldives next week, to aid in water purification.

"Although we have brought down water purification equipment to Sri Lanka, the Government has not requested that we use it here. So we are taking it to the Maldives" he said. "If the need arises we are prepared to help in the distribution of relief aid as well," the spokesman said.

Commenting on the duration of their stay, the spokesman said, "We're here at the pleasure of the Sri Lankan Government and we will be here for as long as we are requested to do so. As soon as the Government asks us to go, we go."

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