US to Deploy Marines to Honduras in June for Hurricane Disaster Relief

About 200 Marines will deploy to Honduras from June to November 2015 to provide disaster relief in the region.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Marines will be deployed to Honduras from June until November 2015 to assist local authorities with relief operations during the upcoming hurricane season, US Department of Defense announced in a briefing.

“About 200 Marines will deploy to Honduras from June to November to coincide with the hurricane season, during which time they could be called upon to provide disaster relief in the region,” Pentagon spokesman US Army Col. Steve Watson told reporters on Monday.

Col. Watson explained that once in country, the Marines will also contribute to construction and restoration projects such as concerning roads and schools.

“As with all exercises of this type, the Department of State and US Ambassador were consulted in every step, and approved this deployment, as did the government of Honduras,” he added.

Honduras has not suffered a major hurricane disaster since 1998 when Hurricane Mitch killed 14,000 people and caused damage estimated at $3.8 billion. However, renewed hurricane threats are feared as a consequence of global warming. Honduras has also been hit by repeated droughts over the past decade, causing devastating drops in corn and bean production by up to 70 percent in a year.