Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Tuesday called up to 900 US Coast Guard reservists to duty to serve in Haiti following the devastating January 12 earthquake.
President Barack Obama on Sunday issued an executive order authorizing the mobilization of military reserves to help quake-hit Haiti, particularly medical staff to work on hospital ships and Coast Guard staff to secure the ports.
The United States, already stretched fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is deploying thousands of troops to Haiti.
"Activating our reserve Coast Guard forces will expand our capacity to assist in aid efforts in Haiti," Napolitano said in a statement.
The reservists "will join the thousands of US and international personnel already working together on humanitarian and recovery efforts in response to this tragedy," she said.
The reservists will be added to the more than 500 US Coast Guard personnel already serving in Haiti, Napolitano said.
Five Coast Guard cutters and several aircraft are in Haiti providing port security and air traffic control support, as well as conducting damage assessments, delivering supplies, rescuing people and providing medical support, the DHS said in a statement.
Napolitano authorized Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen to activate the reservists for up to 180 days for duty in Haiti.
More than 100 of the reservists, expected to arrive within 96 hours of being activated, will be sent to strengthen port security operations in Port Au Prince, the DHS said.
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