The United States has announced it is sending another 4,000 sailors and Marines to Haiti to help the earthquake relief effort there -- diverting the troops from planned deployments in the Middle East and Europe.
The move is expected to bring the total number of U.S. troops due to be helping out in Haiti in the coming days to above 15,000. A statement from the U.S. Navy said the decision was made "based on continuing urgent needs in the Haiti relief effort."
A strong aftershock, with a magnitude of 5.9, hit Haiti on January 20, but reports said it did not seem to cause further casualties or major damage. Officials have estimated that the death toll from last week's 7.0-magnitude quake is likely to rise above 100,000, and more than 75,000 bodies have already been buried.
More than 1.5 million people are estimated to have been homeless by the tremor.
compiled from agency reports
The move is expected to bring the total number of U.S. troops due to be helping out in Haiti in the coming days to above 15,000. A statement from the U.S. Navy said the decision was made "based on continuing urgent needs in the Haiti relief effort."
A strong aftershock, with a magnitude of 5.9, hit Haiti on January 20, but reports said it did not seem to cause further casualties or major damage. Officials have estimated that the death toll from last week's 7.0-magnitude quake is likely to rise above 100,000, and more than 75,000 bodies have already been buried.
More than 1.5 million people are estimated to have been homeless by the tremor.
compiled from agency reports