An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

U.S. Southern Command

Search
Search

Search

-  Home		 
-  About    -  About Main             
  -  Area of Responsibility             
  -  Leadership             
  -  SOUTHCOM Components and Units             
  -  History             
  -  SOUTHCOM Inspector General 
-  Commander's Priorities    -  Commander's Priorities Main             
  -  Strengthen Partnerships      -  Theater Maintenance Partnership Initiative (TMPI) 
  -  Counter Threats             
  -  Build Our Team 
-  Media    -  Media Main             
  -  News             
  -  Press Releases             
  -  Photos             
  -  Videos             
  -  Speeches | Transcripts             
  -  Special Coverage             
  -  SOUTHCOM Podcast 
-  USAG-M / Military-Family Services    -  U.S. Army Garrison-Miami      -  Equal Employment Opportunity Office 
  -  Overview of Services at SOUTHCOM             
  -  About the SOUTHCOM Installation and Local Community             
  -  Miami Family and MWR      -  Army Community Services             
    -  Child, Youth and School Services             
    -  Leisure Travel Services             
    -  Fitness Center 
  -  Visiting SOUTHCOM             
  -  Army Health Clinic SOUTHCOM             
  -  Hurricane Preparedness Info             
  -  Conference Center of the Americas             
  -  Theater Clearance Info             
  -  SOUTHCOM Chaplain             
  -  TEAM SOUTHCOM - Total Engagement for All Members of U.S. Southern Command             
  -  Logistics Readiness Center-Miami             
  -  Public Notice – Environmental Assessment for the Construction of a Military Housing Development             
  -  SHARP (SAPR) 
-  Newcomers    -  Newcomers Main             
  -  Sponsor Request             
  -  Directions to SOUTHCOM             
  -  Army Newcomers             
  -  Navy Newcomers             
  -  Air Force Newcomers             
  -  Marine Corps Newcomers             
  -  Coast Guard Newcomers             
  -  Reserve Newcomers             
  -  Civilian Newcomers             
  -  Contractor Newcomers             
  -  Family Member Newcomers             
  -  Newcomers to Overseas Locations in SOUTHCOM 
-  Work With Us    -  Employment | Careers             
  -  Public / Private Cooperation             
  -  Operational Contract Support             
  -  SOUTHCOM Industry Engagement 
-  FOIA    -  FOIA Main             
  -  How to file A FOIA Request             
  -  FOIA Fees and Exemptions             
  -  Your FOIA Rights             
  -  ​FOIA Reading Room 
-  Contact    -  Contact SOUTHCOM             
  -  Community Requests             
  -  FAQ             
  -  Contact SOUTHCOM Inspector General             
  -  Directions to SOUTHCOM 

HomeMediaNews

# Southcom Lends Helping Hand Through Humanitarian Assistance Programs

By Army Staff Sgt. Vito T. BryantDefense Media Activity

                WASHINGTON  –              
U.S. Southern Command’s humanitarian assistance program conducts Defense Department-approved activities within its area of responsibility in conjunction with partner nations to alleviate human suffering, disease, hunger and privation, particularly in regions where those needs may pose major challenges to the civilian populace.                 Marine Corps Cpl. Randy O'Connell, left, and a member of the Guatemalan Army Corps of Engineers work together to lay blocks at a construction site in Escuintla, Guatemala, July 19, 2018. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Southern Command worked with the Guatemalan military as part of a U.S. Southern Command humanitarian assistance project coordinated with the government of Guatemala to build temporary housing for people left without homes after a volcano eruption. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Zachary Dyer                            180719-M-VM748-071                            Marine Corps Cpl. Randy O'Connell, left, and a member of the Guatemalan Army Corps of Engineers work together to lay blocks at a construction site in Escuintla, Guatemala, July 19, 2018. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Southern Command worked with the Guatemalan military as part of a U.S. Southern Command humanitarian assistance project coordinated with the government of Guatemala to build temporary housing for people left without homes after a volcano eruption. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Zachary Dyer            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Gunnery Sgt. Zachary DyerVIRIN: 180719-M-VM748-071A

By leveraging the combined capabilities of U.S. government agencies, partner-nation military and civilian counterparts, and international organizations, the program enables local governments to strengthen regional security and stability.  

Civil affairs officers play a vital role in Southcom’s humanitarian assistance program. 

“We are like the connective tissue between the DoD and interagency partners that are responding to a major catastrophic event,” said Army Col. J. Frank Melgarejo Jr., civil affairs planning detachment chief. “We use our specialized skill sets in order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the response.”

While disaster response is a critical part of the humanitarian assistance mission, the hope is it will become less necessary.

“The rapid response effort is about a quarter of what we do,” said Army Lt. Col. Steve Lewis, a Southcom civil affairs officer. “The other 75 percent is helping our partner nations prepare.”

**Close Coordination**

Preparation efforts have included building emergency operations centers and disaster relief warehouses, along with training emergency responders in partner nations.  These projects are done in close coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Aid and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Between fiscal years 2012 and 2017, they have managed more than 3,000 humanitarian assistance projects within their area of responsibility, which encompasses 31 countries and 16 dependencies and areas of special sovereignty.    
“One can never underestimate the capability and capacity of the partner nation,” Melgarejo said. “They might not have all of the equipment that we have, but they have the will and the desire to make things better and increase stability and security within their space.”

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

southcomSouthern CommandHumanitarian AssistanceKnowYourMil