Hundreds of U.S. military, who were in Nepal providing relief to those affected by the earthquake that took place last month, are expected to leave the country today, U.S. and Nepali military officials said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
About 300 U.S. Marine, Army, Air Force and Navy personnel are slated to leave Nepal Thursday after having completed their rescue and relief operations in the country.
The news came in less than a week after the bodies of six U.S. Marines and two members of the Nepalese army were recovered from the wreckage of a U.S. military helicopter that crashed in the mountains of Nepal while delivering aid to victims of the earthquake, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The commander of the U.S joint task force in Nepal, Lt. Gen. John Wissler announced that the rescue and relief operations had ended and that it was time for them to leave Nepal, according to the Chicago Tribune.
"Today marks the conclusion of the joint task force participation in the ongoing relief mission as our unique military capabilities are no longer needed. We begin the return to our homes ready to return to Nepal should our two nations deem our support necessary once more," he said.
Nepal was struck by two powerful earthquakes on April 25 and May 12 which killed nearly 8,622 people and damaged 756,000 houses and structures.
The United States contributed about $49 million in humanitarian assistance and equipment to Nepal after the disaster, and U.S. aircrafts delivered about 110 tons of relief goods and air, U.S Ambassador Peter Bodde said, according to Reuters.
