Local residents assist in unloading relief supplies

Local residents assist in unloading relief supplies from a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261. The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (special operations capable) are conducting humanitarian assistance/disaster relief efforts in response to the government of Bangladesh's request for assistance after Tropical Cyclone Sidr struck their southern coast. The storm killed over 3,000 people and has left several hundred thousand homeless. The Department of Defense effort is part of a larger United States response coordinated by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development.