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Opening Ceremonies for U.S. Naval Forces Europe Humanitarian Assistance Projects At Two Klaipeda Children's Homes And The 'Caritas' Senior Home Scheduled for 27 July 2002

July 25, 2002

(Adds New Information)

The multilateral military exercise, RESCUER-MEDCEUR 2002, which is taking place in the Baltic countries Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on 15-29 July 2002, includes four Civic Assistance projects in Lithuania and two in each Latvia and Estonia. These Civic Assistance projects are part of the U.S. European Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program.

One of the aims of this exercise is to enhance military interoperability by conducting Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response operations. These are medical and construction projects for the benefit of the civilian population.

The Lithuanian Humanitarian Civic Assistance construction projects implemented by the U.S. Navy engineers include the renovation of the Klaipeda "Rytas" and "Dane" Orphanages, a Temporary Children's Shelter renovation, and the Caritas Senior Home. Now, renovation work has been finished and Media representatives are welcome to attend the opening ceremonies for the following three projects.

The "Dane" Orphanage will host an opening ceremony on Saturday, 27 July 2002 at 10.00h. This home now has a renovated kitchen and refrigerator unit, new floor and wall tiles, electrical and ventilation systems.

The Caritas Senior Home opening ceremony will take place at 13.00h on 27 July 2002. The project is estimated to cost $27,000. The second floor bathrooms and balconies, along with the first floor dining room, prayer room and kitchen have been fully renovated and the first floor windows were replaced. In addition, the entryway road has been paved. A local company was contracted to do part of the renovation work.

The "Rytas" Orphanage opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at 16.00h on 27 July 2002, as well. The estimated cost of this project is $60,000. Here a four-story building has been renovated. This work included replacement of floor and wall tiles in the bathrooms as well as replacement of the entire septic system.

The Klaipeda Temporary Children's Shelter project is estimated to cost $20,000. There, windows will be replaced, the entrance and staircase will be renovated, and a big new wooden playground will be built.

Four projects of similar content and value will be undertaken in Latvia and Estonia as part of the RESCUER-MEDCEUR 2002 exercise