National Museum of the U.S. Navy

In December 1992, multinational forces provided humanitarian assistance and relief to the southern half of the war-torn nation of Somalia.  During this U.S. led coalition, food and water were delivered to the starving Somalians.  U.S. Navy Seabees supported the effort by establishing and constructing base camps at the humanitarian relief sites.   Seabees also drilled and restored water wells, fixed schools and orphanages, as well as clearing city streets, fixing bridges, and renovating and expanding the Baidoa airstrip.  In May 1993, the UN assumed responsibility for the operations.