100 U.S. Marines arrive in Liberia to assist Ebola response effort

MONROVIA, Liberia, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. deployed 100 Marines to Liberia on Thursday as part of an international effort to help the West African country respond to the deadly Ebola outbreak.

Marines from the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crises Response 14-2, out of Moron, Spain landed in Monrovia Thursday, accompanied by six military aircraft, including four MV-22 Ospreys.

The Pentagon said there are now 300 American troops in Liberia, with a planned deployment of up to 4,000. Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams, Commander of the U.S. Army Africa Operation United Assistance, told DOD News the mission objective is to "support AID (U.S. Agency for International Develop met) and the Government of Liberia."

The troops "will assist in the building of Ebola Treatment Units in the harder to reach areas of Liberia," the U.S. Embassy Monrovia noted on its Facebook page while announcing the arrival of the troops.

Liberia has been among the countries hardest-hit by the spread of the Ebola virus, with over 3,900 reported cases and 2,200 deaths, the World Health Organization reported.