South Korean relief troops stationed in the Philippines will return home next week after wrapping up their one-year mission to rebuild the country in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the military here said Tuesday.
   
A total of 520 troops, mostly engineers and medics, were dispatched to Tacloban after the typhoon in November last year to help restore communities, provide medical services and prevent the outbreak of epidemics.
  

Their initial six-month mission was extended for six months in June.
   
Ending the extended mission, the Araw Unit will return home Dec. 22, aboard a chartered plane via Cebu, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) noted.
   
The military said the relief troops in the Philippines held a local ceremony Tuesday to mark the mission's closure.
   
Speaking at the ceremony, Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin thanked South Korea for the dispatch of the relief troops, saying the Araw Unit's activities have been a good example for the Philippines and the international community and will contribute to improving friendly relations between the countries. 
   
Since beginning their mission in January, the Araw Unit has restored 26 buildings, including elementary schools and hospitals, and provided medical services to more than 15,000 residents of isolated communities, officials said. The name "Araw" means blessing and hope in the local Tagalog language. (Yonhap)