PAKISTAN AIR FORCE BASE CHAKLALA, Pakistan (Oct. 7, 2010) — Retired Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority chairman, and Vice Adm. Mike LeFever, U.S. Defense Representative to Pakistan, along with a number of U.S. and Pakistan military and government representatives, marked the end of U.S. military C-130 and C-17 flood relief support flights during a ceremony Oct. 6 here.

At Pakistan’s request and with the mission complete for these aircraft, the U.S. military flew its last C-17 and C-130 flood relief flights Oct. 3. From the start, these aircraft made significant contributions to Pakistan’s flood relief efforts. In addition to the delivery of more than 436,000 halal meals during the early days of the disaster, these aircraft and their aircrews worked in close partnership with Pakistan’s military and National Disaster Management Authority to transport more than 5.5 million pounds of much-needed relief supplies to flood victims nationwide. The aircraft were also instrumental in the evacuation of thousands of people from flood-affected regions of Pakistan.

"If it was not for people like you and the friendly governments like the government of the United States, we would not have accomplished that task the way we have ... ,” Nadeem said. “We had 20 million people who were affected by this flood, and the government of Pakistan and its own resources were in no state to meet a disaster of this magnitude.

"Had we not been able to reach these people in time, a lot of them would have lost their lives … everyone pulled [their] efforts and resources together well in time to be able to respond,” he said.

Although the cargo aircraft flights have ended, the U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan’s flood relief efforts remains strong. USAID and other U.S. agencies continue humanitarian and recovery assistance throughout Pakistan. In addition, U.S. military helicopter relief flights continue to operate from Ghazi Aviation Base near Tarbela and Pano Aqil Air Base near Sukkur, while the U.S. Air Force’s contingency response element at Chaklala Air Base continues to support the nationwide distribution of international aid to flood-affected Pakistanis.

"I want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to you, to the government and people of the United States for this outstanding contribution in the relief effort,” Nadeem said.

To date, U.S. military personnel and aircraft, working in partnership with the Pakistan military, have delivered more than 14.8 million pounds of relief supplies and evacuated more than 21,000 people throughout flood-affected areas.

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