ISLAMABAD, (Oct. 1, 2010) — Two months ago, flood waters tore through Pakistan, affecting more than 20 million people, destroying nearly two million homes, and annihilating crops in areas where more than 80 percent of the countryside is farmland.

The U.S. response to the disaster was immediate. Only 36 hours into the flooding, U.S. Air Force C-130s and C-17 aircraft already had begun aid flights, delivering more than 436,000 halal meals for distribution by Pakistani authorities. Six U.S. Army helicopters were dispatched from Afghanistan shortly afterwards to Ghazi Air Base in the north of Pakistan to begin urgently requested relief flights.

Sixty days later, hundreds of U.S. military and civilian personnel continue to work around the clock in Pakistan, committed to supporting the Government of Pakistan’s flood relief efforts. Airlift support also continues with 26 U.S. military helicopters currently in Pakistan supporting relief efforts in Pakistan, with more offshore aboard USS Peleliu. An average of four to six C-130 and C-17 aircraft deliver aid daily throughout the country operating from bases in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

These aircraft and their air crews, working in close partnership with the Pakistan military, have transported more than 13.5 million pounds of relief supplies and evacuated more than 20,000 people, delivering much-needed aid and providing transport to people who urgently need emergency assistance.

To date, the United States has provided approximately $362 million to assist with relief and recovery efforts, including approximately $312 million to support immediate relief efforts in Pakistan and an additional $50 million that has been allocated for initial recovery efforts to assist with rebuilding communities impacted by the floods.

Support for Pakistanis from the U.S. has included 13 mobile water treatment units that each produce enough clean water for 20,000 people a day; twelve 20,000-liter water bladders for the storage of clean water; 208,750 10-liter water containers; 15 million water purification tablets (sufficient to chlorinate 150 million liters of water); 58 Zodiac inflatable rescue boats; 96 concrete saws and saw blades; 237,005 blankets; and 11,463 rolls of plastic sheeting for the construction of temporary shelters. These relief supplies brought in from USAID warehouses in Dubai, Italy, and the United States are in addition to the supplies purchased locally by partners that are providing assistance to those in need.

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