| U.S. dispatches more aircraft to flood relief effort |
By U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan Share  
Related NewsISLAMABAD (Aug. 16, 2010) – Four U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters arrived today and U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft began transporting international aid within Pakistan as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods. The four helicopters are part of the contingent of 19 helicopters urgently ordered to Pakistan last week by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. They bring to 11 the total number of U.S. military aircraft in Pakistan. Meanwhile, two U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan, flew to Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala, Rawalpindi, this morning in response to a Government of Pakistan request to pick up and transport international relief supplies stored there for delivery to flood-stricken areas. These flights are scheduled to continue daily to assist with getting out urgently needed relief supplies. An estimated 52,000 lbs. of relief supplies were delivered today to Sukkur for distribution by Pakistani government and military authorities. To date, the U.S. has pledged to provide approximately $76 million in assistance to flood-affected populations in Pakistan. Support includes both financial assistance and the immediate provision of urgently needed supplies and services, drawing on unique U.S. capabilities and resources. U.S. military helicopters have rescued 3,555 people and transported 436,340 lbs. of emergency relief supplies in spite of bad weather. In addition, within 36 hours of the initial flooding on July 29, the U.S. began delivering thousands of halal meals to Pakistan from U.S. stocks in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region. In all, 436,944 halal meals 'ready to eat' were provided to civilian and military officials in Pakistan for distribution to Pakistanis in need. |
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