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U.S. troops reach flood relief milestone, deliver 25 million pounds of aid

By U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan

Flood victims offload humanitarian supplies from a U.S. military helicopter in the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Nov. 5. U.S. military personnel working in close coordination with the Pakistan military recently reached a significant humanitarian airlift milestone: more than 25 million pounds (approximately 11.3 million kilograms) of flood relief supplies delivered. They also have provided humanitarian airlift for more than 39,000 people in the flood-affected regions of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD (Nov. 23, 2010) – U.S. military aircraft supporting Pakistan's flood relief efforts achieved another humanitarian milestone Sunday, delivering 25 million pounds of relief supplies since Aug. 5, when U.S. military relief flight operations in Pakistan began.

"I’m extremely proud of our aircrews and support personnel in reaching this milestone—they’ve been working incredibly hard with their Pakistan military counterparts to deliver much-needed food aid and humanitarian supplies to flood victims throughout the country," said Vice Adm. Mike LeFever, U.S. Defense Representative to Pakistan.

"With winter approaching, their work is especially appreciated in the difficult-to-reach mountain communities of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province -- isolated places like Swat and Kohistan, where our troops are helping to keep food stockpiles up," said the Admiral.

To date, U.S. military aircraft and personnel, working in close coordination with the Pakistan military, have delivered 25,029,046 pounds (approximately 11.3 million kilograms) of relief supplies and provided humanitarian airlift for more than 39,000 people in the flood-affected regions of Pakistan.

There are currently 18 U.S. military helicopters and approximately 350 service members in Pakistan supporting the Government of Pakistan’s flood relief efforts.

In addition to humanitarian airlift, the U.S. Government is providing more than $463 million to assist Pakistan with relief and recovery efforts, while USAID and other U.S. civilian agencies continue to provide assistance to flood victims.