BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Aug. 2, 2010) – On Sunday, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing’s Expeditionary Airlift Squadron participated in the delivering of more than 80,000 packaged meals to Peshawar, Pakistan, to support Pakistan’s emergency relief efforts on behalf of people affected by recent monsoon floods.
Sunday’s airlift missions from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to deliver Halal meals—pre-packaged meals of the ready-to-eat variety prepared to Islamic standards—marked the second straight day the United States military has worked with the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan to deliver meals to the Pakistan’s military for distribution in flood-stricken areas.
“We’re here on a humanitarian mission,” said Lt. Col. George O’Bryan, the pilot of a C-130 aircraft flying out of Bagram Airfield that delivered more than 11,000 meals to Peshawar. “We’re providing food for people of Pakistan during their trying times.”
O’Bryan said it was uplifting to be able to fly a mission that helps people in need.
“Currently, the Pakistanis are suffering horrible losses due to the flood waters,” O’Bryan said. “And anything we can do to help, we would like to do it.”
The Defense Department is partnering with the Department of State in response to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority’s request for assistance. The U.S. will provide inflatable boats, water filtration units and pre-fabricated bridges.
The 455th AEW has scheduled more flights to deliver humanitarian assistance to Pakistan based on the Government of Pakistan’s assessments of needs.