Photos: US Military And Pakistan Flood Relief

[Solomon2]

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit shoots off flares as a self-defense measure while delivering supplies in support of the flood relief effort in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong/Released)

An aerial view of Pakistani flood survivors isolated on a road surrounded by water seen as a U.S. CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter crew begins their departure after dropping off food in support of the Pakistan flood relief effort in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 14, 2010. The CH-53E crew is assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong

U.S. servicemembers work with U.S. Marines assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to unload food and supplies from a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter in support of the Pakistan flood relief effort in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 14, 2010.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong

An aerial view of abandoned Pakistani homes surrounded by flood water seen as a U.S. Marine CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter passes over to deliver food in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 14, 2010. The CH-53E crew is assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph A. Allegretti and Pakistani soldiers socialize for a brief moment during humanitarian aid operations supporting the Pakistan flood relief effort in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 13, 2010.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong

A line of MV-22 Osprey aircraft from Marine Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced) arrives at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Sept. 10, 2010. The squadron is deployed aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), which is en route to provide relief to flood-stricken regions of Pakistan. (DoD photo by Lt. Cmdr. Dean Sears, U.S. Navy/Released)

Kearsarge ARG arrives on station

Will soon begin flood relief efforts in Pakistan

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea - Sailors and Marines with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) on Thursday, the Navy announced.

Entering those waters marks the completion of the group's trans-Atlantic crossing from Norfolk to support the Pakistani humanitarian assistance and flood relief efforts.

The Kearsarge ARG and 26th MEU began their regularly-scheduled deployment one month early to support those efforts.

"We are looking forward to doing our part to help the flood victims in Pakistan," said Capt. Larry Grippin, commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4. "Our sailors and Marines have carefully prepared to carry out this relief mission."

"We will be providing aerial lift of supplies and personnel to help alleviate the suffering of the Pakistani people," said Marine Maj. Eric Keith, an MV-22 Osprey pilot. "As for the deployment and our mission, everybody is pretty excited to get to our destination, knowing that the mission will make a difference for the people of Pakistan is really uplifting."

Supporting flood relief efforts in Pakistan will be just one part of the Kearsarge ARG and 26th MEU's mission in the 5th Fleet AOR. They will also serve as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command when the Peleliu ARG completes its deployment in early November.

Kearsarge ARG is comprised of PHIBRON 4, amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15) and embarked 26th MEU.

Kearsarge ARG and 26th MEU will report directly to Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5, which is responsible for all amphibious forces deployed to 5th Fleet.

Fifth Fleet's AOR encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.

(Compiled from report by Communication Specialist 1st Class Darius O. Jackson, Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs)

The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge arrives in Souda Bay, Greece, Sept. 13, 2010, for a brief port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley)

Navy Group from VA Finishes Voyage to Get to Pakistan
The Navy says the Norfolk-based Kearsarge ready group has completed its trans-Atlantic voyage to assist flood-ravaged Pakistan.

The amphibious assault ship and a complement of other ships with thousands of Marines and sailors arrived Thursday in 5th Fleet waters, where the relief effort is being staged.

The Kearsarge group left Norfolk August 27 to support the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

The Kearsarge is equipped to provide medical treatment for flood victims. It has a 600-bed hospital and deployed with a team of surgeons.

The sailors and Marines are expected to be away at least seven months.

©2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

 

[Solomon2]

Source: dvids

 

[somebozo]

Zawahiri lashes out at US, Pakistan for feeble flood aid

I see a loser in the making..failed to spray US black he takes a reverse gear in appologist directiong trying to "sympatise". whatever his motive may be the tone is clear...bash USA wherever and whenever you can!

 

[Solomon2]

America's Mission in Pakistan: "Hectic, but exciting, for the highest possible purpose: helping one's fellow man...The people are welcoming...I'm glad to be here." The Chief also discusses the life choices that he made that led him to a satisfying career in the U.S. Army.

At Islamabad Airport.

A typical KC-130 relief mission, similar to many of the helicopter photos here, from loading to distribution to takeoff again. I note that most of these supplies bear Canadian flags, and that one Pakistani is so strong he can carry TWO 40kg bags on his shoulders!

A month old this vid, but it does show American servicemen and Pakistani soldiers working together so seamlessly that I can't tell who is taking orders from whom.

 

[Solomon2]

Task Force Denali operates, it seems, from Chaklala Air Base but through Pakistan's civilian government and its contractors, not Pakistan's military. (link1, link2)

Pakistani evacuees at Rubicon, a forward aerial refuelling point, in flood-affected Swat valley, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region, Pakistan.

Local Pakistanis prepare to off-load the next cargo of crops to arrive aboard TF Denali helicopters at Rubicon.

An injured Pakistani man is assisted in disembarking from a TF Denali CH-47 Chinook helicopter ferrying aid supplies and evacuees in flood-affected Swat valley of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region, Pakistan.


Pakistan Aid Approaches 8 Million Pounds

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2010 – U.S. military personnel continue to aid millions of Pakistanis affected by flooding in the country, defense officials said today.

Marine Corps helicopters transported nearly 317,000 pounds of relief supplies in Pakistan yesterday, Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan said. Fixed-wing aircraft operating out of Afghanistan transported 44,000 pounds of supplies, and U.S. military aircraft rescued 701 displaced people yesterday, he added.

Unusually heavy monsoon rains caused the Indus River and its tributaries to overflow in late July. The floods washed away bridges, roads, railways and thousands of buildings. The Pakistani government ordered millions of people to evacuate their homes and villages, and it now is struggling to keep up with the evacuees’ needs and rebuilding the country.

The amount of U.S. aid provided to Pakistan to date has been impressive, Lapan said. U.S. military aid operations began Aug. 5 with Army helicopters from Afghanistan delivering supplies and rescuing those trapped by flooding. Marine helicopters from the USS Peleliu replaced the Army aircraft, and together they have delivered 4.8 million pounds or relief supplies. Air Force C-130s and C-17s have been delivering aid since Aug. 16. To date, airmen have delivered 3.1 million pounds of aid. This brings the total to almost 8 million pounds of aid, Lapan said.

The U.S. military aircraft have rescued 16,299 people to date. All American aid is at the request of the Pakistani government, the colonel said.

Aerial operations in Pakistan are challenging, officials said. Much of the country’s infrastructure was washed away with the floods. The increased moisture has meant troubles with fog and haze. In the northwestern part of the country, rough terrain and high altitude further complicate the aid missions.

The military helicopters come from the USS Peleliu, and are operating from Pakistani air bases and the amphibious assault ship. The USS Kearsarge is joining the Peleliu in international waters off the coast of Pakistan. The two crews will work together to bring aid to the millions of Pakistanis affected by the floods.

“They both may be there for some period of time,” Lapan said. “It will not be a hand-off. It depends … on what the need is that determines when the Peleliu departs.”

 

[Solomon2]

A local Pakistani man comforts his relative while speaking to a Pakistani soldier in Rubicon, Pakistan, Sept. 15, 2010. U.S. forces are helping Pakistan and its people to recover from record floods in recent weeks. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Kruger

An aerial view from a U.S. Army CH-47D helicopter shows towns in Swat valley, Pakistan, Sept. 20, 2010. U.S. Army pilots from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade travel through the valley to deliver food and relocate families to support overall flood relief in Pakistan. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray

Pakistani villagers carry bags of food to a CH-47E Chinook helicopter that U.S. soldiers will use to deliver the food to flood victims in Swat valley, Pakistan, Sept. 22, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to the U.S. Army 16th Combat Aviation Brigade. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong

Biden: U.S., U.K. Commit to Continued Aid for Pakistan

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2010 – Citing the “enormous scale of the devastation” caused by flooding in Pakistan, Vice President Joe Biden and Deputy British Prime Minister Nicholas P. Clegg today affirmed their nations’ commitment to helping the country recover.

In a joint statement issued after their meeting, said they recognize Pakistan’s continuing humanitarian and recovery needs.

The statement noted that the United Kingdom has contributed about $209 million to the effort, and the Unikted States has contributed about $345 million.

“We welcome the international contributions that have been made so far, … and we recognize also the generosity of individual citizens in these and other countries,” the statement said. “However, there is more to be done.” They encouraged the international community to respond “fully, rapidly and with effective coordination and leadership,” and encouraged partners to meet in full pledges made at the 2009 Tokyo donors meeting in addition to new pledges related to the floods.

“The U.S. and the U.K. affirm their commitment to sustained long-term post-flood reconstruction in Pakistan, beyond the immediate humanitarian needs,” the statement continued. “We encourage other members of the international community to remain engaged as well. Stability in Pakistan, underpinned by economic and democratic development, is vital for the stability of the region and for security in the wider world.”

Pledging “unshakeable support for the people of Pakistan” in the wake of this natural disaster, the two leaders also reaffirmed their nations’ commitment to enhancing their strategic partnerships with Pakistan, “on the basis of shared interests and mutual respect.”

“We recognize also the role that the international community has in helping Pakistan to address a range of challenges across development, security, and governance,” they added. “We look to the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Ministerial meeting in October to mobilize further political support on these agendas.”

 

[marcos98]

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit shoots off flares as a self-defense measure while delivering supplies in support of the flood relief effort in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong/Released)

U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary use a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter to deliver food to flood victims in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray/Released)

U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary use a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter to deliver food to flood victims in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray/Released)

 

[Solomon2]

A Pakistani woman asks for food being handed out by U.S. Marines, who are supporting the flood relief effort in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. The Marines are assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong

Pakistanis wait to be transported in a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter from Matlatan to Rubicon as part of flood-relief efforts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Sept. 26, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray

A U.S. Marine Corps Super Stallion helicopter flies to deliver relief supplies during humanitarian-assistance operations in the southern province of Sindh, Pakistan, Sept. 30, 2010. The helicopter is assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan

Pakistani soldiers begin offloading relief supplies from a truck, contracted by the World Food Programme, onto Marine Corps helicopters during humanitarian-assistance operations in the southern province of Sindh, Pakistan, Sept. 30, 2010. The helicopters are from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan

100821-N-3497D-603 KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA PROVINCE, Pakistan (Aug. 21, 2010) Members of a U.S. Navy air crew assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, Detachment 2, help Pakistani soldiers unload relief supplies from a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter during humanitarian relief efforts. HM-15 is embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) supporting the Pakistan government and military with heavy lift capabilities in flooded regions of Pakistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan/Released)



Bahrain Helicopter Det[achment] Provides Critical Support for Pakistan Relief

From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Sailors from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 Det. 2 forward-deployed to the U.S. Navy's aviation unit in Bahrain have provided essential support to flooding relief efforts in Pakistan since these efforts began in early August.

The HM 15 team logged more than 240 flight hours, evacuated 3,360 people to safety and delivered more than 800,000 pounds of humanitarian aid/disaster (HA/DR) relief supplies in support of the Pakistani government and military relief operations.

U.S. military aircraft supporting Pakistan's flood relief efforts achieved a significant milestone Sept. 11, delivering more than 5 million pounds of relief supplies since U.S. military relief flight operations began in Pakistan Aug. 5.

HM-15, nicknamed the "Blackhawks," operates the MH-53E Sea Dragon, and is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The squadron is staffed by both active duty and Reserve personnel, and is the first squadron in the Navy to combine and consolidate training requirements between those two components.

Using the Sea Dragon in normal day-to-day operations, the squadron patrols foreign and domestic waters to locate and destroy sea-based mines that could harm watercraft, and to map safe sea lanes of travel. Due to the heavy-lift capabilities of the MH-53, the squadron also can perform assault support and transport cargo when deployed.

HM-15 Det. 2's maintenance crews in Bahrain keep the helicopters flying.

"The aircraft fly every day and are put through some tough constraints," Aviation Electricians Mate 3rd Class Andrew Titus said, describing his role in the maintenance cycle. "I am one of the first to have any contact with it when they return. It's my job as plane captain to evaluate it and turn it around to be ready for flight the next day."

When a helicopter returns from flying relief supplies to Pakistan, HM 15 mechanics on the ground quickly evaluate and prioritize the needs of the aircraft to have it ready for flight, which is often the next morning.

"Because we fly so much, the aircraft requires immediate attention," Titus explained. "We have to do our job efficiently and thoroughly. If we missed a crucial component, it would affect the mission. It could affect the safety of flight."

Pilot Lt. Andrew Kouness said the Pakistan mission is one of the most challenging he has been involved with, and the most rewarding.

"We operate in an environment with high altitudes and challenging terrain," he said. "The helo operates different in the mountains than it does at sea level - with increased performance."

Kouness also expressed that the increased performance also increases pilots' attention to detail as well as the plane captains' attention to every aspect of the aircraft.

He continued to explain that because Pakistani mountain regions were so tight, flying required precise entry and exit points. This capability to provide support is a result of the hard work in the hangar and attention to detail HM 15 Sailors practice to keep their aircraft flying, while delivering HA/DR supplies.

"On this mission, we fly to the power margins that the helo provides. We put an extra constraint on the aircraft and it puts an extra workload on the plane captains. But, my aircraft is always ready for flight because of the professionals working around us," Kouness said.

Vice Adm. Mark Fox, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said the dedication of HM-15's Sailors is what makes their team successful.

"The entire HM-15 team has performed spectacularly in front of the whole world. Their professionalism contributed to the success of the HA/DR mission," said Fox. "They provided a much-needed lift capability using excellent teamwork."

Kouness said this mission of providing humanitarian support to Pakistan would be memorable in his Navy career.

"It's every helicopter pilot's dream to be able to go out and use the aircraft the way it was designed to be used," he said. "None of this would be possible without our plane captains and dedicated mechanics on the ground."

Titus also recognizes the importance of his efforts and how they impact the mission, far from the Bahrain hangar where he maintains the detachment's helicopters.

"I take pride in what I do and realize the importance of my job and the direct support I gave to this mission," he said.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet, visit Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet.

 

[Solomon2]

Pakistani men, women and children exit a 16th Combat Aviation Brigade CH-47 Chinook at Rubicon Forward Air Refueling Point, Pakistan, Sept. 25. The 16th CAB, deployed from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, has been running humanitarian missions from Ghazi Air Base into flood-torn and isolated areas in the Swat Valley since arriving in Pakistan in early September. Since flood relief operations began in late July, U.S. military aircraft have transported more than 13 million pounds of relief supplies and evacuated more than 18,000 people.

A U.S. Marine Corps service member of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit lowers a panel from a CH-53 Sea Stallion as he works with fellow Marines to prepare the rotary aircraft for flood relief operations, Sept. 25, at Pano Aqil Air Base, Pakistan. The 15th MEU was initially staged out of Ghazi Air Base, but transferred down to Pano Aqil to support humanitarian missions in southern Pakistan. Since relief operations began, U.S military aircraft have transported more than 13 million pounds of flood relief supplies.


US relief operations in Pakistan reach two-month milestone

U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs

Story by Staff Sgt. Kali Gradishar

Date 09.30.2010 Date Posted:09.30.2010 13:41 Location:ISLAMABAD, PK

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – As the two-month benchmark for conducting flood relief operations in Pakistan drew near, Vice Adm. Mike LeFever visited troops in Pano Aqil and Ghazi Air Bases to see first-hand the efforts of service members providing food, shelter, water and other provisions to flood-affected people throughout the country.

Flood waters tore through the country beginning in late July affecting more than 20 million people, destroying nearly 2 million homes, and annihilating crops where more than 80 percent of the land is farmland.

In response to the floods, initial U.S. relief efforts included the strategic airlift of halal meals into Pakistan.

“Only 36 hours into the flooding, U.S. Air Force C-130s and C-17 aircraft had already begun aid flights,” said LeFever in a U.S. embassy press release. More than 100,000 halal meals were airlifted from U.S. supply depots, July 31 and Aug. 1, - a small, but impactful, amount of provisions in proportion to the additional relief supplies the U.S. provided in the last two months of operations.

As halal meals were flown into the country, six helicopters based in Afghanistan were preparing for flood relief operations and responded within days of the first torrential rains. Four CH-47 Chinooks and two UH-60 Black Hawks were authorized to deploy, arriving in Pakistan, Aug. 4. On the first day of operations, the aircraft evacuated more than 800 people and transported 66,000 pounds of relief supplies.

“They … immediately went into operations up in the northern areas to the most devastated, most hard hit areas,” said the vice admiral. “There’s no other country in the world that can do that -- to provide that kind of strategic airlift and have that kind of capability to respond so quickly.

“We were, by far, the first country that had been able to respond that quickly and with that magnitude of forces,” he said.

Though primary relief efforts began in the north, it became clear that additional support would be needed as northern flood waters flowed south and spread rivers beyond their initial banks.

“This was [like] watching a disaster movie in slow motion to know that these flood waters up north, that created so much devastation and wiped out bridges and cities and towns and flooded areas, was all moving down the Indus [River], and this was going to really be a problem later on in the low-lying areas of Pakistan,” said LeFever.

In response to the increased flooding throughout the entire country, additional aircraft and support personnel joined relief operations. There are now more than 30 U.S. military aircraft in the country providing humanitarian support to the Pakistan government and military. To date, the aircraft have transported more than 13 million pounds of relief supplies and evacuated more than 20,000 people.

We have a number of aircraft “to support the distribution of the relief supplies coming in, the food and non-food items, that are so desperately needed,” LeFever said.

From the initial Army helicopters to the U.S. Air Force fixed wing support and contingency response Airmen, and from the 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units to the Navy ships off the coast supporting operations, flood relief efforts in Pakistan are largely a joint effort in coordination with government of Pakistan.

“You look at the magnitude in how we’re able to respond, and it’s really terrific to be able to do,” said LeFever.

 

[Solomon2]

A child among a group of evacuees being transported by a Task Force Denali helicopter carrying out its humanitarian assistance and flood relief mission in Kohistan valley, Pakistan.

Pfc. Christopher Risden, crew chief, Delta 123 company, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, supervises the loading of aid supplies aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at a re-supply site in Kohistan valley, Pakistan

A Pakistani girl prepares to board a U.S. Army CH-47 helicopter in Kalam, Pakistan, Oct. 3. Pakistan and it's people have been recovering from record floods over the past several weeks. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stephen J. Schmitz)

A Pakistani man removes flour from a U.S. Army CH-47 helicopter in Kalam, Pakistan, Oct. 3. Pakistan and it's people have been recovering from record floods over the past several weeks. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stephen J. Schmitz)

Task Force Denali UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at a re-supply site in Kohistan valley, Pakistan.

Two Pakistani men watch as food and supplies are unloaded from a U.S. Army CH-47 chinook helicopter from 16th Combat Aviation Brigade for flood relief in Swat Valley, Pakistan on Oct. 2, 2010.

A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., prepares for takeoff at the Skardu Airport Oct. 3 after combat offloading four pallets of flood relief supplies at the airfield in northern Pakistan. The mission was one of the last fixed-wing operations supporting flood relief in Pakistan. Between Aug. 16 and Oct. 3, C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and their aircrews transported nearly 6 million pounds of much-needed relief supplies to Pakistan aid distribution centers throughout the country.


Focus of flood relief shifts from air to ground

Date: 10.03.2010
Date Posted:10.05.2010 04:45

PAKISTAN AIR FORCE BASE CHAKLALA, Pakistan – The government of Pakistan has informed the U.S. that as flood relief operation shift from air to ground transportation, they no longer require U.S. military C-17 Globemaster III or C-130 Hercules aircraft support for delivery of relief supplies.

Two U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft conducted the last fixed wing missions to deliver flood relief supplies in Pakistan Oct. 3, flying humanitarian supplies from Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala to the Skardu Airport in northern Pakistan.

“The mission was our last flight into some of the forward operating bases in support of humanitarian operations -- the end of the fixed wing operations,” said Maj. Kevin Baylis, an Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules pilot from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. For the final day of flood relief missions “we flew into Skardu which is up toward the Pakistani border up in the mountains.

“Hopefully we [delivered] the supplies the folks need to make it through the winter. When you look at the numbers of folks who have been displaced by the flood, it’s good to be able to help out with that,” said the major, who is on his first humanitarian deployment.

Between Aug. 16 and Oct. 3, C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and their aircrews transported nearly 6 million pounds of much-needed relief supplies to Pakistan aid distribution centers throughout the country.

“We’ve been flying into Skardu, Ghazi and around Pakistan delivering humanitarian relief supplies,” said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Beresky, an Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules loadmaster. “Normally there are about four pallets, each weighing about 7,000 pounds, of mainly wheat and water, any other supplies … that people need.

“We’ve been flying two missions with multiple legs every day,” said the technical sergeant, a native of Carbondale, Colo. “We’ve airlift probably between 75 to 100,000 pounds a day -- roughly about 25,000 pounds per flight.”

In addition to flying relief supplies to the north, “we’ve also done a fair number of missions into the southern part of Pakistan since there were a lot of flood victims there, as well as … several missions down south bringing in [supplies and parts] for the Army and Marines,” said Baylis, a native of Medford, Ore.

“I would say it’s definitely significant that we were able to come up here and provide the support,” said the pilot, though the crew had to battle occasional weather challenges in getting to the mountainous regions in the north. “I think we all would have liked to fly much more to help out, [but] … we got a lot done.”

To date, U.S. military fixed and rotary wing aircraft, working in partnership with the Pakistan military, have delivered more than 14 million pounds of relief supplies and evacuated more than 21,000 people from flood-affected areas.

As U.S. military fixed-wing support for flood relief in Pakistan ceased, the aircrew and maintenance personnel began making arrangements to depart Chaklala.

“I personally feel proud as a reservist, being one of the first to be staged here and one of the last ones out of here,” said Beresky. “This is what you train for -- going to a forward deployed location like this, flying the missions, getting things done as you need to, and delivering the supplies that need to be delivered.”

While the government of Pakistan’s requests for U.S. fixed-wing relief flights have ended, there is no decrease in U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan flood relief efforts. U.S. military helicopters, U.S. Agency for International development and other U.S. civilian agencies continue to provide humanitarian and recovery assistance throughout Pakistan in support of flood victims.

 

[SQ8]

I could take a few pictures of blackhawks that make a routine flight near my office in Islamabad.
It would be ironic if they saw the burning tankers of fuel meant for their comrades whilst they flew with supplies for affected people.

 

[VCheng]

I could take a few pictures of blackhawks that make a routine flight near my office in Islamabad.
It would be ironic if they saw the burning tankers of fuel meant for their comrades whilst they flew with supplies for affected people.

Even more devastating is the impact on the people here, seeing those images.

The already negative impression of Pakistan is deteriorating day by day, and the end result, if not stopped, will be bad for both the USA and Pakistan.

 

[Solomon2]

Pakistanis unload relief supplies from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Oct. 9, 2010. The U.S. military is providing relief assistance and food to victims of flood-damaged areas. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Kruger

Local Pakistani families make their way to a CH-47 Chinook in Khyber - Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Oct. 17, 2010. The flood has affected nearly 20 million Pakistanis, forcing many from their homes. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Kruger/Released)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Asano with the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 Reinforced, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, carries a bag of wheat flour, as he assists with unloading a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter in a flood affected area, during flood relief operations in the Sindh province, Pakistan, Oct. 19, 2010.

Damages are shown of a flood affected area in the Sindh province, Pakistan. U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct humanitarian assistance operations in the flood affected areas of Pakistan, Oct. 19, 2010

U.S. Marine Sgt. Leo Parry a crew chief with the Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 266 Reinforced, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, guides U.S. Marine Sgt. Madieros as he brings a fork lift with a palette of flour underneath the rotor blades of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during flood relief operations in the Sindh province, Pakistan, Oct. 19, 2010.

Pakistan army soldier Sep. Haidar assists the U.S. Marines with the Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Sqaudron 266 Reinforced, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with loading food onto a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter in the Sindh province, Pakistan, during flood relief operations, Oct. 15. (Photo by: Marine Lance Cpl. Jhonson Simeon)

Pakistani flood victims wait patiently as U.S. Marines unload food off of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during flood relief operations in Sindh province, Pakistan, Oct. 15, 2010. The Marines are assigned to the Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 266, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jhonson Simeon

U.S. Marines land a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter in a flood-affected area to unload food during relief operations in Sindh province, Pakistan, Oct. 15, 2010. The Marines are assigned to Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Sqaudron 266, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jhonson Simeon


YouTube - Humanitarian Aid to Flood-Ravaged Pakistan

 

[Solomon2]

Pakistanis unload relief supplies from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Oct. 9, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Kruger/Released)

A Pakistani man, foreground, holds his ill child while being evacuated from Kalam, Pakistan, in a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter Oct. 10, 2010. Pakistan was recovering from record flooding. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stephen J. Schmitz/Released)

Pakistanis watch as relief supplies are unloaded from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Oct. 9, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Kruger/Released)

A Pakistani man is evacuated from Kalam, Pakistan, in a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter Oct. 10, 2010. Pakistan was recovering from record flooding. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stephen J. Schmitz/Released)

A U.S. Soldier sits on the ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as it delivers relief supplies to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Oct. 9, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Kruger/Released)

A Pakistani woman comforts a child while being evacuated from Kalam, Pakistan, in a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter Oct. 10, 2010. Pakistan was recovering from record flooding. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stephen J. Schmitz/Released)


In Flood-Isolated Regions of Pakistan, U.S. Military Presents a Humanitarian Face

By NATHANIAL GRONEWOLD of ClimateWire
Published: October 14, 2010

The third in a four-part series on Pakistan's flood disaster. Click here to read part one and here to read part two.

GILGIT AND KOHISTAN DISTRICT, Pakistan -- "They've been very grateful, from my experience."

Army Sgt. Jesus Ramos quickly dismisses concerns back home that he and other U.S. forces participating in flood relief operations in Pakistan are facing hostility in what is frequently depicted as an anti-American nation.

"When we're downloading, they come up to you, shake your hand, smiles on their faces," he explains while resting before another full day of relief flights to the rugged north.

Some 12 weeks since the onset of devastating flash floods left a half-million Pakistanis stranded, U.S. forces are still actively assisting the Pakistani military with delivering aid to populations in need. They are flying food and materials to northern areas cut off after flash flooding washed out roads and bridges.

Though they are here at the invitation of Pakistan and can be forced to leave as soon as the government orders them out, U.S. embassy officials say they expect troops to be here doing this work until at least November.

The troops involved say they have all trained heavily in disaster relief work since enlisting, but many also admit that they never expected to actually be putting the training to work, expecting instead to be engaged in combat. Some service members with 20 years of experience say their Pakistan deployment is their first-ever experience with humanitarian operations.

But Pentagon officials believe that future service in the U.S. armed forces could be characterized more by the type of all-day back-and-forth airlifts to flood-stricken parts of Pakistan than by the counterinsurgency battles winding down in Iraq but still raging in nearby Afghanistan.

A tryout for future climate-related missions

In February, the U.S. Department of Defense released a quadrennial defense review report that for the first time linked global warming directly to national security hazards. The report calls climate change an "accelerant of instability" that could increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters, taxing civilian disaster relief capabilities and requiring more regular military support.

DOD has been among the first on scene responding to a string of mass-casualty disasters caused by earthquakes, including the devastating quake in northern Pakistan in 2005. But many believe the Pakistan super-floods of 2010 represents the first time U.S. forces have been called into action in response to a major climate change disaster.

"We helped out with the [2004 Indian Ocean] tsunami a couple years ago, Haiti just this year," recalled Capt. Clark Noble, a helicopter pilot in an expeditionary unit of the Marine Corps. "It's now a regular part of our duties."

Riding with and interviewing the men and women engaged in efforts here shows that, for most enlisted personnel, relief work in foreign lands is among the most welcome and rewarding parts of their service. It's also almost as exhausting and stressful as combat, and not without its own levels of danger and deadly threats, especially in northern Pakistan.

"I wouldn't say that you're any more or less nervous; I'd just say that it's different," explained U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer William French, a helicopter pilot comparing his service here to a tour in Iraq. "I'm not nearly as concerned about someone shooting at me, but I'm still always thinking of that."

U.S. military assistance in Pakistan's north consists of two main operations. The Marine Corps was flying C-130 airplanes from Chaklala Air Base near Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. This area finds itself isolated after the flood destroyed parts of the famous Karakoram Highway. The cities are world-renowned as launching pads for trekking expeditions into the scenic mountains and are used to hosting foreigners.

The C-130 missions to the north have since ended, but Marine and now Army Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters have also been flying in food and other aid to inaccessible parts of the Swat Valley and Kohistan from an air base in Ghazi. Swat was the scene of a massive Pakistan Army campaign against Taliban insurgents last year, and Kohistan is famous as an inaccessible, deeply impoverished and conservative mountainous corner that rarely sees foreign visitors.

Threading heavy loads through rocky valleys

The system is set up as a straightforward temporary logistics support operation, moving people and material as long as daylight lasts and security and weather conditions allow. The planes and helicopters move whatever the Pakistanis ask them to carry, including food, supplies, people and sometimes even livestock.

All military personnel said they have received a warm welcome.

"The first couple weeks, it seemed like people were pretty excited to receive our help," said Capt. Noble, who had been flying up and down the Swat Valley for a month. "Every time we dropped off stuff, 45 minutes later, when we come back, it was gone, so obviously people are using what we dropped off."

But the relative simplicity of their operation and the hospitality shown by their hosts masks the very real dangers that can be involved, most often just from the elevation and jagged terrain.

"For our airframes, we're flying them right at max gross weight, so there's a very narrow power margin," Army officer French explained. "There's very little margin for error to land, and that could be caused both by the weight of the aircraft, the altitude that we're flying at, and also the very narrow valleys."

After a refueling stop at a helipad in Pathan, Kohistan, a pair of Army Black Hawk helicopters made their way farther north up the Indus River Valley by the Kashmiri border. The smaller Black Hawks are needed here because there are very few convenient or workable landing spots -- at one point, the pilot set the helicopter down on a rocky ledge right next to raging whitewater rapids, the rotor spinning just a couple of feet from a massive rock-face wall.

The approach to Gilgit can be equally perilous, depending on the weather.

Regarded as one of the more dangerous airports in the world, the Gilgit landing can only be reached by flying through one narrow valley, negotiating a 90-degree turn left around a mountain into another valley and another 90-degree turn to the right to line up with the airfield. Any sign of bad weather, even slight fog, will see the air crew calling off the approach.

"You can't see down the direct line of sight to the field until you make it around this peak, which is a pretty high peak," said 1st Lt. Glenn Ryberg, a Marine Corps C-130 airplane pilot.

Guarded landings, but warm receptions

The terrain Ryberg and his crew must negotiate on a daily basis is harrowing. The view from the cockpit of the plane, already flying at 21,000 feet in elevation, shows mountains on both sides still towering well above it. When crews see that they are flying below these peaks, that's when they know they are at the "go/no-go" point, Ryberg said.

"Once you determine that it's OK to descend, which means there are no clouds in the valley, we'll come down on this corner, and that's really where you kind of make the final decision if you're going to continue," he explained. Ryberg added that the Marines are flying this route because the Air Force deemed it too dangerous for their pilots to try it, though he believed approval would come soon.

The noise of aircraft and security precautions made it impossible to ask locals how they felt about the assistance provided by U.S. troops. But the warm smiles and enthusiastic waves and handshakes traded at every drop-off point suggested that the affected communities are happy to get any help they can, regardless of who the donor is.

U.S. military personnel say that their work with Pakistani troops has also gone smoothly, with many of the links cemented during their joint response to Kashmir's 2005 earthquake crisis. Pakistani military officials agree, though some admitted to early problems after the government requested assistance in Swat and Kohistan, parts of which are still considered conflict zones.

Two Pakistan Army officers at the Pathan helipad complained of delays and administrative hurdles in the early days of the disaster response as officials at the Pentagon worried that their forces might come into contact with hostile armed insurgents.

The government has since put in place tight security protocols. Landing zones are secured ahead of time, and each helicopter is assigned two Pakistan Army commandos to guard the flights. The locals help to unload supplies, but every civilian is patted down and searched for weapons or explosives before they are allowed near the helicopters.

Exhausted crews give 22,000 free rides

But the threat of armed elements remains, meaning that not all relief drops go smoothly.

After landing in one remote spot of Kohistan, in a designated Provincially Administered Tribal Area, the Pakistani leader of a flight ordered a hasty evacuation after less than a minute on the ground, before any aid could be delivered. The order came after local tribesmen warned him and the security detail that Taliban or other armed men were hiding behind a hill near the landing spot, apparently waiting for offloading to begin to launch an ambush.

The abandoned drop left both Pakistani and American personnel upset, not because of the near miss but because the three dozen men and boys waiting at the site desperately needed the food on board.

"Look, it's not the first time it's happened," said Pakistan Army Capt. Asad Mehmood, the safety pilot during the trip and the same man who ordered the hasty retreat. Mehmood downplayed the incident, insisting that it would be resolved the next day with a better security assessment and other precautions.

Thus far, no relief flight has come under attack. Rather, it's much more common for a drop to get called off because a landing simply can't be made, either because of wind or a lack of space. "There are several areas that we've flown over where we can't land and you see them waving at us like 'We need food,'" said Sgt. Ramos. "There's really nothing you can do."

The real enemy is fatigue.

After a day of constant flying, refueling, and loading and offloading of aid, pilots and flight crews are too exhausted to speak. It's a months-long operation that runs 24 hours a day, with maintenance crews taking over at the end of the day and working all through the night repairing aircraft and reading them for the next day.

The flights from Ghazi, about two hours northwest of Islamabad, continue. To date, U.S. forces have helped deliver more than 16 million pounds of humanitarian relief and provided rides to over 22,000 flood victims.

All soldiers and Marines interviewed agree that the work is remarkably similar to logistic operations in combat zones, with the exception that flights are kept to designated routes, there are no nighttime flights, and the risk of getting shot at is much lower, though not completely gone. No one expressed disappointment with the assignment; rather, they expressed pleasant surprise at finding themselves in a relief operation rather than the typical combat or defense roles military recruits are told to expect.

That's good, because if the February Pentagon defense review on climate change threats is correct, then future U.S. military personnel may find themselves doing much more disaster relief work than fighting.

"When I first enlisted, I thought I was going straight off to Afghanistan or Iraq on a combat mission," said Army Spc. William Rose, a new arrival from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. "It's way better than what I expected."

Saadia Haq contributed to this report.

Copyright 2010 E&E Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

 

[Solomon2]

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dominic Camacho, CH-46 Sea Knight crew chief, looks out the window of a CH-46 as it lands at a World Food Programme aid distribution site Oct. 25 near Pano Aqil Cantonment, Pakistan. The U.S. Marine Corps’ 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units have been operating CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters in the Sindh province since early September bringing relief supplies to those in need. Since Aug. 5, U.S. military helicopters have transported more than 12 million pounds of supplies.

Two Pakistani men cross a bridge to get to the supplies delivered by U.S. Army 16th Combat Aviation Brigade for flood relief in the Khoistan Region, Pakistan, Oct. 28.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Cory Robbins, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 266-Reinforced (VMM-266-REIN), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit fuel line walker, hands off a fuel nozzle to a CH-53 Super Stallion crew chief prior to refueling the helicopter Oct. 17 on the flightline at Pano Aqil Cantonment, Pakistan. Since U.S. helicopter relief operations began Aug. 5, more than 12 million pounds of food have been transported to isolated areas in need of assistance after flooding left approximately 1/5 of the county under water at its height. Contributing to that were the fuelers, ensuring helicopters were fueled and ready for flight. From their arrival Oct. 4 to Oct. 23, the 26th MEU fuelers provided nearly 96,000 gallons of fuel.

Pakistanis unload food from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Ghazi Aviation Base, Pakistan, Oct. 23, 2010. U.S. Soldiers from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade supported flood relief efforts in Pakistan's Swat Valley by delivering food and relocating residents from their flooded villages. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Anthony Marino, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 266-Reinforced (VMM-266-REIN), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit fuel line walker, offloads a bag of flour at a World Food Programme aid distribution site Oct. 12 near Pano Aqil Cantonment, Pakistan.

Pakistani children help unload food and supplies from a U.S. Army CH-47 chinook helicopter from 16th Combat Aviation Brigade for flood relief in the Khoistan Region, Pakistan, Oct. 28.

Cpl. Derek Braaskma delivers flood relief supplies to a Humanitarian Assistance site near Pano Aqil Cantonment, Oct. 24, 2010. The U.S. Marine Corps’ 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units have been operating CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters in the Sindh province since early September bringing relief supplies to those in need. Since Aug. 5, U.S. military helicopters have transported more than 12 million pounds of supplies. (Official U.S. Air Force photo by SSgt Kali Gradishar)(Released)


Military Reaches Pakistan Flood Relief Milestone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2010 – The U.S. military has reached a milestone in providing relief to Pakistani flood victims, a Defense Department spokesman said today.

As of yesterday, the military had delivered more than 20 million pounds of relief supplies since the relief effort began Aug. 5, Marine Corps Col. David Lapan told reporters.

Pakistan still is struggling in the aftermath of torrential summer rains that caused flooding that affected some 20 million people, and killed at least 1,800, officials said. The United States has been the first and foremost nation to provide assistance to the flood victims, providing more than $390 million in immediate relief and recovery efforts, and that effort continues, Lapan said.

About 600 U.S. servicemembers are on the ground in flood-ravaged areas, and 26 military helicopters continue to assist in the effort, he said. While the military no longer is providing fixed-wing aircraft support, he added, the continuation of rotary-wing support “shows that there still is a need.”