Photos: US Military And Pakistan Flood Relief

[Solomon2]

Photos: US Military And Pakistan Flood Relief
Since July, monsoon rains have caused heavy flooding in many areas of Pakistan. The United Nations estimates more than 20 million people are affected. In response the disaster, the United States has launched a civilian and military relief effort in the country. As part of that effort, US military fixed and rotary wing aircraft are ferrying people and supplies to and from the flood zone. Below are thirteen photos from that military response.

Please consider donating to the NGO flood relief effort here or elsewhere.

Caption: Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu and amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque steam off the coast of Pakistan in the early stages of supporting the Pakistani government and military with heavy lift capabilities to bring relief to those affected in flooded regions of Pakistan. Peleliu and Dubuque are a part of Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Dunlap.

Caption: A forklift with bags of humanitarian assistance is loaded by Pakistani workers into a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter that has arrived to take over the flight role from the U.S. Army in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the flood victims as part of the disaster recovery effort in Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, Aug. 13. Photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray.

Caption: Pakistani Air Force members help unload thousands of Halal meals from a U.S. Air Force C-130H at Peshawar, Pakistan, Aug. 1, 2010. The meals will go to Pakistanis affected by the floods that have devastated the region. The C-130H is assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz.

Caption: Pakistan civilians from the town of Kalam are gathered inside a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter which has come to deliver humanitarian assistance and pick up victims of the flood, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North West Frontier province), Pakistan, Aug. 9, 2010. Photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray.

Caption: A member of the Pakistan military points in the direction to where the passengers from the U.S. Army Chinook helicopter need to go after being delivered to the town of Khwazakhela from the flooding, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North West Frontier province), Pakistan, Aug. 9, 2010. Photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray.

Caption: Pakistan men from the town of Kalam form a chain to quickly unload a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter that has delivered humanitarian assistance and pick up victims of the flood, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North West Frontier province), Pakistan, Aug. 9, 2010. Photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray.

Caption: Pakistan men from the town of Kalam carry a bags of flour, while they unload a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter which has come to deliver humanitarian assistance and pick up victims of the flood, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North West Frontier province), Pakistan, Aug. 9, 2010. Photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray.

Caption: A little girl from who is evacuated from the town of Kalam wears a set of headphones to reduce the loud aircraft sound aboard a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter which has come to deliver humanitarian assistance and pick up victims of the flood, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North West Frontier province), Pakistan, Aug. 9, 2010. Photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray.

More: link

 

[Rafi]

much appreciated.

 

[WAQAS119]

US Military is doing great work!!!!!!

 

[Solomon2]

U.S. Navy sailors observe flight operations aboard the USS Peleliu as Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters prepare for take-off to provide aid to flood-stricken Pakistan, under way in the North Arabian Sea, Aug. 13, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Omar A. Dominquez

Pakistani soldiers load supplies onto U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters attached to the HM-165, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during humanitarian relief efforts in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug 17, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan

A young Pakistani flood victim takes flight aboard U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter attached to the HM-165, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during humanitarian relief efforts in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug 17, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan

Left to right, U.S Marine Corps Col. Roy Osborn, commanding officer for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, William J. Martin, U.S. consul general in Karachi, Pakistan, U.S. Navy Capt. Dale Fuller, commander of Amphibious Squadron Three, and U.S. Navy Capt. David Schnell, commanding officer of USS Peleliu, talk during a Pakistani media visit aboard Peleliu in the North Arabian Sea, Aug. 12, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Omar A. Dominquez

U.S. Army Sgt. Kristopher Perkins holds a child in his lap onboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter after picking up 114 Pakistan victims during flood relief missions out of the Swat Valley, Pakistan, Aug. 11, 2010. Perkins, a crew chief is assigned to Company B, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Raptor. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Monica K. Smith

Pakistani flood victims takes flight aboard U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter attached to the HM-165, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during humanitarian relief efforts in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug. 17, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata welcomes U.S. Marines who are replacing the U.S. Army 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and with the evacuation of flood victims as part of the flood disaster recovery effort in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug. 13, 2010. The Marines are assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray

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[WAQAS119]

 

[Solomon2]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BLOGGERS ROUNDTABLE WITH U.S. ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHAEL NAGATA, DEPUTY COMMANDER, OFFICE OF THE DEFENSE REPRESENTATIVE, PAKISTAN VIA TELECONFERENCE SUBJECT: OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE ONGOING U.S. MILITARY RELIEF EFFORT TIME: 10:01 A.M. EDT DATE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010

Q Hi, General. I was just watching some TV reports, and they were indicating that the continuing rain was hampering our operations. I was wondering if you could further comment on that.
GEN. NAGATA: Sure, Dale. I'd be happy to.
Yes, the weather is certainly a factor. Of the available flying days we've had since the task force began its activities here in Ghazi Air Base, we've probably only been able to effectively fly about half that time. We've been completely ready to, as have a large number of Pakistani military aviation elements and their helicopters. But the weather in the Swat Valley area that we've been trying to get to, as I say, about 50 percent of the time has simply not allowed it.
We tried to fly in there today. We actually sent some helicopters in there to do a reconnaissance of the weather conditions in Swat. But what the pilots reported to us is that the weather was simply too bad up at that altitude within that valley for us to risk putting the bigger cargo helicopters in there. So we're just going to have to be patient and wait for a break in the weather.
But that said, in the five or so days we have been able to fly, we've -- to give you some more precise numbers, or not -- well, maybe not precise, but general numbers, we have recovered more than 3,000 people from the Swat Valley since we began our military -- our U.S. military effort here, and that's only a fraction of what the Pakistanis have been recovering country-wide. And we've delivered, just with our U.S. military assets, more than 160 metric tons of supplies into the Swat Valley.
I hope that helps....

LT. CRAGG: Thank you, Chuck. Thank you, sir. And at this time, I wanted to turn it over to Brigadier General Nagata, sir, if you'd like to end with any closing thoughts. Sir, the floor is yours again.
GEN. NAGATA: Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to do this. I hope it's been useful for everyone. I think the only thing I can say by way of closing that might be -- also be useful is simply to reflect on the fact that this is an enormous disaster. The people of Pakistan are courageously battling against the elements to get to people in need, to repair bridges, to help their fellow Pakistanis that are in distress. And we are proud to be here.
We are only a very small part of a much larger effort. We've very proud of what we are doing. But, most importantly, whatever we can do to get to those people that are in distress to support our Pakistani military counterparts is well worth doing, and it's an honor to be here.
And I'll close by just saying what I've repeated a couple of times during this conversation. The cooperation, the support, the flexibility, the friendship and the partnership we have been extended by the leaders, the servicemembers, the senior and junior officers of the Pakistan military, their army, their army aviation elements has simply been extraordinary. It is -- the degree to which I see Pakistani military servicemembers and U.S. military servicemembers intermingling, working together, planning together, flying together, helping people in need together has been truly impressive. And hopefully that image and that message will have positive consequences for months and years to come.
Thank you very much for the opportunity. link

 

[TOPGUN]

A friend in need is a friend indeed thankyou US for your kind heart in helping us GOD bless

 

[Solomon2]

U.S. Continues to Rush Relief to Pakistan

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2010 – As monsoon rains continue to fall on Pakistan, the United States is sending aid as fast as the flood-stricken country can absorb it, a Defense Department official said here today.

United Nations officials estimate that some 20 million Pakistanis are affected, with about 1,500 dead, as the Indus River and its tributaries continue to rise.

The United States has provided more than $90 million in support since the flooding began July 29, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. All relief aid is at the request of and through the Pakistani government, he added, as U.S. servicemembers in Pakistan work to deliver aid under direction of Pakistani officials at the Natural Disaster Management Authority based in Rawalpindi.

The United States has funneled money to help via direct contributions to the Pakistani National Disaster Management Authority, the U.N. relief plan and many local and provincial relief organizations. In addition, about 150 sailors, Marines and airmen are flying 15 helicopters and three C-130s in the country to deliver vital supplies.

U.S. aircraft have rescued more than 5,500 people and delivered more than 500,000 pounds of relief supplies. In the last 24 hours, 441,000 packaged meals that conform with Islamic law have been delivered to civilians, Whitman said this morning. “That in itself is [worth] about $3.7 million,” he added.

Many areas in the northwestern part of the nation have been cut off. The United States is providing 12 temporary bridges to help Pakistan connect with these isolated areas.

The United States has also delivered 1,870 rolls of plastic sheeting – enough to construct shelter for about 110,000 people, Whitman said. American servicemembers have delivered 14,000 blankets, 18 rescue boats, six water filtration units and 10 water storage bladders. They also delivered 2,500-kilowatt generators.

Whitman said many U.S. servicemembers are contributing to the relief effort outside of Pakistan. The crew of the USS Peleliu – off the coast of Pakistan – is providing helicopter maintenance support. Ground crews in Afghanistan are working to trans-ship the meals and other supplies. U.S. Transportation Command planners at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., are working with officials at U.S. Central Command, the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to prioritize the supply missions.

“The United States has a very robust relief mission to Pakistan,” Whitman said.

 

[mjnaushad]

Thanks USA......

I think they are only flying Chinhooks for us as PA might need training to fly them and there is not enough time for it. Also US soldiers doing such work (Rescuing in boats) can effect PA moral and popularity among common man.

Many Many thanks again......

 

[Solomon2]

[video]http://static.dvidshub.net/media/video/1008/DOD_100079517.flv[/video]
DVIDS - Video - Pakistan Flood Relief
B-roll of Pakistan flood relief efforts. Scenes include aerial views from inside a helicopter, the delivery of food to Swat valley, displaced Pakistan citizens being moved via the helicopter. Produced by Master Sgt. Mark Swart.

 

[Bhim]

America is always there to help every one, but ironically it gets much less in return.

 

[TOPGUN]

America is always there to help every one, but ironically it gets much less in return.

What are you trying to get at?? do you see them crying ? noo.. where ever in the world someone is in need US comes to help it is the worlds biggest super power and hence a good friend Pakistan they are helping us save lives that are in danger i think the last line in your statment is uncalled for as if it directs towards someone .

 

[Irfan Baloch]

America is leading by example here
thats what makes A country stand out among nations

despite all the bad press and ill will in this region Americans are doing all this although they can choose not to.

credit must be given where due. much appriciated and hopefully this crises will be over soon and bridge the gaps of mistrust and complaints of the past

 

[Malik Usman]

Thanks alot US Marines.......for helping again Pakistani first in Earth Quick and now in flood disaster.......

 

[PAFAce]

This assistance should definitely help American image in Pakistan, particularly in KP where anti-American sentiments have been greatest.

Just as a side-note, though. We're either engaging in America-bashing on this forum, or praising them like they're angels. Where is the middle ground, people?