US Army begins relief missions in Swat Valley .Chinook in action

[Arsalan]

loading relief goods

inside US cargo plane bringing flood relief goods.
the supplies keep on comming in

 

[Arsalan]

US airmen, flying in relief goods for Flood effecties

 

[Solomon2]

It's just not enough, arsalanaslam123. I figure the refugees need 10,000 TONS of aid - minimum! - every day, for at least the next ten days. Aircraft will never be able to supply that. While you are nice and comfortable in Lahore, one out of eight of your countrymen are displaced, and very soon a large percentage of these will be dying. They have scarcely eaten in weeks, nor felt dry clothing, nor shaved, and most are probably thirsty. They've become animals in your eyes, and these photographs of tiny amounts of aid being delivered should be no comfort to you.

 

[Arsalan]

 

[Arsalan]

Washington.
Two U.S. Navy helicopters arrived in Pakistan on Saturday as part of the U.S. assistance to Pakistan's flood relief effort, the U.S. State Department said, as cited by Xinhua.
The two Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters are part of the 19 helicopters urgently ordered to Pakistan on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the State Department said in a statement, adding the remaining aircraft will arrive over the next few days.
The U.S. assistance to the flood-affected areas of Pakistan has totaled 76 million U.S. dollars, the State Department said on Thursday.
Washington is wooing Pakistan's support to salvage its war efforts in Afghanistan, including holding the first bilateral strategic dialogue in March and providing attractive aid packages to Islamabad

 

[Arsalan]

US Army Staff Sargeant Matthew Kingsbury, from Bravo Company 2/3 Aviation, looking down at a flooded area in Pakistan while in flight on board a CH-47 heavy-lift helicopter in Swat Valley

 

[Arsalan]

US Army choppers carrying emergency food and water buzzed over the swollen river and washed-out bridges, landing in the valley once controlled by the Taliban.


US troops work side-by-side with Pakistani forces
In Washington, the State Department announced an additional $US20 million ($A21.88 million) in flood relief, bringing the total US aid in the crisis to $US55 million

 

[Arsalan]

a new wave of US assistance have just came to the rescue...



thank you America!

details to follow...

regards!

 

[Arsalan]

Two more US Marine helicopters arrived in Pakistan Thursday to join relief and rescue operations in areas hit by massive floods in the country's worst catastrophe, the US embassy said

 

[Arsalan]

Members of the Pakistani military form a human chain to unload grain for flood victims from a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates have orderd to ensure availability of 19 more helicopters to fly to pakistan to help in relief activities.

Two US Marine helicopters arrived in Pakistan Thursday to join relief and rescue operations in areas hit by massive floods in the country's worst catastrophe, the US embassy said.

The two aircraft are the first of 19 extra helicopters that US Defence Secretary Robert Gates urgently ordered to Pakistan on Wednesday, it said.

The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters flew into Pakistan from the USS Peleliu, which is positioned in international waters in the Arabian Sea.

The remaining aircraft will arrive over the next few days and will include three US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters,
four US Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and
12 US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.

US military helicopters will operate in partnership with the Pakistan military throughout the country's flood-affected areas.

Inside CH-53E Super Stallion

The 19 aircraft will relieve six US Army helicopters already in Pakistan that will soon return to duty in Afghanistan, the embassy said.

Despite bad weather, the six helicopters have rescued more than 3,089 people and transported more than 322,340 pounds of emergency relief supplies, it said.

Pakistan's government says more than 14 million people face direct or indirect harm from the floods. The United Nations believes 1,600 people have died in the floods, while Pakistan has confirmed 1,243 deaths.

US President Barack Obama “wants to lean forward in offering help to the Pakistanis,” Gates said Wednesday.

The Islamabad government has admitted to being overwhelmed, and hardline Islamic charities have conducted a highly visible aid effort on the ground. – AFP

regards!

 

[Durrak]

admirable work

 

[Solomon2]

I don't think this is a U.S. helicopter.

That's a UAE 'copter. Pakistanis might want to remember that when they hear their fellows complain that Arabs do nothing for them.

 

[kursed]

News reports say that Americans are using PAF AB Ghazi to stage relief ops. I can't seem to find this particular airbase, where is it in Pakistan?

 

[Arsalan]

brothers, let us not forget the imense help that US helping us with!
it is true indeed that the USA have been the among the most helpfull nations in this hour of need.
i am saying this despite all my disliking of US biased poilicies toward us, what is true and good shall be appreciated with open heart....

 

[Arsalan]

Helicopters launch from USS Peleliu in support of Pakistan relief efforts

Two Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) launched from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) today as part of the continued US humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from the recent monsoon.

The helicopters are the first two aircraft of 19 US Navy and Marine Corps helicopters that will deploy to Pakistan to operate in partnership with the Pakistani military throughout flood-impacted areas.

Their mission is simple: support the Pakistani government as needed, and provide additional critical heavy-lift capability. These helicopters have the strength to lift 16 tons of food and equipment and the capacity to evacuate stranded people on short notice, a necessity in areas damaged by flood water.

Helicopters are seen on the deck of USS Peleliu of Expeditionary Strike Group Five in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karachi. – AFP Photo
As monsoon rains continued to worsen the flood region and displace millions of people, the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked Marines of the 15th MEU arrived in international waters off the coast of Karachi, Pakistan, on short notice with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (Reinforced) (HMM-165). HMM-165 (REIN) contains four CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, as well as 12 CH-46E Sea Knight medium lift and transport-capable helicopters. In support of the relief efforts, the ARG is augmented with three MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Navy Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, based from Norfolk, Va.

"On my last deployment with the 15th MEU, we conducted humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Indonesia following the tsunami," said Lt. Col. Todd Oneto, commanding officer of HMM-165 (REIN). "I am confident in our ability to help Pakistan in its relief efforts."

The Navy and Marine Corps team is uniquely capable of providing sustained humanitarian assistance operations at sea and ashore. The Peleliu ARG consists of Peleliu, amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), and amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque (LPD 8). All three ships are capable of moving equipment and personnel, simultaneously by surface or air.

Peleliu ARG and 15th MEU are currently executing a regularly scheduled deployment to the region in support of ongoing maritime security operations, and serve as the theater reserve force for US Central Command. The ARG/MEU team report directly to Expeditionary Strike Group 5, which is responsible for all amphibious forces deployed to 5th Fleet, and oversees the planning and execution of contingency response missions and maritime humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

The 5th Fleet's Area of Responsibility encompasses 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.