Peace Like A River: Pakistan relief efforts continue

USS Clevelad Provides 280 Tons Of International Relief Supplies

A U.S. Navy warship makes a port call with relief supplies for the third time in two weeks.

The amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland (LPD-7) offloaded 280 tons of emergency earthquake relief supplies here October 27-28 to assist the victims of the devastating earthquake in Kashmir.

Cleveland’s cargo included 37 pieces of heavy machinery provided by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, which is forward deployed to Bahrain. The construction supplies included light trucks, accessory trailers, light plants and generators. In addition to the heavy equipment, the Cleveland delivered food supplies from the French Navy, and tents, cots and blankets from Egypt.

III MEF Marines And Sailors Prepared To Deploy To Pakistan For Relief Efforts

Marines and Sailors from 3rd Marine Logistics Group are prepared to deploy and offer humanitarian assistance near Muzaffarabad, Pakistan in the wake of a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that left more than 2.2 million homeless.

The deploying units are task organized for this mission and include the 3rd Medical Battalion's Bravo Surgical Company. Assets include an emergency room tent, an operating room suite, mobile laboratory, X-ray services, pharmacy and 60 cots for patients. Once we're set up in Pakistan the surgical company will be able to begin seeing patients in six hours, said Navy Capt. David R. Davis, commanding officer for 3rd Medical Battalion.

U.S. Central Command Air Forces Support Pakistan Aid

The Air Force is also heavily involved in the relief effort, flying in tons of supplies.

Friday three U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemasters, one U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules and a contracted AN-124 Condor flew in more than 346,440 pounds of clothing, aircraft parts, cargo vehicles, and various supplies in response to requests from Pakistan’s government.

To date, the U.S. Air Force has airlifted more than four million pounds of relief supplies to Pakistan.

Today two U.S. Air Force C-130s airdropped more than 30,000 pounds of food and supplies near the Pakistani villages of Laij Copei and Batagram, bringing the total amount of airdropped supplies to 70,000 pounds.

More troops, supplies arrive in Pakistan

U.S. Army Sgt. Kornelia Rachwal gives a young Pakistani girl a drink of water as they are airlifted from Muzaffarabad to Islamabad, Pakistan, aboard a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter on Oct. 19.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mike Buytas

The Army is also conducting significant relief operations.

Additional U.S. Army medical, aviation and engineer units from Europe, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Kansas and Texas are now helping with relief efforts in Pakistan.

Coalition Forces Land Component Command sent a shipment of heavy construction equipment from Kuwait Oct. 27. The shipment included cranes, fuel tankers, road graders, dump trucks and other heavy equipment from theater sustainment stocks available for use in Pakistan.

CFLCC also shipped four containers of medical supplies. The new equipment is in addition to the 200 pallets flown to Pakistan from Kuwait City International Airport.

The most recent photos at Joint Combat Camera Center are dated October 27.

USAID reports the US government has pledged $100 million dollars for humanitarian assistance.

USAID also has the following updates:

* From October 10 to 27, USAID completed six airlifts of emergency relief commodities to Pakistan. The airlifts delivered a total of 15,000 blankets, 1,570 winterized tents, 1,150 rolls of plastic sheeting, 15,000 water containers, 8 water bladders, 2 water purification units, 10 WHO emergency health kits, and 20 concrete cutting saws.

* The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) approved the movement of 21 Chinook 47 helicopters from the U.S. to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. The helicopters will provide essential transport support for ongoing emergency operations.