Airmen respond to Pakistan relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Airman Leah Young
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) --  Active duty and Reserve aircrews assigned to the 62nd and 446th airlift wings departed here Aug. 23 for Pakistan humanitarian relief operations.

Officials said the U.S. has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan's call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that started July 29.

"The U.S. is committed to the welfare of the people of Pakistan and will continue to provide assistance during this period of terrible suffering," said Col. Kevin J. Kilb, the 62nd Airlift Wing commander. "The U.S. government applauds the government of Pakistan's efforts to provide support to its citizens, and stands ready, with the international community, to further support these efforts."

Two aircrews departed Joint Base Lewis-McChord Aug. 23 to conduct a five-day mission, transporting CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters from Cherry Point, N.C., to Afghanistan. The helicopters will be reassembled in Afghanistan and then flown into Pakistan.

The helicopters will be used to access villages that can't be reached by way of boat or vehicle because of the flooding, said Capt. Brian Yeargan, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot and aircraft commander assigned to the 10th Airlift Squadron.

"The relief operations will be much easier to conduct with the helicopters," Captain Yeargan said. "We'll be able to help more people in need and save more lives."

The 62nd AW, along with the 446th AW, provides a large part of Air Mobility Command's global reach airlift capability. The wing's tasking requirements include supplying humanitarian airlift relief to victims of disasters.

As a member of the 62nd AW, Staff Sgt. Jose Perez, a loadmaster, said he is more than willing to help any country in need.

"We were one of the first wings responding to the natural disaster in Haiti," Sergeant Perez said. "One of (JB) McChord's goals is simply to deliver goods to those in need, and I am happy to be involved in that."

Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan reported Aug. 18 on the Air Force's public website that, to date, "U.S. military cargo aircraft based in Afghanistan have transported more than 194,000 pounds of relief supplies from the Pakistan air force's central flood relief cell to required locations throughout Pakistan in support of government of Pakistan (officials') requests for additional airlift support."

According to the report, U.S. military helicopters conducting relief operations in partnership with the Pakistan military have rescued more than 4,800 people and transported more than 600,000 pounds of relief supplies.

"This mission mirrors our humanitarian beliefs, assists a country in great need, and strengthens our foreign ties," Captain Yeargan said.

According to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority, the floods of the 2010 monsoon season have exceeded the magnitude of all recent disasters in Pakistan, including the 1929 floods and 2005 earthquake, particularly in terms of the size of the affected populations and widespread damage. The floods have affected more than 13 million people countrywide, including 1,600 dead, more than 11,000 injured and an estimated one million people displaced.

Per the Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs, flood relief support to Pakistan from the U.S. is a government and interagency response. Relief efforts are being coordinated through the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, in full consultation with the Pakistan government. The U.S. military will support the relief effort at the invitation and request of the government of Pakistan as long as needed.

The aircrews are scheduled to return from their mission Aug. 27.

(Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol, of Air Mobility Command Public Affairs, and Senior Airman Dani Shea, of Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs, contributed to this report.)