press releases
U.S Air Relief Efforts Wind Down As Roads Open To Earthquake Affected Areas
03/24/2006Islamabad – Today, two Chinook helicopters departed Pakistan as reconstruction efforts turn toward ground transportation to deliver reconstruction materials.
Currently, six U.S. CH-47 Chinooks are in Pakistan and will operate until March 31st. At the beginning of relief efforts in October, up to 21 U.S. helicopters were delivering supplies. As relief efforts progressed, the U.S. matched the airlift capacity with humanitarian assistance requirements and reduced the number of helicopters to 12 through the winter months and the rainy season. With the arrival of spring, the build up of supplies at distribution centers, and with the reopening of roads to the affected areas, U.S. helicopters are no longer essential.
"We maintained 12 Chinook helicopters through March to ensure we had an over capacity to move supplies if roads became impassible due to rain and mudslides," said Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Aldridge Director of Operations for the U.S. Military Disaster Assistance Center. "Now that we made it through March, we are going to re-deploy the additional helicopters."
According to the Federal Relief Commission, a majority of roads that were closed due to the earthquake are now open. As a result, the majority of relief and reconstruction supplies are being shipped overland via ground transportation. In addition, the UNHAS helicopters are remaining through the summer.
"We leave knowing that a steady stream of reconstruction supplies will continue to flow to the affected areas via the road network as the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts supported by USAID move into full swing and relief efforts end," said Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, Commander, Disaster Assistance Center Pakistan.