press releases
Need For U.S. Helicopters Dramatically Diminishes
03/27/2006
Islamabad – As efforts shift from relief to reconstruction, the U.S. military continues to reduce the number of helicopter relief sorties flown and has already redeployed two Chinooks, leaving only six helicopters in its fleet here. In the last five days, the United Nations has requested U.S. CH-47 Chinooks to deliver food-related relief supplies only twice, signaling an end to the intensive relief effort by air.
At the height of the relief effort, U.S. helicopters were flying seven days a week, delivering an average of 100,000 pounds of assistance per day. As of last week, Chinooks were carrying well less than a third of this amount to the affected areas.
"It is obvious the relief phase is over," said Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Aldridge, Chief of Staff, United States Disaster Assistance Center. "For the past several weeks, the need for U.S. helicopters dropped dramatically."
This drop coincides with the arrival of spring, the build up of supplies at distribution centers, and the re-opening of roads to the affected areas.
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 to cover short-term contingencies.
U.S. military relief efforts will conclude on March 31.