MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP S.D. BUTLER, Japan – At the request of the government of the Republic of the Philippines, the U.S. government is assisting with humanitarian relief operations in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) which made landfall on Dec. 4.
Two KC-130s from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152), III Marine Expeditionary Force, arrived in Manila from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa Dec 8. The aircraft are transporting relief supplies to the affected areas.
VMGR-152 has flown a total of six flights and transported approximately 202,300 lbs. of relief supplies, including 14,500 family packs, 500 relief aid boxes and 40 generators.
Relief supplies were transported from MCAS Futenma to Villamor Air Base, close to the disaster area, where the supplies were given to displaced families affected by the typhoon and distributed by U.S. Department of Defense Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA).
The U.S. military is providing air transport and other assistance in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the OHDACA Program to support the relief effort led by the Government of the Philippines.
U.S. military personnel, including III MEF Marines, who were in the Philippines, attending a planning event for exercise Balikatan ’13, were redirected to assist with the response effort. Balikatan is the largest annual U.S.-Philippines military exercise, which focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
The Philippine government and military have led the effort to protect and help its citizens during this typhoon. The U.S. military has partnered and trained with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for many years in humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
High-resolution photos of Marine Corps relief efforts in the Philippines are available in a dedicated photo album link listed below: