Spc. Marcos Alices Kinch
CFLCC PAO
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait-- Humanitarian support and assistance flowed into Pakistan after a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake wiped out entire villages and buried victims under piles of debris Oct. 8.
Coalition Forces Land Component Command is providing pallets of tents, cots, blankets, medical supplies and Halal meals (meals prepared to the Muslim standards). CFLCC will continue to send relief supplies until the mission is complete.
"Pakistan is showing their support for the war against terrorism, so we are going to provide them with support and assistance in their time of need," said Col. Dennis Linton, Pakistan earthquake assistance officer.
The destruction and loss of life in Pakistan is massive; CFLCC is responding rapidly with pallets of humanitarian relief supplies. The Central Command Deployment & Distribution Operation Center has coordinated the movement of needed supplies to Pakistan by sea, land and air with the Theater Distribution Center, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office and CFLCC's logistic section at Arifjan.
They own the pipes or the ability to move and we own the materials they want to move, according Brig, Gen. Kevin Leonard, CFLCC logistic officer and Air Mobility Command Commanding General Forward.
Food and Supplies are being airlifted to Islamabad, Pakistan from the Kuwait International Airport. C-17 and C-130 aircrafts were loaded with pallets by U.S. Air Force personnel and contractors employed by CFLCC. A C-17 aircraft can carry as many as 18 pallets. As of Thursday, CFLCC had delivered a total of 51 pallets, many stacked as high as 96 inches. The pallets contained 112 tents, 1,920 cots, 49,920 Halal meals and 5 pallets of medical supplies. Pallets are still being prepared for air movement.
CFLCC also answered the need of engineer equipment to clear debris from the roads and collapsed buildings. Engineer equipment was uploaded on the USS Northern Lights and departed for Karachi, Pakistan Thursday.
"Everyone understands the mission is necessary to help reduce suffering and saving lives," said Maj. Bruce C. Syvinski, 62nd Medical Brigade logistics officer.
Time is of importance in a mission of this kind according to Syvinski. With the help of clinical subject matter experts from Expeditionary Medical Facility Dallas Arifjan, CFLCC decided which medical supplies will be appropriate for providing initial support.
Initially, CFLCC sent basic medical supplies including medicine, bandages and litters. CFLCC also sent medication to treat bacterial infections, relieve pain and reduce fever.
"We work 24/7, 365 days a year addressing the difficulties of a fledging state as it attempts to put its arms around freedom. Then a natural disaster occurs in a neighboring country; we simply work harder in order to assist those people," Maj. Gen Frank D. Tutor, CDDOC director.
CFLCC's humanitarian support and assistance to Pakistan will not have a negative impact on CFLCC's primary mission, according to Tutor. CFLCC will optimize its resources to help the Pakistani government and will tailor its aid to the primary mission.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2005 00:34 |
| Story ID: | 3440 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 201 |
| Downloads: | 123 |
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