FIRST U.S. HUMANITARIAN AIRLIFT REACHES ISLAMABAD

Statement from the Secretary of Defense on the South Asian Earthquake

“On behalf of the men and women of the Department of Defense, I express my condolences to those affected by the earthquake in South Asia.

“The Department of Defense is working closely with the State Department, and affected governments, to provide assistance to ease the suffering and assist in search and rescue operations.

“General John Abizaid, the Commander of the United States Central Command, and others have been in touch with military officials in Pakistan, and is moving five CH-47 and three UH-60 helicopters into Pakistan immediately.

“Additional capabilities for airborne reconnaissance, heavy lift ground equipment, and medical support are being identified and dispatched from within the Central Command region.

“Today, I will designate a dedicated Task Force commander in the region to work with the affected governments, to help assess their needs, and to draw on U.S. military capabilities from inside or outside the affected region as may be available and required.

“Our prayers go with those who have lost loved ones in the terrible situation.”

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release, On the Web: defenselink.mil/releases/2005/ Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131
Public contact: dod.mil/faq/comment or +1 (703) 428-0711 No. 1024-05, IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2005

Source: United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), SPC Claude Flowers, CENTCOM Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – The first relief supplies from the United States ready for departure aboard here on a U.S. Air Force C-17 less than 48 hours after the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and thousands more injured.

The C-17 and its crew from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- weighing almost 90,000 pounds -- of food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Two aerial port specialists from Bagram's 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron were also on the flight to coordinate and manage cargo at Islamabad. Airmen and soldiers at Bagram, with only a few hours notice, worked feverishly to palletize the supplies and prepare them for the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. James H. Cunningham) IMAGE 2, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The first relief supplies from the United States are unloaded in Islamabad, Pakistan from a U.S. Air Force C-17 less than 48 hours after the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and thousands more injured. The C-17 and its crew from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- weighing almost 90,000 pounds -- of food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Two aerial port specialists from Bagram's 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron were also on the flight to coordinate and manage cargo at Islamabad. Airmen and soldiers at Bagram, with only a few hours notice, worked feverishly to palletize the supplies and prepare them for the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. James H. Cunningham)

IMAGE 3, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Capt. Todd Stinchfield, C-17 aircraft commander, helps unload a pallet of the first relief supplies from the United States here less than 48 hours after the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and thousands more injured. The C-17 and its crew from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- weighing almost 90,000 pounds -- of food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Two aerial port specialists from Bagram's 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron were also on the flight to coordinate and manage cargo at Islamabad. Airmen and soldiers at Bagram, with only a few hours notice, worked feverishly to palletize the supplies and prepare them for the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. James H. Cunningham)

IMAGE 4, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Staff Sgt. Larry Mansell, aerial port specialist with the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, unloads a pallet of the first relief supplies from the United States here less than 48 hours after the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and thousands more injured. The C-17 and its crew from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- weighing almost 90,000 pounds -- of food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Two aerial port specialists from Bagram's 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron were also on the flight to coordinate and manage cargo at Islamabad. Airmen and soldiers at Bagram, with only a few hours notice, worked feverishly to palletize the supplies and prepare them for the flight. Sergeant Mansell is deployed here from the 137th Aerial Port Squadron in Oklahoma City. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. James H. Cunningham)

iMAGE 5, BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Airman 1st Class, Marie Gamachie, C-17 loadmaster, unloads a pallet of the first relief supplies from the United States here less than 48 hours after the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and thousands more injured. The C-17 and its crew from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- weighing almost 90,000 pounds -- of food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Two aerial port specialists from Bagram's 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron were also on the flight to coordinate and manage cargo at Islamabad. Airmen and soldiers at Bagram, with only a few hours notice, worked feverishly to palletize the supplies and prepare them for the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. James H. Cunningham)

Statement on Earthquake in Pakistan and India

Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Washington, DC, October 8, 2005

I send my deepest condolences to all those affected by today’s earthquake centered in northern Pakistan. The devastation in northern Pakistan and on both sides of the line of control in Kashmir is a terrible tragedy for the people of the region.

I spoke with the foreign ministers of both Pakistan and India this morning to convey our sympathy and offer whatever assistance may be needed.

At this difficult time, the United States stands with its friends in Pakistan and India, just as they stood with us and offered assistance after Hurricane Katrina.

Source: state.gov, 2005/930

more at CENTCOM and Pakistan or India and Earthquake or Islamabad