From the U.S Marines Website (Dec 13):
Marines Aid Philippine Typhoon Relief Efforts
U.S. and Philippine service members load food packs destined for disaster-impacted areas in the southern Philippines, Dec. 9, 2012. (Photo by Courtesy photo by U.S. Embassy Manila)
Personnel and aircraft with III Marine
Expeditionary Force are providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
support at the request of the Philippine government in the wake of Typhoon
Pablo which struck Dec. 4. Marines with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, who
were in Manila conducting planning for future
bilateral training exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
stood up the III MEF forward command element Dec. 8 to support Philippine
relief efforts.
“The III MEF forward command element has
established the bilateral coordination center, which is providing command and
control for U.S. Marine relief efforts and coordinating requests for support
with the government and Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Embassy and
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, part of the U.S. Agency for
International Development,” said Marine Corps Col. Mark J. Menotti, the officer
in charge of the III MEF FCE. “We have personnel with the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, Pacific Air Forces, OFDA, Joint-U.S. Military Assistance Group-Philippines and
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines in the bilateral coordination
center in order to prioritize and synchronize humanitarian assistance and
relief efforts, which ultimately makes that coordination more efficient,”
Menotti added.
Two KC-130J Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial
Refueler Transport Squadron 152 arrived in Manila
from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, Dec. 8 to transport relief
supplies to affected areas, according to Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jason W. Julian,
the commanding officer of VMGR-152, part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF.
“As of Dec. 12, VMGR-152 has flown a total of 11
flights and transported approximately 330,000 lbs. of relief supplies,
including 14,500 family ration packs, 500 relief aid boxes and 40 generators,”
Julian said. “We also transported four water purification specialists and three
personnel from USAID and the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and
Development were transported to Davao.
It’s critical we work with everyone involved in the relief efforts to
expediently get these supplies to those affected by the typhoon and in need.”
The squadron also has transported 49,000 pounds of
rice, 147 bundles of mosquito nets, one water purification unit, approximately
29,000 pounds of blankets, 833 sleeping mats and a United Nation’s World Food
Program relief module and three of their tents. Marines transported relief supplies from Villamor
Air Base located in Manila to Davao International
Airport in Mindanao,
the region most affected by the typhoon. From Davao, the supplies were principally
distributed by government and nongovernmental organizations to displaced
families affected by the typhoon as directed by the Philippine government..
“We’re seeing a collective response from the
international community to support the Philippines,” Menotti said. “We are
happy to help our close allies, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in order to
provide necessary aid. The U.S.
government -- including U.S. Marine forces -- is providing robust logistical
and aviation support to quickly deliver life-saving supplies in support of
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.”
The U.S.
military has partnered and trained with the Armed Forces of the Philippines
for many years in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations,
Menotti said. “We frequently prepare for situations like this
with our Philippine allies, so we are ready to work together to support the Philippine
government and its citizens during this difficult time,” he said. “Our goal is
to help our ally recover from this natural disaster in whatever way we can.”
http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/135616/marines-aid-philippine-typhoon-relief-efforts.aspx
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