3rd MEB to provide humaintarian assistance to Philippines.
At the request of the Philippines government, Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel has directed US Pacific Command to support US Government humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations (HADR) in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
Approximately 90 US Marines from the 3rd MEB and two KC-130J Hercules aircraft from the 1st MAW departed Marine Corps Air Station Futenma 10 Nov en route to the Philippines.
A forward command element (FCE) and humanitarian assistancesurvey team (HAST), are deploying to Tacloban.
The earlier mentioned operations includes requests for the KC-130 cargo aircraft and MV-22.
Aircraft carrier USS George Washington on way to Phillipines. They are just visiting Hongkong, and set sail for rescue operations.
Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estland and Luxembourg send personnel for two rescue teams both operating from Tacloban. With logistics, IT-experts, sanitary and water engineers. Info from Swedish MSB (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap). Swedens own civil security defence. They operate at least over 25 hardened operation centers in Sweden.
US aircraft carrier to arrive for Philippines relief in 48-72 hours.
Chuck Hagel ordered USS Washington aircraft carrier to head to the Philippines to support relief efforts and it should arrive in 48-72 hours, the Pentagon said on Monday, confirming a reuters report.
A Pentagon statement said crew from the George Washington which carries some 5000 sailors and more than 80 aircraft, were being recalled early from shore leave in Hong Kong and the ship was expected to be under way in the coming hours.
Other US Navy ships would also head to the Philippines, it said.
hammarö wrote:US aircraft carrier to arrive for Philippines relief in 48-72 hours.
That is correct. I noted the USS GW in the Hong Kong Harbor today. She left between 12:30 and 15:00 this afternoon together with her battleship support (Two ships already left yesterday).
Noted at Manila Villamor on Nov 11 were:
C-130H: 4726 (PAF) flying on and off most likely to Taclobar.
C-12a: 40155 (US).
KC-130J: 167983/QD-983 (USMC).
In addition the last few days many Huey flew on and off as well. However they remain unknown.
Dutch government has ordered one KDC-10 to fly tents and mobile watercleaning facilities to the Philippines, although aircraft availability is rumoured to be the reason why a departure is not expected before next Thursday.
De Zamboni heeft kramp in zijn achterwiel Jan Maarten Smeets, Heerenveen 31 oktober 2009
Tuseday at lunchtime the first planeload of team members took off for the Philippines.
Along with its partners MSB has sent equipment and personnel to the Philippines as support for the UN disaster aid operations. The team consists of experts in IT and satellte communications, and also medical and water treatment experts.
The field staff come from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia and Luxembourg, 21 team mebers in total, eight from Sweden.
The MSV together with its IHP (International Humanitarian Partnership) partners in neighbouring countries sent personnel and equipment to support the UN disaster relief work in the Philippines.
Yesterday a Hercules (845) aeroplane took off from Örebro airport for the Philippines, carrying base camps and communications equipment. The plane on Tacloban late wednesday. The Swedish base camps will be a hub for the UNs disaster relief organisations on scene. From these camps UN field staff will be able to help those affected.
More support needed.
The MSB received a request to send another base camp. The MSB is looking into options for delivering this and is in dialog with SIDA (Swedish human org) regarding possible funding. If there is a delivery that will also occur within the framework of the IHP.
During a Pentagon news conference, Little explained the roles that DOD and other U.S. agencies are taking in humanitarian aid and disaster assistance in the Philippines.
"As soon as we received reports of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan, [Defense] Secretary [Chuck] Hagel immediately ordered all available U.S. forces to move to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Philippines," he said.
"The Philippines is a treaty ally, and the United States stands by its friends and allies in times of crisis," Little added.
Super Typhoon Haiyan has affected more than 4.2 million people across 36 provinces in the Philippines, according to the Philippine government's national disaster risk reduction and management council. More details about casualties and damage are expected in the coming days as transportation and communications systems are repaired.
Little said more than 250 U.S. service members from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade are on the ground operating from Philippine air bases Clark and Villamor.
"They are supported by five KC-130 transport aircraft and four MV-22 Ospreys, with additional transport aircraft expected in the next few days," he said. "As of last night, the Marines reported that they had delivered 107,000 pounds of relief supplies to the government of the Philippines."
The priorities for aid are potable water, food, shelter, hygiene products and medical supplies, Little said.
"Yesterday, Secretary Hagel ordered the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and other U.S. Navy ships homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, to make best possible speed for the Philippines," he said, noting they are expected to arrive in the area tomorrow.
Numerous U.S. military vessels and aircraft are headed toward the devastated region, the press secretary told reporters.
"The George Washington was in Hong Kong on a port visit," Little said. "Embarked on George Washington is Carrier Air Wing 5, with more than 80 aircraft, including 11 helicopters. The George Washington can produce more than 400,000 gallons of fresh water per day."
Additionally, he said, the cruisers USS Antietam, USS Cowpens, and the destroyers, USS Mustin, USS McCampbell and USS Lassen will join the supply ship USNS Charles Drew, which already is underway.
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