U.S. Department of Defense

Disaster Relief for the Victims of Cyclone Nargis

About 5,400 gallons of water are stored in the hangar bay of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex for possible distribution to victims of Cyclone Nargis, May 11, 2008. The cyclone and a tidal wave killed thousands of Burmese and left tens of thousands in need of food, water and shelter. The Essex Expeditionary Group is steaming toward the coast of Burma to offer humanitarian assistance.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Stephen B. Clark offloads relief supplies to transport to Burma, May 11, 2008, in the wake of a recent cyclone that killed thousands and left tens of thousands in need of food, water and shelter. Clark is assigned to the Headquarters and Service Battalion out of Okinawa, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgts. Todd Kneisly and Don Gambles transport a 4,000 pound pallet of bottled water to a C-130 Hercules aircraft in Utapao, Thailand, May 12, 2008, for humanitarian relief to Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis. Airmen from the base are in Thailand to provide a water purification unit and two airfield systems. Both are assigned to the 36th Mission Response Squadron out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Todd Kneisly and Airman 1st Class Robert Gore load a C-130 Hercules aircraft with humanitarian relief supplies in Utapao, Thailand, May 12, 2008, for Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Robert Gore tightens cargo straps on a pallet loaded with blankets in Utapao, Thailand, May 12, 2008. Airmen are transporting humanitarian relief to Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis. Gore is assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron out of Yokota Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel L. Mortensen secures a pallet of supplies in a C-130 Hercules aircraft at the Utaphao International Airport in Pattaya, Thailand, May 12, 2008. The aircraft is headed to Burma as part of Joint Task Force Caring Response, the joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response to Cyclone Nagris. Mortensen is a loadmaster with the 36th Air Lift Squadron.

An Air Force C-130 Hercules loaded with humanitarian supplies takes off from Utaphoa International Airport in Pataya, Thailand, to deliver relief supplies to victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma, May 12, 2008. The Air Force is part of the Joint Task Force Caring Response, a multiservice humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort for Burmese citizens devastated by the recent cyclone.

A C-130 Hercules aircraft from Yokota Air Base, Japan, departs Utapao International Airport in Thailand, May 12, 2008, for the first flight to Burma to provide humanitarian relief to victims of Cyclone Nargis.

Civilian aid workers and Burmese servicemembers load water onto trucks at Rangoon International Airport in Burma, May 12, 2008. A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft delivered the first of three planned shipments to provide aid to citizens devastated by Cyclone Nagris.

Burmese and U.S. servicemembers work together to unload supplies from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft at Rangoon International Airport in Burma, May 12, 2008. The shipment of water, mosquito nets and blankets arrived on the first of three planned relief flights to provide aid to citizens devastated by Cyclone Nagris.

Burmese servicemembers unload food packages from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules to a Burmese military vehicle at the Yangon International Airport, May 12, 2008. The plane carrying water, food and medical supplies is part of the Joint Task Force Caring Response, a multiservice humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort for Burmese citizens devastated by Cyclone Nargis.

U.S. and Burmese servicemembers pause while loading supplies from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft onto Burmese trucks at Rangoon International Airport in Burma, May 12, 2008. The shipment of water, mosquito nets and blankets is the first of three planned flights in the wake of a recent cyclone.

About 5,400 gallons of water are stored in the hangar bay of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex for possible distribution to victims of Cyclone Nargis, May 11, 2008. The cyclone and a tidal wave killed thousands of Burmese and left tens of thousands in need of food, water and shelter. The Essex Expeditionary Group is steaming toward the coast of Burma to offer humanitarian assistance.
U. S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Audrey M. Graham