U.S. Marines And Sailors Assist Relief Efforts In Southern Pakistan

September 20, 2010

Islamabad - U.S. Sailors and Marines of the 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units continue to work closely with their Pakistan military partners to rescue displaced persons and deliver flood relief aid since their Sept. 2 arrival at Pano Aqil Air Base in the Sindh province of southern Pakistan.

The destruction of more than 60 bridges and roads in Sindh has led to the displacement of millions of Pakistanis who have been isolated from loved ones and basic life support.

"Working closely with our partners in Pakistan has helped us to better understand exactly how dire the need is here in the south," said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris, commanding officer of the Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan (Forward)-South.

"The people here have been hit especially hard by the floods," said Harris. "We are here to help in any way we can."

Working closely with the Pakistan military at Pano Aqil, U.S. military personnel there have delivered more than 1 million pounds of relief supplies to the people of Sindh province.  Nationwide, U.S. military aircraft supporting flood relief efforts have delivered more than 8 million pounds of relief supplies and rescued more than 16,000 people to date.