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Latest News

Royal Air Force Assistance to Pakistan Relief Effort

Published Thursday 20th October 2005

Chinook aircraft from Royal Air Force Odiham [Picture: Stuart Bingham]
Chinook aircraft from Royal Air Force Odiham [Picture: Stuart Bingham] Ration packs for Pakistan are loaded into a Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules [Picture: RAF]
Ration packs for Pakistan are loaded into a Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules [Picture: RAF]

Three Chinook aircraft from Royal Air Force Odiham, Hampshire will go out to Pakistan to aid the relief effort.  On 19 October 2005, the Ministry of Defence offered three Chinook heavy lift helicopters to the relief effort in Pakistan, as a further part of the UK Government effort, following a request for helicopters from the Government of Pakistan to the Department for International Development.

The Chinook will be deployed to assist in disaster relief work being carried out in the region, following the devastating earthquake of the 8 October 2005 in Muzaffarabad, Kashmir.  John Reid, Secretary of State for Defence, said:

"I am pleased to be able to offer three RAF heavy lift CH-47 Chinook helicopters for disaster relief work in Pakistan.  The terrible effects of the earthquake, and the human tragedy that has resulted, have resulted in a major international assistance effort and I am confident that our responsive and valuable assets will contribute a great deal to that relief effort."

An Operational Liaison Reconnaissance Team (OLRT), led by Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood, and supported by the Joint Helicopter Force, is in theatre conducting a detailed study of the tasks the Chinooks might undertake in the region.

The three Chinook aircraft from No 27 Squadron will deploy from Royal Air Force Odiham to assist the international humanitarian relief effort.  The first will depart on Saturday 22 October 2005. The aircraft will be transported in C17 aircraft of No 99 Squadron to Islamabad before flying into the affected area.

Elements of the Joint Helicopter Force Headquarters, based at RAF Odiham, will also deploy to provide command and control for the operation, along with teams from the Joint Helicopter Support Unit who will assist in the preparation of aid for movement by helicopter.

The scale of the devastation caused by the earthquake has resulted in a clear need for additional helicopters to provide relief in the region.  The MOD has responded to this humanitarian crisis with the deployment of forces ideally suited to providing support in natural disasters due to their high readiness and the ability to operate independently from unprepared areas.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is leading the UK Government response.  DFID are funding the Chinook deployment at a cost of £3M.  The Cabinet Office is acting in a coordinating role.  The MOD is in close consultation with DFID about UK military assistance.

Other MOD assistance to date includes:

  • A RAF C-17 aircraft transported two civilian Puma helicopters from Seville to Islamabad, chartered by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) on 17 October 2005.
  • Provision of 19,950 MOD vegetarian operational ration packs for the World Food Programme.  DFID arranged transportation from Bicester to Ramstein for onward NATO (NRF) airlift to Pakistan.
  • Provision of 3,150 MOD Halal operational ration packs and some bottled water to the World Food Programme, requested by DFID.  These supplies were flown by RAF C-130 Hercules from Kabul to Islamabad on
    16 October 2005.
  • Two C-130s flew to Incirlik, Turkey, on 18 October 2005 in preparation for transportation of aid to Pakistan and one more is planned to arrive 19 October 2005, accompanied by supporting personnel.  This assistance was provided at NATO's request [following a decision by the North Atlantic Council (NAC) that elements of the NATO Response Force (NRF) should be activated.]
  • One UK officer is in Islamabad (arrived 13 October 2005) as part of a six-person Operational Liaison Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) scoping the options for NATO assistance.
  • A six person OLRT from the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) arrived on the 19 October 2005 in Islamabad to prepare for the expected deployment of three Chinook helicopters.

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