Re: US moving 8 helicopters to Pakistan for relief efforts
Then why is Dawn reporting that all 8 helicopters arrived in Islamabad?
http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/11/top7.htm
And Jang is syaing the same thing as well.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2005-daily/11-10-2005/main/main11.htm
Meanwhile, the long awaited US helicopters finally arrived in Pakistan and according to the spokesperson they are already to operate in areas where devastation and lack of road access needs their services on top priority.
“These helicopters would be flown by American crew members as is the case with the other ones that are helping out. The nationality of the crew is not an issue,” she said. Earlier there were reports that Pakistan had indicated that it did not need any American troops for rescue efforts and it would prefer to use its own pilots to fly these choppers.
Besides pledging financial assistance, and Chinook helicopters, the US has also sent 5,000 blankets, 250 rolls of plastic sheets and 5,000 Jerry Canes which have been handed over to the Cabinet Division for onward distribution. Two rescue teams were also expected from the United States on Monday.
The eight heavy-lifting US helicopters from Afghanistan flew into Pakistan from Afghanistan more than 72 hours after the quake hit Pakistan. This was despite the fact that the choppers were right next-door in Afghanistan. A large C-17 aircraft also flew to Pakistan carrying 12 palettes of food, water and blankets, the US military said, as the relief operation after Saturday’s huge earthquake kicked into gear.
The helicopters, five large Chinooks and three smaller Black Hawks, would deliver aid, transport personnel and airlift survivors, a US military spokesman said. The twin-rotor Chinooks were useful for “lifting support” as they were able to pick up several people at once and carry tonnes of aid, he said.
“The Black Hawks are smaller, they have more manoeuvrability, are quicker transport and efficient, useful in rescue operations,” he said. Later, the US Ambassador in Pakistan said that the US would donate US 50 million initially and this was not a final sum as it could increase keeping in mind the assessments made in the future about the disaster.