United States Department of Defense

DOD JOINS EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORT IN INDIA

The Department of Defense announced today that as part of the overall U.S. government effort, it is sending equipment and supplies to India to assist survivors of last week's earthquake. One U.S. Air Force transport aircraft departed Travis Air Force Base, Calif. yesterday, and another departed Dover Air Force Base, Del. today. After a brief stop at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the missions will continue on to Ahmadabad, India. Relief supplies include a two and a half-ton truck, two large forklifts, two 400-gallon water trailers, about 10,000 blankets and 1,500 sleeping bags, and 92 large tents capable of accommodating about 50 people each. These supplies will be provided to the Indian government in support of their humanitarian efforts.

The U.S. Pacific Command has also sent a six-person military assessment team to assist the U.S. Embassy in evaluating potential DoD support to continued relief efforts. The team is composed of experts in communications, logistics and medical support.

Department of Defense support is in addition to emergency relief efforts already underway by the U.S. Agency for International Development.