25% of US aid spent for refuelling helicopters
Official sources said that the cost of refuelling 19 US helicopters will be deducted from the $217m pledged.
ISLAMABAD:
Almost a quarter of over $200 million in aid committed by the US for flood victims will go towards the refuelling of American helicopters being used for rescue and relief operations, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Official sources said that the cost of refuelling 19 US helicopters, which are currently operating in the flood-hit areas, will be deducted from the $217 million pledged by Washington.
“The refuelling would cost $40 to $50 million,” an official, working with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), revealed on the condition of anonymity.
The US Embassy confirmed that American helicopters were operating in the flood-hit areas as part of the overall relief package. “The cost of the helicopters is calculated per hour of the flight and they are all part of $217 million relief package for Pakistan,” US Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire told The Express Tribune. He said that the US military aircraft supporting flood-relief efforts in Pakistan had so far transported more than 3.9 million pounds of humanitarian assistance supplies and rescued more than 12,000 people.
Government officials said that currently over 70 helicopters including 19 from the US, 4 from Afghanistan and 3 from UAE are taking part in the rescue and relief operation. “The operational cost of these helicopters is really high, so a good portion of foreign assistance goes there,” NDMA Chairman Lt General (retd) Nadeem Ahmed told The Express Tribune.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy issued a statement on Monday stating that the first two of four additional US Marine Corps helicopters arrived at Pano Aqil Air Base near Sukkur. This brings the total number of the US military helicopters currently operating out of Pano Aqil to six. They will join 17 other US Navy and Marine Corps helicopters already in Pakistan supporting flood relief efforts. Two more helicopters are scheduled to arrive in the coming days, the statement added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2010.
Almost a quarter of over $200 million in aid committed by the US for flood victims will go towards the refuelling of American helicopters being used for rescue and relief operations, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Official sources said that the cost of refuelling 19 US helicopters, which are currently operating in the flood-hit areas, will be deducted from the $217 million pledged by Washington.
“The refuelling would cost $40 to $50 million,” an official, working with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), revealed on the condition of anonymity.
The US Embassy confirmed that American helicopters were operating in the flood-hit areas as part of the overall relief package. “The cost of the helicopters is calculated per hour of the flight and they are all part of $217 million relief package for Pakistan,” US Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire told The Express Tribune. He said that the US military aircraft supporting flood-relief efforts in Pakistan had so far transported more than 3.9 million pounds of humanitarian assistance supplies and rescued more than 12,000 people.
Government officials said that currently over 70 helicopters including 19 from the US, 4 from Afghanistan and 3 from UAE are taking part in the rescue and relief operation. “The operational cost of these helicopters is really high, so a good portion of foreign assistance goes there,” NDMA Chairman Lt General (retd) Nadeem Ahmed told The Express Tribune.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy issued a statement on Monday stating that the first two of four additional US Marine Corps helicopters arrived at Pano Aqil Air Base near Sukkur. This brings the total number of the US military helicopters currently operating out of Pano Aqil to six. They will join 17 other US Navy and Marine Corps helicopters already in Pakistan supporting flood relief efforts. Two more helicopters are scheduled to arrive in the coming days, the statement added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2010.