Pak-US establish Joint Aviation Coordination Cell to Aid Flood Relief.
Islamabad, August 31, 2010 (Frontier Star): A number of Pakistani, U.S. and international organizations, both military and civilian, gathered at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Aug. 28 to form a joint aviation coordination cell (JACC) aimed at streamlining air operations supporting Pakistan's flood relief efforts. According to US Embassy Spokesman, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Nadeem Ahmed, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority chairman established the JACC and appointed Pakistan Army Aviation Command Commander Maj. Gen. Raja Muhammad Arif Nazir to chair the coordination cell. The first meeting of the JACC brought together representatives from the NDMA, the Pakistan Army and Air Force, U.N. Logistics Cluster, World Food Program, and the U.S. After torrential rains pounded the country and a surge of water jetted through towns and villages, many were left without food, water, shelter and other basic necessities. The Pakistan Air Force's Central Flood Relief Cell stood up at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala to direct relief toward areas most in need, but there was still a communication gap between many of the Pakistani and international relief providers and organizations involved. The Pakistani-led JACC consolidates everyone's efforts and represents a huge success going forward, said U.S. Air Force Col. Greg Nelson, director of U.S. mobility forces for humanitarian assistance to Pakistan, based out of Chaklala. Participants discussed available food and supplies, requirements in flooded areas throughout Pakistan and means for transporting the items throughout the country. The meeting also provided an opportunity to facilitate communication between the participating countries and agencies involved in relief efforts and to better accommodate the many donations, air assets and collaborators.(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
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| Publication: | The Frontier Star (Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan) |
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| Date: | Aug 31, 2010 |
| Words: | 273 |
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