NATO Response Force arrives in Pakistan

Background NATO delivers aid to Pakistan Multimedia 15/10/2005 - SHAPE High resolution photos of the Humanitarian Aid arriving in Pakistan

MONS, Belgium -- The first element of the NATO Response Force (NRF), the Deployable Joint Task Force Headquarters (tactical), arrived in Islamabad late Monday evening. This first deployment follows the activation order sent by Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General James L. Jones, to the Commander of the NRF, Vice Admiral John Stufflebeem.

Led by Vice Admiral Stufflebeem, this forward element of the NATO Response Force will pave the way for the arrival of other forces and will co-ordinate with Pakistani authorities the areas where both the headquarters and forces will be deployed. The first troops are expected to leave for Pakistan at the end of this week. They will be followed by more substantial forces and equipment, including ground handlers, helicopters, medical and engineering personnel and equipment, and water purification plants. In total, the NRF is planning to send approximately 1000 troops.

Meanwhile, the Alliance continues to operate air bridges from mainland Europe and Turkey to transport supplies donated by NATO member and partner nations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Eleven C-130s from the NATO Response Force have been deployed to Incirlik ( Turkey ) from Denmark, France, Greece , Italy, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Several additional aircraft are on call at their home bases.

Six C-130s and a US-chartered Boeing 747 took off today to deliver supplies donated by the UNHCR. Approximately 350 tons of supplies have so far been airlifted to Islamabad from Incirlik. A Trainer and Cargo Aircraft (TCA) from NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control Force, is also scheduled to arrive in Islamabad tonight, carrying 20 tons of blankets, beds and tents. Over the next few days, further flights are also planned from the US air base at Ramstein, Germany .

All offers from NATO and partner nations are being co-ordinated by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), which is working in conjunction with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the European Union and the Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels .