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NATO airlifted close to 3,500 tons of urgently-needed supplies to Pakistan and deployed engineers, medical units and specialist equipment to assist in relief operations after the devastating 8 October 2005 earthquake.
The mission came to an end, on schedule, on 1 February 2006.
The earthquake is estimated to have killed 80,000 people in Pakistan and left up to three million without food or shelter just before the onset of the harsh Himalayan winter.
On 11 October, in response to a request from Pakistan, NATO launched an operation to assist in the urgent relief effort.
NATO airlifted supplies donated by NATO member and partner countries as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees via two air bridges, from Germany and Turkey.
168 flights delivered almost 3,500 tons of relief supplies. The supplies provided included thousands of tents, stoves and blankets necessary to protect the survivors from the cold.
In addition, NATO deployed engineers and medical units from the NATO Response Force to assist in the relief effort. The first teams arrived on 29 October.
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On 10 October, NATO received from Pakistan a request for assistance in dealing with the aftermath of the 8 October earthquake.
The next day, the North Atlantic Council approved a major air operation to bring supplies from NATO and Partner countries to Pakistan.
More...NATO's short-term relief mission was based on five elements.
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