Pakistan relief ops could last for months - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Pakistan relief ops could last for months

Marine operations in Pakistan were slated to last just one to two months, but Marines could now stay there for up to four, a top officer overseeing Marine deployments said.

Brig. Gen. David Berger, director of operations at Marine Corps headquarters, said the Corps could now spend twice as much time in country as was originally planned.

Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., arrived off the coast of Karachi, Pakistan’s capital, on Aug. 9, and Marines launched helicopters filled with humanitarian aid shortly afterward, Marine officials said.

“Right now, we’re planning long-term, because that’s the most difficult one” to support, Berger said of the Corps’ plans. “If we’re not needed that long, OK, but we’re planning 90 to 120 [days] right now.”

Monsoon rains have flooded villages, plains and mountain valleys in an area that spans more than 116,000 square miles, roughly the size of Italy.

At least 1,500 people have been killed, with 2 million left homeless and 6 million in need of food, water, shelter and medicine, United Nations officials said.

As of Aug. 19, the U.S. had 15 military helicopters, including 12 Marine helos, in Pakistan flying missions out of Ghazi air base, west of Islamabad. The aircraft included eight medium-lift CH-46E Sea Knights and four heavy-lift CH-53E Super Stallions, plus three Navy heavy-lift MH-53 helos sent from Bahrain. The Marine helicopters are with the MEU’s aviation element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (Reinforced), out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. About 200 Marines are staying at Ghazi to perform necessary helicopter maintenance and support.

The amphibious assault ship Peleliu was ordered to steam toward Karachi before the U.S. received a request for help from Pakistani officials because U.S. officials observed the likelihood that flooding in Pakistan would worsen.

Given Pakistan’s reputation for violence and terrorism, the U.S. paid special attention to the security of the U.S. troops involved. Troops have had little interaction so far with Pakistan’s people because the country’s military has taken the lead in distributing supplies, Berger said.

“You do have to worry about security,” he said. “This is where the working relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. was very helpful. On every aircraft that we’re flying, there’s at least one Pakistani soldier on board … and good security there. They are also providing helicopter support and security while we are flying and around the landing zones.”

The Corps also will deploy the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., about a month early to help in Pakistan. It will leave North Carolina by the end of the month.

Officials considered sending Ospreys set to deploy with the MEU early by plane, but ultimately decided to use what was already in theater, Berger said.