Nepal Disaster Relief Continues

US Pacific Command continues to support Nepal in the aftermath of an April 25 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed thousands and devastated the country. A joint humanitarian assistance survey team deployed from Kadena AB, Japan, to Nepal on April 29 to assist with relief efforts. Kadena-based airmen worked all night to load the 20-plus members and gear on a Marine Corps C-130, according to a base release. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, commander of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Battalion, will lead the team, which is tasked with supporting a US Agency for International Development Office of Disaster Assistance response team in Nepal. “The US Air Force’s role is to expedite the arrival of aid and responders into Nepal by using strategic and inter-theater airlifts,” said Lt. Col. Glenn Rinehart, commander of the 36th Mobility Readiness Squadron at Andersen AFB, Guam, who is part of the deployed survey team. As of April 28, USAF had sent two C-17s to Nepal. The first delivered 70 personnel and 45 square tons of cargo. The second brought 50 personnel, working dogs, and additional relief supplies, according to an April 28 Air Force release.