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Damayan relief efforts continue

US Marine Corps News

By Cpl. Jose Lujano | III MEF/MCIPAC Consolidated Public Affairs Office | November 21, 2013

PAMPANGA, Republic of the Philippines -- In a time-sensitive operation where every minute counts, military forces and humanitarian workers from around the world are supporting the Government and Armed Forces of the Philippines in an effort to provide relief to those people whose lives have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

Aid is arriving to remote areas at the request of the Government of the Philippines, while the U.S. Pacific Command continues to send more support to the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the Philippines.

A total of 14 Ospreys are currently operating around the clock to provide essential supplies like food and water to the most isolated areas affected by the typhoon. The Ospreys are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadrons 262 and 265, both assigned to the aviation combat element of Joint Task Force 505.

"The aircraft will really display how it's made for this part of the world when we fly south delivering the supplies to the people and reaching those remote areas where people have not been able to receive supplies," said Capt. Robert S. Swartz, a pilot with VMM-265. "We don't need an airport to land, especially with all the damage the airports took down there. All we need is enough space, like a soccer field, and there are definitely a number of those zones for us to reach the people."

The Osprey is the ideal aircraft for this HADR operation due to the capabilities it provides, according to Swartz. With its vertical take-off and landing capabilities, it can operate in austere environments. Its ability to convert quickly to fixed-wing configuration gives it greatly increased speed and range over traditional rotary-wing aircraft, substantially strengthening the ability to save lives and reduce suffering.

The typhoon has impacted millions of people throughout numerous provinces in the Philippines, and being the first on-scene is important in demonstrating U.S. support and friendship to the Government of the Philippines, according to Swartz.

"What people need to understand is that the biggest typhoon in recorded history happened in the Philippines and we are out here supporting the request of the Government of the Philippines and their lead to fully (get this country) back on their feet," said Swartz.

As the number of Ospreys nearly doubles, the amount of aid to the people of the Philippines will also. With more aircraft in the air, more help will be arriving at those isolated locations.