CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines – As the U.S. continues humanitarian relief efforts in the wake of the catastrophic Typhoon Haiyan, which left thousands dead and injured in the Philippines, the Defense Logistics Agency is positioning supplies and supporting those efforts where needed.
U.S. Pacific Command is leading the relief efforts for the Defense Department, and DLA is supporting those efforts as requests come in, said Redding Hobby, deputy director of DLA Logistics Operations. The most significant area of DLA support has been fuel for aircraft performing relief missions, with DLA Energy Pacific providing more than 1.2 million gallons of fuel since Nov. 8. This fuel has been provided from Clark Air Base on Luzon Island, where six refueling trucks are operating, and several other sites throughout the Philippines.
DLA has deployed four liaison officers to support the typhoon relief efforts, Hobby said. A liaison officer from DLA Pacific and one from DLA Energy are in the Philippines supporting U.S. Marines on the ground, a DLA Distribution liaison officer is at DLA Distribution Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and a DLA Troop Support liaison officer is onboard the Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy, which is docked in San Diego awaiting deployment to the region.
DLA Troop Support is working to stock the Mercy with medical and surgical items, pharmaceuticals, food and water as the ship awaits its deployment. Most of the material is being loaded in San Diego, and any remaining items will be stocked at the ship’s first port of call, which has yet to be determined. As of Nov. 21, DLA Troop Support had provided almost 100 percent of the items needed by the Mercy.
DLA has also pre-positioned supplies in overseas locations in anticipation of support requirements, Hobby said. DLA Distribution has positioned 3,000 human remains pouches each at DLA Distribution Yokosuka, Japan; DLA Distribution Pearl Harbor; and DLA Distribution Guam, Marianas. As of Nov. 21, DLA has 8,600 cases of bottled water on hand with the prime vendor in the Philippines, and can provide a daily supply if needed. DLA Troop Support also has 32,000 cases of ready-to-eat meals on hand in Okinawa, Japan, and is shipping 1,800 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and five cases of pastries to Marines at Villamor Air Base in Manila.
As relief efforts continue, DLA Pacific and the DLA Joint Logistics Operations Center are working closely with U.S. Pacific Command to provide whatever support is needed, Hobby said.
“As was the case with Super Storm Sandy and other humanitarian activities, DLA is ready to provide more if PACOM requires it,” Hobby said. “We understand the feeling of helplessness when a tragedy strikes only to be compounded by significant distance. As the lead, PACOM has boots on the ground, and DLA is ready to bring the agency’s full capability to the mission if called upon.”