AMC supports relief efforts for India earthquake victims

SCOTT AFB, Ill. (USTCNS) --- Air Mobility Command has launched its first aircraft carrying relief supplies to help victims of the Jan. 26 earthquake in India.

A C-5 Galaxy aircraft from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the first aircraft to take off in support of the mission, departed yesterday carrying 92 large tents that can accommodate 150 people each, 10,000 blankets and 10,000 sleeping bags.

A second C-5 departed from Dover AFB, Del., Thursday carrying one two-and-a-half-ton truck, two 400 gallon water trailers and two rough-terrain forklifts.

Both aircraft will fly to Anderson AFB, Guam, to off-load the humanitarian supplies onto C-17 aircraft from McChord AFB, Wash. The plan is for the C-17s to carry the supplies into India.

In total, the aircraft will carry about $1.6 million of relief equipment and commodities into India.

More AMC airlift is expected later this week carrying plastic sheeting, water purification equipment, water trailers and tents.

An earthquake measuring approximately 7.9 on the Richter Scale struck India Jan. 26. Indian government officials estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 have been killed in the disaster zone.

According to the U.S. State Department, the United States has pledged $5 million in humanitarian assistance. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).