KATHMANDU, Nepal -- The U.S. Air Force's 36th Contingency Response Group arrives in a C-17 Globemaster III Aircraft May 5 at Kathmandu, Nepal, bringing in more personnel to provide aid after the earthquake.
After the country was hit with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, The Nepalese Government requested the U.S. Government’s help. USAID is a U.S. Government agency that gives civilian foreign aid in time of natural disasters. Since the disaster, an international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation has been taking place.
The 36th CRG brought a 28-man team consisting of pilots, mechanics, medical personnel and other trained airmen in order to provide aid to the country.
“Many nations are involved in the assistance and we are here to receive all the aid from around the world,” said Lt. Col. Glenn Rinehart, the commander of the 36th Mobility Response Squadron. “We also alleviate some of the backlog to efficiently get supplies to the people who need it the most.”
Peter W. Bodde, the United States Ambassador for Nepal, visited the airport for the arrival of the C-17.
“Now we are entering the relief phase where we have the 36th CRG coming in from Guam providing expertise and resources to augment the assets of the airport,” said Bodde.
The 36th CRG’s mission is to provide the tools to help get more aircraft through the ramp and accelerate the aid that comes in through this airport so it doesn’t become a chokepoint for the distribution across the country, according to Col. Lee Anderson the 36th Contingency Response Group Commander.
“We are going to be here for as long as we need to in order to provide aid through this airfield,” said Anderson.