Kadena Airmen Join Typhoon Haiyan Relief Efforts

Airmen from Kadena AB, Japan, began delivering aid to the Philippines as part of Operation Damayan, the US military’s humanitarian assistance and relief efforts there following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan earlier this month. They supported the movement of a water purification unit to Tacloban, capital of the storm-ravaged Philippine province of Leyte, on Nov. 14, and then helped bring a second unit to the Philippines on the following day, according to a Kadena release. “Sending these water purifiers is going to be a big relief for [the local residents],” said SSgt. Christopher Fleary, air freight supervisor for Kadena’s 733rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “We’re doing everything we can to help out,” he said. As of Nov. 14, the US military had transported 623,000 pounds of relief supplies, including emergency food and hygiene kits, to Tacloban, states the release. On that day, there were more than 600 US military personnel on the ground in the Philippines, plus offshore Navy elements, supporting the relief efforts. (Kadena report by SrA. Maeson L. Elleman) (See also Ormoc report by TSgt. Kristine Dreyer.)