Relief!

This is coolbert:

Interesting program on NPR [National Public Radio] on the way home this evening.

They are interviewing this commissioner from the U.N that deals with humanitarian crisis.

Like the tsunami crisis about one year ago now.

This time the topic is the crisis in the northwestern portion of Pakistan. Where the earthquake recently struck.

About 3 million people are in dire need of shelter. This is the most pressing and immediate requirement. These folks have had their homes destroyed and cannot rebuild quick enough. The impending Himalayan winter is fast approaching. MOST will die if not able to find shelter, and soon. This commissioner equated the winter in that part of the world as being a winter comparable to what you would find in Montana. A rough winter, cold, snowy, and downright dangerous to those that DO NOT have shelter.

Again, this type of humanitarian crisis seems to be only manageable if handled by the military. Or at least greatly assisted by military action. That is the ONLY way to get help in the quantity needed and do so quickly enough to make a difference.

ONLY about one month is all there is left to make a difference.

And the numbers with this crisis are just staggering.

There are NOT enough tents in the world put together to provide enough meaningful shelter to the folks on the ground living in the open.

Folks are being told to improvise and try to restore at least one room in their destroyed homes that will provide SOME sort of shelter for the winter. That in itself is a prodigious task.

At this point, we are talking ONLY about shelter here. NOT the other necessities, food, warm clothing, etc.

It is just NOT a question of money.

Even if you have supplies, tents, food, water, medicine, etc., the question is also, HOW DO you get it to the victims, and how to do so in TIME!!

Helicopters, as flown in numbers by the military, are the only answer at this point.

You will need battalions of helicopters to make a difference, and those numbers at this point are just not going to be present in the foreseeable future, if at all.

Pack animals and porters are an alternative. Once again, organized in a military fashion. Mule caravans CAN carry a lot of stuff to the folks that need it, especially those that live in remote mountainous villages.

[the news broadcasts have shown mule caravans already at work here. It is the numbers required that is the problem!! Magnitudes more are needed, and NOW!!]

And porters, sherpa Himalayan mountaineering expedition style, can also contribute. Of course, in the case of porters, a continuous number of porters will be needed to keep up a steady flow of emergency supplies. This will all require a military type organization or augmentation by actual military units.

[A large number of folks wearing exoskeletons would be nice to have. But that is not possible!!]

And with the arrival of winter snows, the mountain roads and even trails will become difficult to travel on, if not impassable. At that point, ONLY the helicopter will be a source for resupply.

Military style helicopters such as the CH-47 [Chinook] are your best bet. The smaller choppers just do not have the range, or can carry the payload to make a difference. And the height of the mountains, the thin air, and such, make the ability of even large helios such as the Chinook less able to carry a full load of cargo or people.

And when you are talking about the massive number of choppers that will be required, you are talking about whole units of heavy lift helicopters. Units will have to be deployed, and then sustained for months on end. A difficult task at best. And in the primitive and very rugged landscape of northwest Pakistan, this is even far more difficult. Just getting the necessary fuel will be a challenge!!

Just a battalion of eighteen [18] heavy lift choppers is only a smidgen of what is needed in this crisis! You in all probability need much more helio support. And remember, if you have eighteen choppers in your unit, NOT all eighteen will be up and flying at the same time. Maintenance and down time for rest is mandatory depending upon amount of flying time. You can literally fly your bird into the ground otherwise.

This task is just mind-boggling!! It would seem that only the military has the means, and manpower, and the organization to make a difference. And it is needed NOW. I fear that what is needed will not be forthcoming. NOT enough time to meet the requirements.

coolbert.