USAID PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN AFTERMATH OF PHILIPPINE TYPHOON

080701-N-5961C-011 BALASAN, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Anthony Chavez, a native of San Bernardino, Calif., works with a soldier from the Armed forces of the Philippines to move relief supplies to a school on the Panay Island. Chavez is a member of the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 and has been flying humanitarian missions into the island in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. Chavez is and is deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call

Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte and Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC on June 23, 2008. Video by the U.S. State Department

USAID Provides Assistance in Aftermath of Philippine Typhoon USAID release, June 23, 2008 WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an initial $100,000 for the purchase of emergency relief supplies, including blankets, mosquito nets, and water containers, to families affected by the typhoon in the Philippines. On June 20, 2008, Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) passed over the Philippines, with heavy rains and sustained winds of nearly 100 miles per hour (mph) and gusts as high as 108 mph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that the storm affected more than 470,000 people across 20 provinces, including 320,000 people in the most affected provinces of Iliolo and Capiz in the Western Visayas Region. According to NDCC, Typhoon Frank has killed 94 people, injured 67 others, destroyed or damaged more than 150,000 homes, flooded approximately 555,987 acres of farmland, and damaged 18.5 tons of agricultural produce. High winds and heavy surf from Typhoon Frank also capsized a ferry boat with 750 people on board. NDCC reported 32 survivors and 4 confirmed deaths from the accident, with the remaining passengers and crew members missing. USAID is continuing to monitor the situation and stands prepared to provide additional assistance if needed.

US Assistance in Aftermath of Typhoon Frank U.S. Embassy Manila, June 23, 2008 The United States extends its sympathy to all who have been affected by Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) and its aftermath in the Republic of the Philippines. We deeply regret the loss of life both on land and from the sinking of the ferry, Princess of the Stars. The U.S. government has offered assistance to the Philippine authorities in carrying out rescue and recovery operations. The U.S Pacific Command has directed the USNS Stockham, with search and rescue helicopters aboard, to proceed to Sibuyan Island to be available to assist with rescue and recovery efforts for the passengers and crew of the Princess of the Stars. We anticipate that the helicopters will be in position to begin operations later today. Additionally, the U.S. Pacific Command has directed a U.S. Navy P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft to proceed to Clark International Airport to join in this effort. It should arrive later today and will be prepared to participate shortly after that. In addition, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be providing PhP 4 Million ($100,000.00) worth of essential relief goods through the Philippine National Red Cross, for immediate distribution in the most severely affected areas. The United States stands ready to provide any help that we can in the wake of this tragedy.

U.S. Continues to Support Philippine Disaster Relief in Typhoon Frank Aftermath U.S. Embassy Manila, June 27, 2008 Since its June 25 arrival in the Sulu Sea, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier group has supported Philippine disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank (Fengshen). In direct coordination with Philippine and provincial government officials, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Philippine National Red Cross, U.S. military personnel are supporting immediate rescue, recovery, and disaster relief efforts being carried out by Philippine authorities. Said U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, “As President Bush said, friends help friends in a time of need and because of the strength of our friendship and partnership, U.S. and Philippine officials on the ground in Iloilo City were able to quickly mobilize a joint disaster relief effort.” Seven U.S. Navy Seahawk helicopters from USS Ronald Reagan, USS Howard and USS Thach have been working around the clock in partnership with the AFP, the NDCC and provincial government leaders to transport and deliver potable water and food supplies to the hardest hit areas in the Visayan region including the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique on Panay Island and the North and South Gigante Islands. Over 28,000 bottles of water, 10,000 pounds of rice, and many other non-perishable food items have been delivered with operations continuing in the coming days. Also, U.S. military engineering teams are working with their Philippine counterparts to restore electrical power in particular at major hospitals in the Iloilo region. In addition to the PhP 4 million ($100,000) worth of essential relief goods donated through the Philippine National Red Cross, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is sending a chartered aircraft to arrive June 29 with relief supplies, worth PhP 28.6 million ($650,000), sufficient for 20,000 beneficiaries.

080701-N-5961C-014 ILOILO, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Slavek Glownia sits among relief supplies in the aft section of an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 during a humanitarian mission on the Philippine island of Panay. HS-4 is embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call

080701-N-5961C-013 ILOILO, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Soldiers with the Armed Forces of the Philippines aircrewmen assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 load relief supplies onto an SH-60F Seahawk to air-lift to a remote location. HS-4 is embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call

080701-N-5961C-008 ILOILO, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Servicemen from the Armed Forces of the Philippines rest after moving humanitarian supplies delivered by helicopters from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. Filipino and U.S. service members are working to move supplies to remote areas in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call

080701-N-5961C-005 ILOILO, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Anthony Chavez, a native of San Bernardino, Calif. assigned to the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, looks out across the mountains of Panay Island where he and his squadron have been performing humanitarian relief in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. Chavez and the rest of the pilots and aircrew from HS-4 have been flying for seven strait days delivering thousands of pounds of food and water to remote areas on the island. The "Black Knights are embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Group unload the additional disaster relief supplies for over 20,000 beneficiaries that arrived on a chartered plane from the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development on June 30 in response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Frank. AFP and U.S. military personnel conducted round-the-clock operations to deliver U.S. donated disaster relief supplies and other donated supplies to isolated villages throughout Panay Island. U.S. Embassy photo

Philippine Red Cross volunteers load relief supplies donated by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development in response to Typhoon Frank. U.S. Embassy photo

080701-N-0640K-154 BALASAN, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Jeremy Thomas, a native of Warren, Ohio, carries supplies to local citizens of Balasan, Philippines. Thomas is a helicopter crewman with the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and has been flying missions to the island delivering food and water in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The region was hard-hit by Typhoon Fengshen and the "Black Knights" have been flying seven straight days delivering much needed supplies to remote locations on the island. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer S. Kimball

080701-N-0640K-433 BALASAN, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Citizens from the Municipality of Balasan, Philippines wave after receiving supplies from air crewmen assigned to the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The "Black Knights" are flying missions to the island delivering food, water and other humanitarian supplies in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The region was hard-hit by Typhoon Fengshen and the "Black Knights" have been flying seven straight days delivering much needed supplies to remote locations on the island. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer S. Kimball

080701-N-0640K-416 BALASAN, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Justin Irwin, a native of Pleasant Hill, Mo., hands a citizen from the Municipality of Balasan, Philippines a box of humanitarian relief supplies. Irwin is a helicopter crewman with the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and has been flying missions to the island delivering food and water in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The region was hard-hit by Typhoon Fengshen and the "Black Knights" have been flying seven straight days delivering much needed supplies to remote locations on the island. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer S. Kimball

080701-N-0640K-182 PANAY ISLAND, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Jeremy Thomas, a native of Warren, Ohio assigned to the "Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, is greeted Tuesday, July 1, 2008 by citizens of Balasan, Philippines during a mission to deliver relief supplies. The "Black Knights" are embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and are delivering relief supplies in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer S. Kimball U.S. Embassy Manila: Residents from the remote Municipality of Balasan, Philippines wave and cheer as U.S. sailors and AFP military personnel deliver much needed disaster relief supplies via helicopter from the joint U.S.-RP disaster relief operations center in Iloilo City. The additional disaster relief supplies for over 20,000 beneficiaries arrived on a chartered plane in Iloilo City from the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development on June 30 in response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Frank. The relief supplies worth PhP 28.6 million ($650,000) were donated in addition to the PhP 4 million ($100,000) worth of essential relief goods immediately sent through the Philippine National Red Cross. (U.S. Navy photo)

080701-N-5961C-012 BALASAN, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Children in the Municipality of Balasan wave goodbye to an aircrew from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 after the delivery of humanitarian supplies to their school. HS-4 has delivered thousands of pounds of food and water in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen into the island over seven days. HS-4 is embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call