3 December 2013
HMS Illustrious has delivered food to more than 10,000 people during her first week helping people in the Philippines hit by Typhoon Haiyan.
The carrier’s helicopters have collectively clocked up one and a half weeks in air ferrying tonnes of supplies around, including makeshift shelters, tools and fresh water.
Pictures: PO(Phot) Ray Jones and LA(Phot) Nicky Wilson, HMS Illustrious
MORE than 10,000 people have been given food for seven days – just one headline statistic from the first week’s efforts in the Philippines by the men and women of HMS Illustrious.
During seven intense days of flying by the aircraft carrier’s Royal Navy and Army Air Corps helicopters, and all-out efforts on the ground and on the ship to sort out aid and deliver it, 130 tonnes of food, tools and makeshift shelters have been landed in half a dozen remote islands whose communities were badly hit by Typhoon Haiyan.
The carrier’s flight deck has been operating constantly since she arrived in the Philippines on November 25 following a 6,000-mile journey from the Horn of Africa where the ship had been chasing down pirates.
After briefly stocking up with 500 tonnes of supplies of UK aid loaded in Singapore, turning the man o’war into a ‘floating warehouse’ of emergency supplies, the Portsmouth-based helicopter carrier took over from HMS Daring, which spent ten days around the islands of the Visayan Sea.
Filipinos have been quick to show their gratitude for the assistance – from islanders crowding around the sailors delivering aid to messages of thanks hung from buildings (and even tree trunks) or spelled out on beaches (using old clothes).
And from children on the island of Sicogon, a thank-you letter “to the members of the Royal Navy”.
May you continue to help and served [sic] as an inspiration to all people, especially those who are less fortunate, not only in our country but also those who are in need from the whole world.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!
In her first week on station in the region as part of Operation Patwin, the UK military’s response to the typhoon, HMS Illustrious has delivered 356 pallets of supplies (roughly 130 tonnes of stores) including:
- 2,048 family food packs (each enough to feed a family of five for one week);
- 5,400 pieces of tarpaulin;
- 46 debris clearance packs (shovels, wheelbarrows, hammers, saws, tarpaulins, rice bags and assorted tools)
- 1,500 litres of water to those islands where they do not have a fresh water supply.
It’s not just the size of the ship and the amount of aid she can carry which are important, but the Fleet Air Arm Merlin and Sea King and Army Air Corps Lynx helicopters which have really made a difference.
Combined they have flown 252 hours in Illustrious’ first week in the Philippines, performing 227 sorties with loads slung beneath them to deliver aid in large quantities to inaccessible areas.
“After five days of intensive air operations, December 1 was the most active day so far. Five helicopters transported 40 tonnes of stores in 61 under-slung loads, with 50 sorties taking freight and landing our teams and DfID officials ashore,” said Cdr Nick Walker, Commander Air – in charge of all flying operations about Illustrious.
”I don’t think there has been a busier day on the Flight Deck since Illustrious converted to a helicopter carrier in 2010.”
The 800-plus sailors, soldiers – both Army Air Corps and Royal Engineers – and Royal Marines of Juliet Company 42 Commando have around 11 hours of daylight to do the majority of the work on the ground.
But the work doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. In Lusty’s cavernous hangar, teams of personnel have been working around the clock to sort and pack the much needed supplies ready for the daylight hours to be distributed ashore.
“Although the majority of the flying occurs in daylight hours, supporting the air effort with aircraft maintenance, deck and load preparations and planning and briefing is a 24-hour operation,” said Cdr Walker.
“I am immensely proud of all those involved and what they have enabled the Air Group to achieve for the people of the Philippines.”
Alongside food aid and equipment distribution on numerous islands, there have been opportunities for soldiers, sailors and Royal Marines to get stuck in with repair projects: fixing generators, buildings, fishing boats, plus clearing debris on six islands to allow the local populace to get back to providing for themselves.
On the islands of Calagnaan, Binaluangan and Gigante, teams of engineers repaired the school roofs, providing shelter from the sun and rain for the children, and allowing lessons to return to normal.
Gigante was also provided with two generators; one of which is up and running providing power to the school. On the islands of Sicagon and Binaluangan, medical teams from International Emergency Trauma Register (UK-Med) set up a clinic for islanders whose nearest hospital is several hours away by boat.
Lt Cdr Andy Reeves led the team repairing the school roof of Bito-on, Calagnaan Island.
“It’s a huge honour to be involved in this kind of operation,” he said. My team and I have found it incredibly rewarding to be able to make a difference on the ground to the people of the Philippines who have been through so much in the last few weeks.”
Illustrious is remaining in the Philippines as she continues her relief work, focusing her efforts on the island clusters around the central isle of Panay to assess what is needed and continue providing vital assistance to local communities.
Ten thousand thank-yous for Illustrious after first week on typhoon mission