KATHMANDU, Nepal, May 26, 2015 – Joint Task Force 505 deactivated today after redeploying from here and from Utapao Royal Air Field, Thailand, in support of Operation Sahayogi Haat.
Service members with the joint task force deployed to Nepal in support of multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction across the mountainous country April 25.
During Operation Sahayogi Haat — “Helping Hand” in Nepali — the task force worked with personnel from 24 countries to limit further loss of life and human suffering.
In coordination with the Nepalese government and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the task force delivered about 120.2 tons of emergency relief supplies, including plastic sheeting, shelter kits, blankets, water, medical supplies, and emergency and supplemental food. In addition to delivering aid, the task force transported 553 personnel and conducted 69 casualty evacuations.
Effort Involved 900 Personnel
About 900 U.S. military and civilian personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps contributed to the Nepal relief efforts under Joint Task Force 505’s auspices. About 300 of the task force’s personnel worked in Nepal, 320 at the main headquarters in Japan, and 280 at the intermediate staging base in Thailand.
Joint Task Force 505 contributed three Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopters and four Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to the relief effort throughout Nepal. Additionally, four Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs, four Air Force C-130 Hercules and four Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules aircraft, as well as various ground and aviation command and control assets, contributed to the effort.