Royal Navy, Air Forces Get Thanks from The Philippines

Senior officials from the Philippines have thanked the team in charge of the UK Armed Forces’ month-long response to the typhoon which devastated their islands last year. The Royal Navy – spearheaded by HMS Daring and Illustrious – and the RAF in particular played a key role in delivering aid and providing help last November and December.

Senior officials from the Philippines have thanked the team in charge of the military’s month-long response to the typhoon which devastated their islands last year.

A delegation from the republic – including the special representative of President Aquino Teofilo S Pilando Jr – visited the Northwood headquarters to show their appreciation in person for the efforts of all three Services, and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force especially.

Over 32 days last November and December, a 24-strong Joint Task Force Headquarters deployed to the Philippines to choreograph the actions of the UK military, working side-by-side with Filipino authorities, the Department for International Development and international agencies.

The response of the Britain’s Armed Forces included destroyer HMS Daring and later helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious, while the RAF committed C17 and C130 transporters to bring in and distribute aid.

Among the achievements of the Royal Navy’s part in Operation Patwin, codename for the military’s involvement were:

• helping more than 22,000 people
• providing 16,000 litres of drinking water – enough to fill the fuel tanks of almost 300 cars.
• delivering nearly 70 tonne of food
• distributing nearly 400 shelter packs
• delivering 10,000 sheets of tarpaulin to help people rebuild their homes.

The RAF provided:

• more than 230 tonnes of aid – shelters, blankets, water purification tablets and the like
• 4×4 vehicles
• forklift trucks
• JCBs.

Cdre Clive Walker, who was the Joint Task Force Headquarters, said it was clear from the visit of the delegation to the Northwood headquarters that Britain’s Armed Forces had “made a very significant impression on the people and the Government of the Philippines.

“It’s pleasing and encouraging to hear that our contributions were so appreciated and had such a positive affect on the communities that we assisted.”

As a nation, Britain was the biggest single donor to the international aid effort – £77m from the government, while the public gave an additional £85m.

“Although such donations were altruistic on our part, the collective civilian and military response could reap benefits for the UK in the long term”, said Royal Navy in its release.

“We are now in the ‘Asian century’. In a region where our trade links continue to grow, where some of the world’s largest militaries rub shoulders and where natural disasters will continue to occur, Britain has demonstrated our commitment to be a force for good in South-east Asia.”

Cdre Walker said in addition to the gratitude of Filipinos for Britain’s help, the UK’s response had impressed one of the senior US commanders in the region, Lt Gen John Wissler, whose III Marine Expeditionary Force has frequently responded to disasters in the Pacific region and intervened in the aftermath of Haiyan.

“General Wissler was spellbound by the British response – he saw the hangar on Illustrious bustling with activity. He was struck by how competent and effective the UK’s contribution was.

“Not many nations can do what we did as quickly and effectively.”

In the wake of Haiyan, experts from PJHQ and DfID have met their counterparts in Manila to discuss how the two countries could work together should a similar storm sweep through the islands again.

“Haiyan was the worst typhoon to hit the region. The poorest people were the ones who were most badly affected – communities were simply washed away,” said the commodore.

Key to the British response in most cases, after initial life-saving efforts and fixing essential services, was restoring village schools.

“That meant children could not only resume their education, but it meant their parents could begin rebuilding their lives, their homes and try to get their livelihoods going again,” Cdre Walker said.

With disaster relief training carried out by every ship in the Royal Navy and aid regularly provided by its men and women in the wake of natural disasters in the Caribbean especially, the Senior Service’s response to such events is well honed.

But Cdre Walker says there are still lessons to be learned from the effort in the Philippines.

“Clothing for our sailors – in the heat of the Philippines the Navy’s blue working uniform wasn’t particularly practical.

“And setting up food stations to provide sustenance ashore would be very useful.

“But otherwise, we did an outstanding job. It’s in the nature of British Servicemen and women to never let people down.”

[mappress]
Press Release, April 22, 2014; Image: Royal Navy