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Vice President of the United States - Richard B. Cheney

     Vice President's Visit to Pakistan

Vice President Dick Cheney discusses earthquake relief efforts with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Tuesday Dec. 20, 2005. President Musharraf thanked the Vice President for the US relief assistance and said, "I don't think we could have managed the relief operation without your support." Vice President Dick Cheney and US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan Crocker survey the devastation of Pakistan's earthquake zone Tuesday, December 20, 2005. At the peak of initial relief efforts, the U.S. had more than 1,200 personnel and 24 helicopters in the affected areas. American troops have flown more than 2,600 helicopter flights to deliver nearly 12 million pounds of relief supplies while US personnel have cared for more than 11,000 Pakistanis and supplied critical engineering support. During a one-day visit to Pakistan Vice President Dick Cheney surveyed the extensive damage caused by the October 8th earthquake. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake occurred in one of the most mountainous and inaccessible regions of Pakistan and took more than 73,000 lives and left 2.8 million people homeless. The US has pledged a total of $510 million in relief and reconstruction efforts and has provided winterized shelter for over 31,000 families to date. Vice President Cheney and Mrs. Lynne Cheney visit the 212th M.A.S.H.(Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) Unit run by the U.S. military in a mountainous area near the earthquake's epicenter, 65 miles northwest of Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday Dec. 20, 2005. During the visit the Vice President said he was "impressed with what we've been able to do with our M.A.S.H. units. U.S. forces were able to move quickly into the area. We were here within 48 hours and we've been here ever since." Vice President Dick Cheney and Mrs. Lynne Cheney greet Pakistani patients awaiting care at the 212th M.A.S.H. Unit near the earthquake's epicenter Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005.

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