On 16 November (after about one week of relief operations), USPACOM ordered
the activation of Joint Task Force-505 (JTF-505) to take lead of the U.S. military's
involvement in this disaster relief mission, replacing MARFORPAC. The decision
to establish a Joint Task Force was likely the result of USPACOM's recognition of
the size, scope, and complexity of ongoing relief requirements but uncertainty
about relief duration. Two days later, on 18 November, JTF-505 established a
presence and took charge of operations in the Philippines, under the command
of Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF).
After two more days, on 20 November, JTF-505 reached full operational
capability. U.S. military forces soon totaled more than 13,400 personnel, 66
aircraft, and 12 naval vessels.
However, by the time JTF-505 was fully operational in theater (20 November), 3d
MEB/MARFORPAC and JSOTF-P had already delivered almost all U.S. military
assistance requested by USAID/OFDA. According to USAID Fact Sheet No. 8,
19 November 2013: "Over the past several days, logistics operations and
capacity have significantly improved in typhoon-affected areas, according to
USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). The U.N. Humanitarian
Air Service (UNHAS) has initiated flights, the port in Tacloban is resuming
service, and trucks from Mindanao and Manila are reaching Tacloban. In
addition, both U.N.-contracted and commercial trucks are transporting relief
commodities within Tacloban and to neighboring areas. The U.N. World Food
Program (WFP) reports that most humanitarian cargo is reaching affected
populations by truck or barge at this time, decreasing the need for air transport."
Also, according to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) Situation Report No. 13, 19 November 2013: "The relief operation
has scaled up substantially, especially in Tacloban City, now that access and
logistics conditions have improved. Significant food and medical assistance has
been provided in Tacloban, and water services as well as limited telecommunications services have been res ѽɕ