The Department of Defense and State Department announced plans to move more
than 50 tons of excess DOD medical, dental, and school supplies, as well as
construction equipment, to help the people of Ecuador. Over the next 60 days
arrangements will be made to surface ship the items from the Defense Logistics
Agency Depot, Ogden, Utah, to Quito, Ecuador.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Humanitarian and Refugee Affairs
Patricia L. Irvin said the Department, in cooperation with other government
agencies and within the limits of its resources, understands and strives to
fulfill its responsibility to help alleviate suffering throughout the world.
She said the Humanitarian Assistance Program is often the most economical means
available to local charitable organizations to transport donated goods to
foreign countries for humanitarian purposes.
The 1986 DOD Authorization Act authorizes HRA to transport non-lethal excess
property, relief supplies, and privately donated cargo to meet humanitarian
needs worldwide. Over the past two years, more than 370 transportation
missions have been accomplished to more than 50 countries.
