The Department of Defense has joined forces with two humanitarian organizations
to help the people Haiti. In the coming months, more than 50 tons of food,
clothing, shoes, medical equipment, as well as other needed items like a
30-kilowatt generator, dump truck and front end loader, will be surface shipped
to Port Au Prince from warehouses in McCrory, Ark., and Oklahoma City, Okla.
The Department's Office of Humanitarian and Refugee Affairs worked in concert
with Feed the Children and the World Christian Relief Fund to help meet the
needs of the people struggling to rebuild a fragile democracy. Donations
provided through Feed the Children include almost six tons of canned
vegetables, 286 cases of baby food, and more than 1,800 pounds of bread and
cookies. WCRF contributions include the heavy equipment already mentioned,
water pump repair parts, steel pipe, a portable x-ray machine, and more than
seven tons of hospital equipment and dental supplies.
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.
Under the 1986 DOD Authorization Act, HRA is authorized 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.
