United States Department of Defense

DOD TO TRANSPORT HUMANITARIAN AID TO NICARAGUA

The Department of Defense has announced plans to move more than 150 tons ofexcess DOD medical equipment, dental supplies, school supplies and constructionequipment to help the people of the Nicaragua. The supplies -- enough to filleight 40-foot trailers -- will be surface shipped from the Defense LogisticsAgency Depot in Mechanicsburg, Pa. to the Nicaraguan city of Managua within thenext three months.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Humanitarian and Refugee Affairs(HRA) Patricia L. Irvin said the Department, in cooperation with othergovernment agencies and within the limits of its resources, understands andstrives to fulfill its responsibility to help alleviate suffering throughoutthe world. She said the Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) is often themost economical means available to local charitable organizations to transportdonated goods to foreign countries for humanitarian purposes.

Under the 1986 DOD Authorization Act, HRA is authorized to transport non-lethalexcess property, relief supplies and privately donated cargo to meethumanitarian needs worldwide. Over the past two years, 370 transportationmissions have been accomplished to more than 50 countries.