The Department of Defense has joined forces with the Mission of Love
organization of Youngstown, Ohio to move more than 30 tons of clothing,
medical, building and office supplies to help the people of Guatemala.
The supplies are being shipped to Guatemala City on a space available basis via
U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130s assigned to the 815th Airlift Squadron, Keesler
AFB, Miss. A portion of the shipment, about 21,000 pounds of pressure treated
lumber, was moved on June 30, with the remainder of the load tentatively
scheduled for shipment later this month.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Humanitarian and Refugee Affairs
(HRA) 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 (HAP) 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, 370 transportation
missions have been accomplished to more than 50 countries.
