The Department of Defense has joined forces with Feed the Children, Larry Jones
International Ministries Inc., to move more than 35 tons of baby and bulk
foods, clothing, medical and dental supplies and household items to help people
in the Central American countries of El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
The supplies, enough to fill 115 shipping pallets, will be surface-shipped from
warehouses in Oklahoma City, Okla., to distribution points in San Salvador, El
Salvador; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; and Managua, Nicaragua over the next three
months.
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.
