United States Department of Defense

DOD TO TRANSPORT HUMANITARIAN AID TO PAKISTAN

The Department of Defense has announced plans to move excess DOD cold weather clothing and cots as part of an ongoing program to help Afghan refugees and other displaced persons in Pakistan. The supplies, totaling more than 35 tons, will be surface-shipped within the next five weeks from the Defense Logistics Agency at Ogden, Utah, to the port of Karachi, then on to Peshawar for distribution through the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees.

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. In fiscal year 1994, HAP completed 72 humanitarian shipments to more than 39 countries with an estimated acquisition value of $66.5 million.