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Workers load humanitarian supplies onto a jet bound for Kabul. The plane is carrying 190,000 pounds in supplies which will be distributed by Mercy Corps in Afghanistan. Photo: Bob Kellett/Mercy Corps
PORTLAND, Oregon - A Boeing 747 takes off today from Portland for Kabul, Afghanistan loaded with lifesaving humanitarian aid. Two nonprofit organizations, Evergreen Humanitarian Services and Mercy Corps, have teamed up to send and distribute the supplies, which are valued at more than $2 million and weigh more than 190,000 pounds. Items on board include hygiene kits, newborn and baby kits, livestock feed, winter clothing and blankets, school kits, and medical supplies. Evergreen Humanitarian Services' parent company, Evergreen International Aviation, is donating the cargo plane and crew. Mercy Corps is coordinating distribution of the humanitarian commodities on the ground, utilizing its 15 years of experience working in Afghanistan.
The Evergreen/Mercy Corps flight is scheduled to leave Portland International Airport for Kabul on Sunday, February 10 at 8:30 PM. Earlier in the day, from 1-2PM, the plane will be loaded at a nearby warehouse. The plane is scheduled to land in Kabul on Tuesday, February 12 at approximately 7:30 AM local time.
Reportedly, this is the first US carrier to receive approval to fly into Afghanistan since the war began. In addition, this is the first 747 to land at the airport in more than two decades (since 1974).
"We've all been anxious to do something to help ease the suffering of people in Afghanistan," says Marianne Mason, Evergreen's humanitarian affairs president. "This is one way we can help, and we're overwhelmed by the a tremendous amount of support and cooperation we've received to help make this happen." The Evergreen/Mercy Corps flight to Afghanistan is made possible by the charitable contributions of a variety of partner organizations and businesses (see below).
Mercy Corps staff in Afghanistan is handling distribution of most of the humanitarian supplies. "The logistics of landing a 747 at the Kabul airport just one month after the interim administration came to power required a great deal of coordination and close work with the new leadership," said Anita Anastacio, Mercy Corp's Central Afghanistan representative. "We have a plan of quick distribution and transportation when the plane arrives."
Commodities - Details about some of the commodities traveling on the flight to Afghanistan are listed below:
• Hygiene Kits - include basic supplies such as soap, shampoo and toothbrushes, which many Afghans go without daily, especially the large numbers of people who have been forced to leave their homes.
• Newborn Kits and Infant Kits - include items for newborn babies and small children such as blankets, diapers and clothes. These kits will provide comfort and support to help alleviate the low birth rate of children in Afghanistan (currently the highest in the world).
Distribution: Mercy Corps will immediately distribute the newborn and infant kits to two hospitals in Kabul City - Malalai and Rabia Balkhi. Each hospital averages about 100 newborn deliveries a day. Some of the kits will be distributed at a later date as part of midwife programming.
• Medical Supplies - includes surgical, clinical and first aid supplies, which will help re-stock hospitals and clinics, which were without deliveries for months during the recent conflict. Items will also treat large numbers of people suffering a variety of problems related to the widespread lack of food and shelter.
Distribution: Mercy Corps staff in Kabul will immediately inventory the medical supply shipment and then determine most appropriate distribution outlets within the agency's health care system, which includes hospitals, clinics and rural basic health units (BHUs),
• Animal Feed - pelleted feed for livestock will help stave off the severe damage four years of drought that have killed off and weakened large numbers of livestock.
Distribution: The livestock feed will be distributed over time following a field assessment. Probable distribution locations include the Logar province and the Paghman district, rural areas outside Kabul.
• School Kits - include pencils, paper, chalkboards and chalk, which will assist the renewed efforts on education for children, including girls.
Distribution: Mercy Corps will distribute the school bags to the Naswan #12 High School in the Khir Khana district of Kabul. The school has 1,400 students - girls (840) and boys (560) from 6 - 22 years old, grades 1 -12.
• Winter Clothing and Blankets - The coats, sweaters and other warm clothes (all sizes) and wool blankets being sent are much-needed items during the notoriously cold Afghan winter.
Distribution: Evergreen Humanitarian Services will distribute these items to the Allaudin Orphanage in Kabul. And Afghanistan Relief Organization will distribute winter clothing and blankets throughout Kabul.
Partners:
Evergreen International Aviation and Microsoft have generously provided financial support. Partners in the flight to Afghanistan that have contributed material goods include the following organizations and businesses:
Evergreen Humanitarian Service
Fish Hawk Fisheries
Mercy Corps
Oregon Ocean Seafood
Goldsmith Company
LDS Charities
Lutheran World Relief
Portland Zoo
Northwest Medical Teams
Jack Hanna & Columbus Zoo
White Diamond Ranch
PARSA
Nike
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals
AMB Property Corp.
3M Company
Danner Boots
Trammel & Co.
Freight Master
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