Lufthansa Cargo and THW transport 75 tonnes of relief supplies
Frankfurt, 25 January, 2010 (STAT): A Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 freighter carrying around 75 tonnes of relief supplies for the quake victims in Haiti took off from Frankfurt Airport at 14.05 hours today. The flight is due in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, at 19:15 hours local time. Landings in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince are subject to extremely tight restrictions - the airport is largely utilised formilitary flights.
The Federal Agency for Technical Aid (THW) is handling the logistics and coordinating the relief mission on behalf of the Foreign Ministry. Lufthansa Cargo is providing the aircraft free of charge. The relief supplies on board the MD-11 freighter include drinking water treatment plant, water analysis laboratories, generators, medicaments, food, tools and emergency accommodation equipment, which have been supplied by diverse German aid organisations. Aside from the THW, the Johanniter, the Order of Malta, Welthungerhilfe, Cap Anamur, Caritas, ADRA, Arche Nova, Don Bosco Youth Third World, Help, the Samaritans and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) are cooperating in the mission.
"It is natural for Lufthansa Cargo to help deliver emergency supplies in a situation like this," said Lufthansa Cargo Chairman Carsten Spohr at a press conference at the Sheraton Frankfurt Hotel & Towers, Conference Center. This first special cargo flight from Frankfurt is enabling us to transport urgently needed aid quickly to the earthquake-stricken country."
THW President Albrecht Broemme told the press conference that the relief mission was organised without red tape. "It is important that aid is delivered promptly. We are pleased to have this opportunity to provide logistics support for this joint transport and send a further two drinking water treatment plants and laboratory equipment to the disaster area."
Dr. Werner Hoyer, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry, added: "I'm impressed by the generosity of the people in Germany. The growing fund of donations is to me a radiant signal of solidarity with the sorely afflicted people in Haiti. My thanks naturally also go to Lufthansa and the THW, who are ensuring jointly with the Federal Government that this aid is going where it is needed."
Jean-Peter Saget, Haitian Ambassador to Germany, expresses his thankfulness: "I am deeply touched and thankful for all the campaigns and initiatives launched by the German government, civil organisations and the media in support of the earthquake victims in Haiti. I am most grateful for the noble help given to us so generously by the German people and all those involved in this special relief flight today. A magnanimous gesture at such a difficult time for my country and its people."
Besides today's relief mission with the MD-11 freighter, Lufthansa is flying further urgent supplies especially food on passenger flights to Miami. From there, the aid is being transported to Port-au-Prince by the US military airlift.
