Airmen deliver food, medicine to Syrian refugees

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. George Thompson
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  U.S. Air Force members from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing loaded pallets of non-lethal aid on to a C-17 aircraft early April 30 at an undisclosed airbase in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The American Airmen, deployed to a U.S. ally nation, loaded the Air Mobility Command C-17 Globemaster III, based out Dover Air Force Base, Del., with Halal meals and medical aid bound for the Syrian Opposition Coalition. The mission demonstrated the flexibility and range of the C-17, which is capable of rapid delivery of all types of cargo supporting humanitarian missions worldwide.

"We're proud to be a part of helping people in need," said Lt. Col. Tammy McElhaney, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron commander from Lakeland, Fla. "The Air Force always stands ready to support our nation's priorities anywhere at any time."

The United States has provided $385 million in non-lethal assistance to date, which has helped 2.4 million people inside Syria and hundreds of thousands of refugees in neighboring countries.