AMC continues efforts to aid earthquake victims; command conducts C-17 air deliveries Jan. 18

  • Published
  • By Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE Ill. (AFNS) --  Air Mobility Command Airmen have flown more than 260 sorties in support of Haiti relief efforts, rushing food, water and medical supplies to the people of Haiti.

In fact, since Jan. 13, AMC has delivered nearly 1,600 tons of cargo and about 2,400 passengers to Haiti and evacuated more than 600 victims from the earthquake-ravaged country.

In one of the most recent AMC missions, a C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., executed a crucial air delivery into Haiti Jan. 18 delivering more than 69,000 pounds of food and water.

Departing from Pope AFB, N.C., the C-17 flew round trip to Haiti delivering 14,000 meals ready-to-eat (MREs) and 14,000 quarts of water during the seven-hour mission. Joint Task Force Haiti provided protection by securing the air delivery area. Once on the ground, supplies were distributed by JTF-Haiti, U.S. Agency for International Development and other relief personnel.

According to AMC officials, lack of infrastructure in Haiti has significantly slowed the delivery of supplies and workers. Officials said air delivery is an alternative the international community is exploring to create alternate distribution points that will enable aid to reach people more quickly.

In other news, partnering with the United Nations, the U.S. State Department and other agencies, the 621st Contingency Response Wing was able to aid in the transport of six Haitian orphans to their new families in the U.S. via a C-17 from McChord AFB, Wash.

The children were among the dozens of orphans who were displaced by the earthquake that rocked Port au Prince early last week. According to news reports, the orphanage was destroyed in the earthquake forcing about 25 children to live outside.

At the Port au Prince Airport, personnel assigned to the CRW were able to get the children safely aboard the C-17 headed for the U.S.

"It was a teamwork effort," said Lt. Col. Randon Draper, assigned to 18th Air Force at Scott AFB. "There were a lot of moving parts coming together: the CRW, the State Department, CNN crews, the U.N. (and) a lot of people back in the states working together."

Since Haiti relief operations began Jan. 13, aircrews from across the command have evacuated more than 600 U.S. citizens.

Additionally, AMC continues to support relief efforts through transporting life saving medical supplies. Crews from Scott AFB loaded nearly 40,000 pounds of medical supplies into a C-17 bound for Haiti. Medical teams from across the command are posturing to provide medical assistance in Haiti as well.

Furthermore, crews from Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Pope AFB continue to transport Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne to help with the security situation in Haiti. During the past five days, Pope AFB's flight line has seen a total of more than 30 aircraft, nearly 500 passengers, and about 103 tons of cargo headed to aid in the humanitarian relief effort.