Ramstein continues Algerian relief

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. M. Davis
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  More humanitarian relief supplies were in the sky June 5 as three C-130 Hercules aircraft flew from Ramstein to earthquake-stricken Algeria.

This is the second humanitarian mission bringing eight pallets containing more than 6 tons of much-needed supplies to the people in the areas surrounding Algiers.

The aid came in the wake of a magnitude 6.8 earthquake May 21, which killed more than 2,300 people, leaving many without shelter, running water or food.

For Master Sgt. Tom Sullivan, 123rd Air National Guard from Louisville, Ky., providing aid is the greatest part of his job.

“Anytime you can help people in need is great,” said Sullivan, a C-130 loadmaster. “We are proud to be a part of helping them get back on their feet.”

His unit, part of Ramstein’s Delta Squadron, has been here for three months and expects to be here for possibly three more. Although this is Sullivan’s first time deploying to Algeria in his 21 years of Guard duty, he has traveled extensively around the U.S. Air Forces in Europe theater of operations supporting missions to Bosnia, Kosovo and most recently, Iraq.

“It’s great to travel around the world to provide help wherever we can,” he said.

The aircraft delivered 1,800 tents, 17,000 sleeping bags, electrical and water purification equipment and medical kits. A critical part of the shipment was portable kitchens that can feed more than 3,000 people per day.

The items came from U.S. European Command’s humanitarian assistance excess property program, which takes serviceable items from Defense Reutilization Marketing Offices to support 63 countries in Europe and Africa.

Mohamed Bouarfetine, a fireman at Algiers Boumediene Airport, expressed his country’s appreciation.

“We are very happy for the humanitarian assistance we have received from the American people and extremely grateful,” he said. (Courtesy of USAFE News Service)