Photo By Thomas Brading | A man unloads pallets of food April 21, 2016, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during a...... read more read more
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- Members from the 701st Airlift Squadron played a vital role bringing humanitarian aid to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, April 21, 2016, during ongoing Denton Program efforts.
Two C-17 Globemaster III’s were filled with 32 combined pallets and delivered more than 170 thousand total pounds of humanitarian aid to Haiti.
“Our role in the Denton mission is supporting the delivery of the cargo and supplies,” said Capt. Ed Sutton, 701st AS pilot. “It’s a rewarding experience to be a part of relief efforts to areas like Haiti or anywhere else in the world that may need it.”
The Denton Program creates an opportunity for private organizations to utilize space available on U.S. Military cargo aircraft to transport goods to countries in need.
The cargo moved under the Denton Program generally includes medical supplies, education supplies, furniture, vehicles, agricultural supplies, machinery, and clothing to support ongoing relief efforts and development projects. The supplies delivered by the 701st AS will be used by nongovernmental organizations throughout Haiti.
Although Haiti is a developing country, it has experienced its share of disasters. Currently, 1.5 million Haitians are threatened with malnutrition, double the estimated number last year, due to a three-year drought in the Caribbean region.
“Crops are being lost, rivers have dried, and children from villages in the mountains are being left unattended in Port-au-Prince, because their parents believe the children’s survival is greater in the city alone than with them in dry rural areas,” said Pacius Gueston, Haiti Christian Developmental Project director. “This aid will save many lives.”
Orphaned as a child, Gueston was raised by a nun in Haiti and taught the importance of education and work ethic. After attending college in the United States, he returned to Haiti to give back to the people that needed support.
Today, 70 percent of the estimated crops on the Caribbean island have been lost due to an ongoing drought, creating food instability for more than 3.6 million individuals. With farming being the primary source of income for the Haitians, the drought has created more financial instability.
Kathy Cadden, president and founder of Operation Ukraine, is another face on the ground in Haiti welcoming service members, like the 701st AS, during the offload of humanitarian supplies. She has been active in humanitarian efforts in the country. Half of this Denton cargo delivery was for her charity.
“We’ll make great use of the donated food and supplies,” said Cadden, who estimates she’ll oversee more than 8,500 dry meals and 3,500 cooked meals to be made for children. “We’re very thankful for everything the donor’s and the military has done.”
Since 1998, The Denton Program has overseen more than 5 million pounds of humanitarian supplies sent to more than 50 countries across the globe.
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2016 14:54 |
| Story ID: | 214677 |
| Location: | PORT-AU-PRINCE, HT |
| Hometown: | JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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