I just received an interesting press release from Project HOPE:
Project HOPE, an international health education and humanitarian assistance organization, today sent more than $400,000 of antibiotics to the people of Georgia through a U.S. Department of State airlift that will arrive in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi later this week.
Nearly 4,000 bottles of the antibiotic cefprozil, donated by Bristol-Myers Squibb, make up the Project HOPE shipment that will be added to other humanitarian aid supplies that the Department of State is gathering for the airlift.
“Adults and children, whether they are in the midst of the conflict or not, need antibiotics to fight off infections that may develop from wounds or unhealthy living conditions that arise from war,” said Stuart Myers, Senior Vice President of Global Health at Project HOPE. “Fortunately, HOPE and our partner, Bristol-Myers Squibb, were prepared to supply the antibiotics when the Department of State called.”
Project HOPE continues to monitor the situation in Georgia. HOPE officials are in contact with both U.S. and Georgian government officials to identify and address long-term health care needs of the Georgian people.
Project HOPE, working in conjunction with the American Friends of Georgia, currently has a humanitarian assistance shipment of more than $1.4 million of medicines and medical supplies on the ground in Georgia. Unfortunately, the shipment arrived just as the conflict commenced and access to the supplies has been cut off. HOPE and the American Friends of Georgia are exploring ways to reach the shipment and may redirect the supplies to assist in conflict relief efforts.
A C-17 was in the air this morning as President Bush announced the plan:
The C-17 is from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
“The aircraft will be carrying medical supplies, shelters, bedding — those types of things,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. “That will be the first flight in; there are plans for another flight tomorrow as we continue to assess the wide range of humanitarian assistance options that we might be able to provide both in the immediate and long-term humanitarian capabilities.”
A military assessment team will arrive soon to assess the Georgian government’s humanitarian needs. The 12-man team will act as a liaison among the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, the Georgian government, and U.S. European Command and other U.S. agencies. The team contains experts in a number of civil affairs fields, Pentagon officials said. Many have recent experience in Georgia and can help to determine what capabilities the United States has that the Georgians may need.
“We’re looking at a broader range of assets and capabilities that we might bring to bear on the humanitarian need there,” Whitman said.
The amount and nature of the aid will grow as the assessment team delivers its reports, he said.
Defense Department officials will look at assistance options are available,” Whitman said. This ultimately could include ships delivering humanitarian goods to the nation.
Aside from the humanitarian aspects, which are important, this effort also presents us with a chance to aggressively secure Georgian territory. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili certainly anticipates that effect even if Washington won’t acknowledge the intent:
Trackback this Post:“You have heard the statement by the U.S. president that the United States is starting a military-humanitarian operation in Georgia,” Saakashvili said in a television address.
“It means that Georgian ports and airports will be taken under the control of the U.S. defence ministry in order to conduct humanitarian and other missions. This is a very important statement for easing tension.”
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said: “We are not looking to, not do we need to, take control of any air or seaports to conduct this mission.
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August 13th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
kkkRaj from India Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
My advise to you ignorant and weak Americans would be that you stop helping thugs like Georgian and other criminal states near Russia’s borders. Otherwise Russians will royally and deeply penetrate their and their helpers/advisors’(i.e. your) asses. Don’t forget Russia has got more than 5000 missiles aimed at US territories including US mainland capable of hitting from surface, sea or the orbit overwhelming your fledgling National Missile Defense system. So behave and start respecting Russian Imperial power. Russia is a true all-weather friend of India and they supported us always against Islamist thugs of Pakistan and other nations when you were helping Talibans to end Russian rule in Afganistan. You guys even supported Islamist criminals of Kashmir fighting Indian security forces before 9/11. Just see how our forces have massacred 1Million Kashmiri thugs and their dogs primarily using Russian and Indian weapons over the last two decades. You still pay an aid of USD1Bn to fucking Pakistani general who is an Islamist at heart. How dare you?hhh
August 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am
goods georgia…
Very interesting post. A little bit confusing, but still ok. do you know what is the first? i`ve the new album at my blog http://sumpit.info…