LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Operation USA, in partnership with Polar Air/Atlas Air and Islamic Relief USA, today sent off Los Angeles' first dedicated all-cargo airlift of 100 tons of pharmaceuticals, medical, shelter and nutritional supplies worth more than $7 million to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, en route to Sumatra's Aceh province, South Asia's region hardest hit by the December 26 tsunami.
At a morning news conference on the tarmac of Polar Air/Atlas Air's cargo facility at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Operation USA Executive Committee Chairman Gary Larson was joined by Los Angeles Airport Police Sgt. Joaquin Mendez, and Islamic Relief USA General Manager Dr. Mohamed Abul-Magd. The take-off featured a traditional water cannon salute by two Los Angeles Fire Department fire trucks, in honor of the tsunami victims and signifying the importance of this mission.
Larson said, "When we heard the news of this terrible disaster in South Asia, Operation USA immediately sprung into high gear, securing donations and providing relief for the victims of this devastating tsunami." He added, "But just as importantly, Operation USA is there today, and we will be there two months from now, and even two years from now, assisting in the vital rehabilitation work in the tsunami-ravaged countries."
Polar Air/Atlas Air provided the aircraft, fuel and handling at no cost to Operation USA. The non-stop flight will transport the cargo from LAX to Kuala Lumpur. The relief goods will then be transshipped to the tsunami-devastated Aceh region of Indonesia's island of Sumatra, to the communities of Banda Aceh and/or Medan. Burbank-based partner agency, Islamic Relief USA, will distribute the emergency goods. In addition to Operation USA's relief cargo, Brother's Brother Foundation, Latter-Day Saints Church, PBM Products/ Bright Beginnings, Global Operations & Development, Farmers' Rice Cooperative and Ethos Water generously donated products. Coordinated by its Airport Police Division, Los Angeles World Airports employees donated materials for reconstruction and temporary shelters, including shovels, axes and tarps -- enough to fill an entire palette, that was included in this morning's airlift.
According to LAX officials, today's flight was the first non-military, all-cargo airlift of tsunami relief supplies from Los Angeles. As nearly one-third of all flights from the U.S. to Asia-Pacific originate at or pass through LAX, the airport has served as a hub for the shipment of hundreds of tons of relief supplies that have been flown to the tsunami-impacted areas by airlines that have donated unused cargo space on Asia-bound flights.
Although the airlift was originally scheduled for last month, Operation USA, which was in constant contact with its representatives in South Asia, decided to hold off on shipping its cargo because the organization was concerned that the supplies at that time would not have been adequately distributed to and absorbed into the impacted communities. The airlift was rescheduled for today, based on up-to-date needs-assessments and first-hand observations about what types of relief, supplies and aid are actually getting into the hands of the people who most need them. Operation USA, based in Los Angeles, has a team of 15 people on the ground in Sri Lanka, working with victims, other NGO's and local government officials.
Operation USA is Los Angeles' leading international relief organization, fulfilling its mission of innovative, agile and "smart aid" in responding to the unprecedented tsunami disaster which has affected 11 countries in Asia. With volunteer board members in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, long-term local partner agencies in Sri Lanka and India providing both immediate and longer term aid to victims and with resources provided by the American people, Operation USA has risen to the challenge. Operation USA, with generous public support, will continue shipments as needed and is already addressing the long-term needs of 5 million people affected by the earthquake and resulting tsunami.
Burbank-based Islamic Relief USA has several emergency projects on the ground in Banda Aceh. Islamic Relief is a local charity, which has a physical office in Banda Aceh, along with staff on the ground that is implementing projects. Islamic Relief recently partnered with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on New Year's Day to send a cargo plane containing medical aid to tsunami victims in Indonesia. Islamic Relief is implementing several projects to aid the victims of the tsunamis in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. Its projects in Indonesia include construction of homes, water and sanitation, education, healthcare, livelihood support, and more.