Lufthansa Cargo flies 75 tonnes of relief to Haiti quake victims

GERMANY's flag carrier Lufthansa Cargo has provided free of charge an MD-11 freighter to transport 75 tonnes of relief supplies to earthquake victims in Haiti.

The aircraft departed from Germany's Frankfurt Airport headed for Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, as landings in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince are subject to extremely tight restrictions and the airport is chiefly being used for military flights.

"It is natural for Lufthansa Cargo to help deliver emergency supplies in a situation like this," said Lufthansa Cargo chairman Carsten Spohr. "This first special cargo flight from Frankfurt is enabling us to transport urgently needed aid quickly to the earthquake-stricken country."

Germany's Federal Agency for Technical Aid (THW) has been handling the logistics for the flight and coordinating the relief mission on behalf of the nation's Foreign Ministry.

The MD-11 freighter was loaded with a drinking water treatment plant, water analysis laboratories, generators, medication, food, tools and emergency accommodation equipment, which have been supplied by various German aid organisations, a statement from Lufthansa Cargo said.

THW president Albrecht Broemme said the relief mission was organised without red tape. "It is important that aid is delivered promptly. We are pleased to have this opportunity to provide logistics support for this joint transport and are sending a further two drinking water treatment plants and laboratory equipment to the disaster area."

Aside from the THW, the Johanniter, the Order of Malta, Welthungerhilfe, Cap Anamur, Caritas, ADRA, Arche Nova, Don Bosco Youth Third World, Help, the Samaritans and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) have been cooperating in the mission.

Jean-Peter Saget, Haitian ambassador to Germany, said: "I am deeply touched and thankful for all the campaigns and initiatives launched by the German government, civil organisations and the media in support of the earthquake victims in Haiti. I am most grateful for the noble help given to us so generously by the German people and all those involved in this special relief flight."

In addition to the MD-11 freighter flight, Lufthansa is flying other urgently needed supplies, especially food, on board passenger flights to Miami. From there, the aid is being transported to Port-au-Prince by US military airlift.

(Source: www.schednet.com)