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ATLANTA, May 7, 2003 -- The "Atlanta-Baghdad Airlift," an emergency humanitarian relief effort sponsored by ChevronTexaco Corporation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Delta Air Lines, GoodWorks International and World Airways will take flight as soon as Baghdad International Airport is open to commercial traffic. The effort is being spearheaded by International Medical Corps (IMC), an international humanitarian agency that is soliciting additional donations to fund this cargo flight of medical relief supplies from Atlanta to Baghdad.
"The medical supplies being collected for the airlift will satisfy urgent needs identified through assessments we have conducted on the ground in hospitals and clinics in Baghdad and the surrounding regions," says Nancy Aossey, President and CEO of International Medical Corps, which currently has 35 relief workers providing assistance on the ground. "Through these assessments, we have seen that the challenges of reconstruction after so many years of deterioration are absolutely tremendous. We are committed to working with our counterparts in Iraq and to see them through these times."
Thus far, IMC has procured pharmaceuticals, equipment and water filtration systems, valued at $3.5 million, for this initial flight into Baghdad, and there is still space available on the plane for additional supplies. More flights will be planned if funding can be raised to support the emergency effort. IMC is committed to continuing their work in Iraq beyond the present crisis in order to rehabilitate and develop Iraq's healthcare infrastructure.
GoodWorks International, the Atlanta-based consulting firm headed by Ambassador Andrew Young, began organizing the airlift just after the war began, responding to requests for support from expatriate Iraqis who were concerned about the well being of their families in Baghdad. Carl Masters, President of GoodWorks International said, "We are very pleased that this effort has come together so quickly. We know that the supplies we are sending will save lives. We are hopeful that the other corporations and individuals will give generously to International Medical Corps for the Atlanta-Baghdad Airlift."
ChevronTexaco Corporation has pledged to provide the fuel needs for the airlift. "There is quite clearly an urgent need in Iraq for humanitarian assistance in the form of medical supplies and we are pleased to be able to play a role in helping IMC launch this life-saving initiative," said ChevronTexaco Corporation Chairman and CEO, Dave O'Reilly.
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation is providing cash support for the airlift of medical supplies for hospitals and clinics in Baghdad and the surrounding regions. "When presented with this opportunity, Michael and I immediately agreed to help," said Susan Dell, CEO of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. "We can only imagine what the citizens of Iraq must be facing. Our hope is that others will get involved to provide this critical and necessary support."
World Airways is committed to the airlift through the provision of an MD11 freighter aircraft. Chairman and CEO Hollis Harris said, "World Airways is proud to participate in the Atlanta-Baghdad Airlift. We have the first plane set to go and we are working very closely with the appropriate U.S.-government officials in order to secure a landing slot at Baghdad International just as soon as commercial aircraft are permitted to land. Our aim is to support International Medical Corps as they raise money to fill this plane and perhaps send another plane or two into Baghdad. We believe that many will answer this call to action."
Delta Air Lines is pleased to support the effort by receiving the supplies at its Delta Air Logistics facility in Atlanta, palletizing and storing the goods for shipment and then transporting them to the aircraft. "We are delighted to be a part of such a worthwhile effort," said Tony Charaf, Senior Vice President of Delta Air Logistics.
Donations in support of the airlift can be made by calling Leslie Thurman or Jennifer Uyei of IMC at (310) 826-7800 or on the web at www.imcworldwide.org.
Delta Air Lines, the world's second largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offers 5,386 flights each day to 435 destinations in 78 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection and Delta's worldwide partners.
GoodWorks International is a leading global advisory firm specializing in emerging markets. Headquartered in Atlanta, they have offices in Washington, D.C., Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.
International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. IMC's mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in areas worldwide where few organizations dare to serve. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, IMC rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.
World Airways, headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga., is a global charter airline providing passenger and cargo service to destinations around the world offering all jet service with their fleet of DC10 and MD11 aircraft.