Wednesday, May 14, 2003

World Airways involved in Baghdad airlift

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 Peachtree City's 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, 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," said 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 its 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.

"We are very pleased that this effort has come together so quickly," said Carl Masters, President of GoodWorks International. "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."

World Airways is committed to the airlift through the provision of an MD11 freighter aircraft.

"World Airways is proud to participate in the Atlanta-Baghdad Airlift," said Chairman and CEO Hollis Harris. "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."

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.

World Airways, headquartered in Peachtree City, 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.

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