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LEGHORN ARMY DEPOT, Italy — The 405th Army Field Support Brigade completed operations Jan. 18 in support of U.S. Agency for International Development emergency relief efforts in Haiti.
After receiving notification of needed supplies from USAID, the 3rd Battalion, 405th AFSB prepared four 10,000-liter water bladders, eight water purification units, 18,000 10-liter water containers and 24,000 personal hygiene kits for shipment to Haiti. Each hygiene kit includes laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush, as well as other personal hygiene supplies a family might need in the event of a disaster.
The Caribbean country of Haiti was devastated by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, prompting U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten to declare a disaster due to the effects of the earthquake. The Haitian government estimates at least 65,000 people died in the disaster, the U.N. approximates at least 3 million people have been affected and the International Organization for Migration reports roughly 200,000 Haitians have been displaced.
Due to the overwhelming devastation in the area, USAID contacted the 3rd Bn., 405th AFSB and requested delivery of humanitarian aid supplies. The battalion is responsible for the storage and maintenance of USAID emergency humanitarian assistance commodities under an interagency agreement between the U.S. Army and the U.S. State Department and is experienced in the shipment of humanitarian aid supplies at a moment’s notice.
“USAID keeps our warehouses stocked for emergencies such as this, and we’re well-equipped to get the supplies where USAID needs them as quickly as possible,” said Lt. Col. Roger McCreery, commander of the 3rd Bn., 405th AFSB. “We are grateful for the opportunity to assist the people of Haiti and to help alleviate their suffering in our own small way.”
The humanitarian aid supplies were transported by truck to the Pisa International Airport, where the materials were loaded onto an airplane for delivery to Port au Prince, Haiti, where they will be distributed to earthquake-affected individuals.
“Our location in Italy gives us a unique logistics capability,” Colonel McCreery said. “Because we have access to rail, sea and air transport capabilities within 30 minutes of Leghorn Army Depot, we can execute loading and transportation missions quickly and efficiently, ensuring that the aid reaches the disaster area as quickly as possible.”
The battalion has a long working relationship with USAID, previously having shipped supplies to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and the Republic of Georgia, among other locations.
