U.S. Air Force airmen assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California, delivered humanitarian aid supplies to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, July 18.
The mission was in support of the Denton Program, a U.S. Department of Defense transportation program that moves humanitarian cargo, donated by U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations.
The airmen transported 58,000 pounds (26,300 kilograms) of cargo in a C-5M Super Galaxy. The cargo consisted of eight pallets, two vehicles, two excavators, and a 40-foot container filled with medical supplies to treat COVID-19 patients.
“A lot of what is on this aircraft will go to COVID-19 response,” said U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Uherka, Joint Task Force Bravo Civil Military Operations director at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. “The 40-foot container is heading to Intipuca, which is an underserved community.”
Lt. Col. Uherka said the contents of the container would be able to supply a procedure room, two recovery rooms, and a laboratory, all of which are vital in effectively combating COVID-19.
Before this mission, more than $700,000 of Denton cargo has been delivered to Honduras during Fiscal Year 2020.
Transporting aid bolsters relationships with partners in Central America and Joint Task Force Bravo has been executing that mission for 38 years, Lt. Col. Uherka said, adding that the humanitarian aid has the potential to reach tens of thousands of people in Honduran communities.
