Ministries Deliver Aid, Get Medical Help to Quake Victims

NAMPA, Idaho—02-04-10—For years, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and Operation Blessing (OBI) have served together in disaster zones around the world. Now, once again, MAF is assisting the Virginia Beach, Va.-based evangelical relief ministry’s efforts following one of the worst earthquakes to hit the Western hemisphere.

Relief cargo from around the world arrived at the Port-au-Prince airport soon after a 7.0 earthquake struck Haitian capital Port-au-Prince Jan. 12. MAF assumed a central role in receiving disaster supplies at the overwhelmed airport. Operation Blessing initially used the MAF hangar at the Port-au-Prince airport as a key logistics support center and its base of operations. The relief ministry is a major provider of foods, medicines, supplies and doctors to disaster victims in Haiti.

Additionally, Operation Blessing used MAF's facility as a warehouse, and its team members slept in the hangar at night. Each day trucks picked up Operation Blessing cargo for distribution. Operation Blessing has used the MAF GATR communications satellite to transmit and receive data files vital to supporting its work in Haiti. Because many roads throughout the country are difficult or impossible to use, and access to Haiti is extremely difficult following the devastating earthquake, MAF serves as an essential airbridge of relief for Operation Blessing and other ministries until Haiti's port is completely repaired.

Bill Horan

"The synergy that results from the confluence of our mutual efforts has saved many lives and alleviated suffering in the lives of countless disaster victims," wrote Bill Horan, president and chief operating officer of Operation Blessing, in a letter to John Woodberry, MAF disaster response/security Manager. "In the current Haiti earthquake disaster, MAF has been on the front lines from day one and provided priceless strategic support for OBI in our efforts to help the people of Haiti." The Operation Blessing letter may be found here.

MAF and Operation Blessing also worked together following the 2004 tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia, and, more recently several smaller quakes in the same area.

"Without (MAF's) help, we really wouldn't be so well positioned to be able to respond and save lives," said David Darg, director of international disaster relief for Operation Blessing. "John Woodberry has also been busy coordinating relief flights from the US which have contained essential medicines that have been used by our doctors to treat victims of the quake," he added.

"We are honored to work in partnership with Operation Blessing, a major player in disaster relief that faithfully assuages misery with food and medical supplies," said John Boyd, MAF president.

Founded in the U.S. in 1945, MAF (www.maf.org) missionary teams of aviation, communications, technology and education specialists overcome barriers in remote areas, transform lives and build God’s Kingdom by enabling the work of more than 1,000 organizations in isolated areas of the world. With its fleet of 58 bush aircraft – including the new KODIAK – MAF serves in 31 countries, with an average of 101 flights daily across Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Latin America. MAF pilots transport missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conduct thousands of emergency medical evacuations in remote areas. MAF also provides telecommunications services, such as satellite Internet access, high-frequency radios, electronic mail and other wireless systems.