Kyrgyz Youth Ministry officials assist Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas in purchasing food at a local Bishkek market June 13, 2010. The Transit Center, together with the U.S. Department of State, bought nearly $9,000 worth of food, fuel and water for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Staff Sgt. Yevgeniy Maksimov, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing coalition coordinator linguist, carries flour as a Kyrgyz youth assists by loading it onto a delivery truck in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, June 13, 2010. The Transit Center at Manas, together with the U.S. Department of State, purchased nearly $9,000 worth of food for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Staff Sgt. Yevgeniy Maksimov, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing coalition coordinator linguist, loads flour onto a delivery truck in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, June 13, 2010. The Transit Center, together with the U.S. Department of State, purchased food, fuel, and water totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Kyrgyz men help Airmen load food onto a delivery truck after the Transit Center at Manas, together with the U.S. Department of State, purchased nearly $9,000 worth of food in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, June 13, 2010. Airmen purchased food, fuel, and water totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Maj. Ryan Mahoney, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing comptroller, pays for nearly $9,000 worth of food purchased from a local market in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, June 13, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas loaded food, fuel, and water totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Transit Center at Manas Airmen load 31,000 pounds of food onto a pallet at the Manas International Airport for transportation to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, June 13, 2010. The Transit Center, together with the U.S. Department of State, food, fuel, and water totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Transit Center at Manas Airmen load 31,000 pounds of food onto a pallet at the Manas International Airport for transportation to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, June 13, 2010. The Transit Center, together with the U.S. Department of State, purchased food, fuel, and water totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Transit Center at Manas Airmen load 31,000 pounds of food onto a pallet at the Manas International Airport for transportation to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, June 13, 2010. The Transit Center, together with the U.S. Department of State, purchased food and other basics totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)
Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas load food onto a pallet at the Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan June 13, 2010, for transportation to Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Transit Center and Department of State officials purchased flour, oil, pasta, tea, yeast, and other basics totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas load food onto a pallet at the Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan June 13, 2010, for transportation to Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Transit Center and Department of State officials purchased flour, oil, pasta, tea, yeast, and other basics totaling more than 31,000 pounds for a humanitarian assistance delivery to the southern region of Osh. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
by Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
6/14/2010 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- In the spirit of joint security between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic, the Transit Center at Manas, together with the U.S. Department of State, obtained nearly $9,000 of food and 1,600 gallons of fuel June 13, 2010, to send south to the region of Osh.
Flour, oil, pasta, tea, yeast, fuel, water, and basic provisions were palletized with the fuel around 7 p.m., shortly after the need was made evident to Airmen, who immediately purchased the items on the local economy and assisted in the quick-turn send-off.
"In just over 8 hours, we were already off-loading everything, ready to put it on the plane," said Col. David Zorzi, the 376th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander.
This was the result of collaboration between contracting, finance, logistics readiness, said many other Airmen who jumped on board the project as soon as they saw a need, he said.
"Our condolences go out to the families of those who lost their lives during the recent violence in the south," said Col. Blaine Holt, the Transit Center director. "We are working closely with the U.S. Department of State and the Kyrgyz republic to provide some assistance to the people affected by these events. We value our Kyrgyz partners and hope that this situation is resolved peacefully."
This shipment of 31,000 pounds arrived by air via Manas International Airport June 14, 2010.
"Thank you for the help you are providing and the humanitarian assistance you are giving," said Toktosanov Asan, director of Manas Management Co., which was tasked with the transportation of the goods. "It's nice to cooperate with you on this big project. Most of all, it's nice to see that other people are willing to step and help our country in such a difficult time. It's nice to have this kind of relationship and commitment between two different nations."
