Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Uzbekistan Airways recently delivered humanitarian relief supplies to the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan on board the airline’s newest 787-8 Dreamliner.
The shipment of hospital beds, mattresses and wheelchairs will help medical personnel and facilities treat the most vulnerable of Uzbekistan’s population. This is the third humanitarian delivery flight partnership between Boeing and the airline.
“We are delighted to have partnered with Boeing and Project C.U.R.E. to bring home a new consignment of medical supplies on our 787-8 delivery flight,” said Ilkhom Makhkamov, chairman of Uzbekistan Airways. “This third flight builds on our partnership for two previous humanitarian flights in 2016. We would like to thank all involved parties for their generosity to support the Uzbek communities during this global pandemic.”
People living in the Aral Sea region of the world experience high incidences of disease and some of the world’s highest rates of infant mortality. Additionally, the new challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are exacerbated by limited health care facilities, capacity, infrastructure and lack of timely access to medical care. That’s why Project C.U.R.E. donated eight pallets of goods received in Uzbekistan by the Ministry of Health Republic of Karakalpakstan.
“Project C.U.R.E. is honored to work with Boeing’s team and the Embassy of Uzbekistan on this program to assist the health facilities of Karakalpakstan,” said Melisa Esposti, Project C.U.R.E. director of Government and NGO Relations. “We are very thankful to have the humanitarian assistance transported by Boeing and Uzbekistan Airways to Tashkent as quickly as possible during this unprecedented pandemic. Thank you to all of the Boeing employees involved and to all of the Project C.U.R.E. team and volunteers who made this all possible.”
Project C.U.R.E. is the world’s largest distributor of donated medical relief, delivering life-saving medical equipment to hospitals and clinics throughout the under-resourced world in more than 135 countries. In addition to partnering with Uzbekistan Airways and Project C.U.R.E. on this humanitarian delivery flight, Boeing also announced a $100,000 donation to support Project C.U.R.E. in its mission to provide medical supplies to Uzbek hospitals and facilities in the Aral Sea Region.
“We are pleased to have supported Uzbekistan Airways in transporting medical supplies to better empower and equip medical facilities in the region through the Humanitarian Delivery Flight program,” said Bill McSherry, vice president of Government Operations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Furthermore, we are honored to provide $100,000 to Project C.U.R.E. to support its critical work in Uzbekistan, particularly at a time when the pandemic has created a greater demand than ever for critical medical supplies, infrastructure and care.”
“I would like to express my gratitude to Boeing for their support in making the shipment of humanitarian aid possible directly from Seattle to Tashkent,” said Javlon Vakhabov, ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “Undoubtedly, this humble collaboration of Uzbekistan Airways, Boeing and Project C.U.R.E. with the sole aim of helping people in need is a vivid testimony of pure friendship and solidarity. It is my firm belief that the generous donations of the American people will find their best use in Uzbekistan’s hospitals, particularly in Karakalpakstan region – the most affected area by the Aral Sea catastrophe.”
