Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: December 30 (EI) – The Ethiopian Airlines Group (ET) and the aerospace-giant Boeing have announced a humanitarian partnership to deliver much-needed aid supplies to organizations across Ethiopia that aimed to benefit vulnerable people.
The two organizations, in a joint statement issued on Monday, disclosed their partnership in humanitarian as ET took delivery of a new 787 Dreamliner in December and loaded the jet with 34,000 pounds of books and 5,800 pounds of school supplies, clothing and medical supplies for the flight home to Addis Ababa.
“We are happy to partner with Boeing to carry humanitarian goods on our delivery flights from the U.S.,” said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam, adding “As a responsible corporate citizen, we take our responsibility to society seriously and always endeavor to contribute our share to the socioeconomic development of countries around the globe.”
An Ethiopian-based organization – Ethiopia Reads – is also said to disperse the books and school supplies to its libraries across Ethiopia which serve 100,000 children each year. Medical supplies, clothing and hygiene products will be delivered to the Mary Joy Development association, which helps women and youth gain the skills they need to rise out of poverty, it was noted.
The December flight follows another flight in November when an Ethiopian Airlines 787 Dreamliner carried more than 11,000 pounds of clothing, personal hygiene items and medical supplies from South Carolina bound for the Mekedonia Home for the Elderly and Mentally Disabled and St. Paul’s Hospital.
The flights are said to be part of Boeing’s Humanitarian Delivery Flight Program – a collaboration of Boeing and its customers and non-governmental organizations that delivers humanitarian aid around the world.
The program has so far delivered more than 1.6 million pounds of humanitarian supplies on more than 200 flights worldwide since the inaugural flight in 1992. To date, Boeing has partnered with Ethiopian Airlines on 39 humanitarian delivery flights, delivering more than 266,000 pounds of supplies to organizations in Ethiopia, it was noted.
“Through Boeing’s Humanitarian Delivery Flight Program, and in close collaboration with customers like Ethiopian Airlines and charitable organizations around the world, we are providing important and oftentimes lifesaving resources to those in need,” the joint statement quoted said Cheri Carter, vice president of Boeing Global Engagement.
“We can do so much more when we work together, and Boeing is committed to continuing partnerships like this,” Carter added.
