DUSHANBE
, January 3, Asia-Plus – On January 2, the United States began a $3 million airlift of winter supplies and equipment to assist the Tajik Border Guards. Food, winter clothing, medical supplies, tents, and other needed supplies will be delivered over the new few weeks.
According to information from the U.S. Embassy in
Dushanbe
, the first shipments, flown in by U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft from
Afghanistan
, consist of 100,000 halal ready-to-eat meals for the border guards. At the request of the Tajik government, the winter supplies and equipment will be delivered directly to the frontier posts to immediately assist units this winter.
U.S. Charge de Affairs Thomas Armbruster and Head of the Tajik Border Guard International Relations Department, Erkin Tojibaev, helped unload the first shipment at
Dushanbe
International
Airport
on January 2. Charge Armbruster noted that
Tajikistan
recently supplied
Pakistan
with emergency food assistance, following the devastating earthquake, and the international community responded to assist the people of
New Orleans
to rebuild and recover from the destructive hurricane Katrina. This airlift is in the same spirit of friends helping friends in need.
Increased attention to the challenges for the Tajik Border Guards is an ongoing effort of the
United States
,
Tajikistan
, and the community of nations, to better secure borders, stop the trafficking of people, drugs, and weapons, encourage regional trade and ensure global security. The ability to rapidly shift assistance to areas needed has been a hallmark of U.S.-Tajik cooperation on border security and is a sign of the confidence the
United States
has in Tajik border force.