CHARLESTON, S.C., June 9, 2003 -- Water Missions International has teamed with International Aid to provide safe, clean drinking water and medical services to the people of Iraq.
FedEx Express will transport four Living Water Treatment Systems from Charleston, SC and three portable medical clinics from Spring Lakes, Mich. to FedEx's Superhub in Memphis. The equipment will then fly to Kuwait (via Paris and Dubai) and await U.S. military transfer to Iraq.
"FedEx's generous offer to provide the transportation allows us to provide more water systems to the people of Iraq," said George Greene, co-founder and CEO of Water Missions International. "Because of their cooperation, several Iraqi communities will have safe and sustainable water sources; preventing the spread of deadly water-borne illnesses, especially among their children."
"FedEx Express is proud to leverage our global network and international expertise to deliver clean drinking water and medical care to the people of Iraq," said Michael L. Ducker, executive vice president, International, FedEx Express. "The company has a long history of helping people in need. We are honored to assist Water Missions International with this critical and potentially life-saving shipment."
The water systems are designated for communities in and around Kirkuk, Basra, Mosul and Baghdad . The water situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate as looters and vandals disrupt already dwindling supplies, and humanitarian efforts are severely restricted for security reasons. These potable water treatment systems are simple to operate and can reduce diseases by removing waterborne pathogens. The systems treat existing surface or ground water to support a community or hospital of up to 4,000 people. WMI engineers will be dispatched to assist with setup and training.
About Water Missions International
Co-founders of WMI, George and Molly Greene, sold their environmental company, General Engineering Laboratories, to start WMI after learning about the global water crisis. WMI, headquartered in Charleston SC, is a 501 © (3) nonprofit engineering organization that provides safe and sustainable water solutions for developing countries and disaster areas. WMI has programs in 10 countries, including Honduras and Afghanistan. WMI is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, foundations, churches and businesses. All charitable donations made to WMI are tax-deductible and can be mailed to P.O. Box 31258, Charleston, SC 29417.
About FedEx
With annual revenues of $22 billion, FedEx Corp. is a global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply chain management services. The company offers integrated business solutions through a network of subsidiaries operating independently, including: FedEx Express, the world's largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground, North America's second largest provider of small-package ground delivery service; FedEx Freight, the largest U.S. provider of regional less-than-truckload freight services; FedEx Custom Critical, North America's largest provider of expedited time-critical shipments; and FedEx Trade Networks, North America's largest customs broker and a provider of international freight forwarding and trade facilitation services.
For further information regarding the water crisis in Iraq, please visit www.watermissions.org.
