Handling a crate of humanitarian medical supplies bound for refugees in the nation of Georgia demands a bit of "sweat equity" as shown (left to right) by Col. Dennis Brown, Lt. Col Tony Sutter, and Maj. Elizabeth Baker during an afternoon of loading the in giant containers bound for the war-torn nation..

Guard joins other groups to donate medical supplies for war-torn Georgia

The State of Georgia is moving aggressively to help refugees of the nation of Georgia who suffered because of the recent hostilities with Russia. Twelve hundred pounds of emergency supplies were packed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 destined for the more than 9,000 permanently displaced refugees living in tents and makeshift shelters in Georgia.

The supplies consist of medicines and medical supplies, medical protective clothing, and landmine first aid kits. The humanitarian assistance supplies are being donated by US Aid for International Development, US Public Health Service, and the Georgia National Guard.

This delivery is made possible by the coordinated effort of the Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee with the help of the Georgia National Guard.

Assisting in the packaging of the humanitarian aid was Letha Nesbitt, Subcommittee Chairman for Humanitarian Aid for the Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee and members of the Georgia Army and Air National Guard.

“These are the supplies which we understand are in very short supply for the refugees”, said Mrs. Nesbitt. “It's wonderful that so many donors have helped us to gather what is needed.” The donations will ship by commercial air and ocean freight over the next few days.

The City of Atlanta has had a sister city relationship with Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi since the late-1980s. Through the State Partnership Program, the Georgia National Guard has maintained a very productive and satisfying nation-to-nation partnership with the central European nation since 1995.

Most recently more than 300 Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers trained in Georgia for Operation Immediate Response ’08 departing only one week prior to the Russian incursion of Georgia over the province of South Ossetia. The Georgia National Guard maintains a bilateral affairs officer in the capital city of Tbilisi.

The Atlanta/Tbilisi Sister City Committee continues to support the nation of Georgia. On September 26, 2008 the Committee will stage an special event in the rotunda of City Hall in Atlanta. Proceeds from the event will go to provide additional humanitarian assistance to the nation of Georgia.

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