Manas Transit Center Sends Relief to Southern Kyrgyzstan

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

June 14, 2010 - Military officials at the U.S. Transit Center in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, are providing humanitarian aid to the country's southern region following days of violent ethnic clashes there. The transit center, together with the U.S. State Department, this weekend bought 31,000 pounds of flour, oil, pasta, tea, yeast, and other basics to deliver to the city of Osh, where much of the fighting is concentrated.

Recent violence in the southern Kyrgyzstan region has caused thousands to flee the area.

According to a release by U.S. military officials at Manas, they are working with the Ministry of the Protection of Youth and the U.S. State Department to deliver the aid, which also includes limited medical supplies.

Osh, the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, is about 200 miles south of the capital city of Bishkek, which hosts the Manas transit center. The base serves as a troop transit and refueling point for the U.S. military.

Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan said operations on the base are not affected by the fighting.

"The operations at the Manas base continue unabated," he said.

The base has not needed additional security, Lapan said.