Project Handclasp: U.S. Navy Delivers Relief Materials To Nigerian Charities

SAN FRANCISCO, April 17, (THEWILL) â€' Ahead of Exercise Obangame Express, a multinational naval exercise co-hosted by the Nigerian Navy and US Naval Forces Africa, the USNS Spearhead will conduct a port call in Lagos Harbour.

Aboard the Spearhead are 46 pallets of humanitarian items donated from charities within the United States to recipient charities within Nigeria. These pallets are being delivered courtesy of the US Navy as part of a program called Project Handclasp.

A statement issued by the Information Office, Public Affairs Section, Embassy of the United States of America, Abuja said Project Handclasp is a US Navy programme that accepts and transports educational, humanitarian and goodwill material donated by America's private sector on a space-available basis aboard US Navy ships for distribution to partner nation recipients. The programme, according to the statement, started in 1962 and has since been a regular feature in many US Navy port calls around the world.

'This shipment includes more than 30,000 pounds of personal mobility handcarts, wheelchairs and medical supplies for local charities. The shipment overall is worth $2.6 million. These shipments are arranged between the donors and recipients and then forward to the US Navy through the Project Handclasp office and coordinated for delivery to the appropriate ports worldwide as available aboard US Navy ships. Donations were received from Personal Energy Transport (PET) International, Hope Haven International and AERObridge International,' the statement further said.

According to the statement, PET International is a private charity that constructs and distributes Personal Mobility Carts to organisations that help people who can't walk and has donated a supplyto the Assembly of God Nigeria. 'Hope Haven International is donating a shipment of wheelchairs to Hope for Independent Living and AERO bridge is donating medical supplies to Deseret International, for distribution to various relief organisations,' it added.