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February 3, 2010 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Operation Smile supporter, legendary actor, pilot and humanitarian Harrison Ford piloted his Cessna 208 Caravan to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Saturday, February 6 to command a remarkable airlift of Operation Smile medical volunteers and supplies into Hinche, Haiti. These supplies will provide much needed treatment for earthquake victims. Mr. Ford decided to volunteer his time, piloting skills and aircraft in response to an urgent request from Operation Smile, Inc. for logistical support after the organization announced that it was sending three additional medical teams and over 2 ˝ tons of medical supplies across three locations in Haiti.
After battling three days of adverse weather conditions between Los Angeles and Miami during last week’s winter storm, Mr. Ford made several trips over a two-day period to a remote dirt landing strip in Haiti and delivered a team of 20 volunteers that included plastic surgeons, an orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologists, and eight nurses along with critical medical supplies. Given the logistical challenges and difficult travel routes from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, Mr. Ford’s efforts significantly sped the process of getting the medical team and supplies to Hinche so care could be given most expeditiously to children and adults who have been waiting for weeks to receive treatment.
Mr. Ford offered to provide support after seeing the devastating impact of the earthquake, and noted, “This is not about me, it is just about doing what I can to help Operation Smile and the people of Haiti.”
After he safely delivered the balance of volunteers and supplies, Mr. Ford was able to visit victims of the earthquake at the hospital in Hinche. Most had been buried in the rubble of collapsed buildings, subsequently rescued and brought by family members to this remote area because of no alternative locations for care.
Operation Smile is known for its 28-year history of providing cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in developing countries and is not traditionally a disaster relief organization. However, the organization made a commitment to utilize its unique resources and quickly mobilize medical volunteers from around the world to provide assistance in Haiti. With over 4,000 Operation Smile credentialed medical volunteers and a presence in over 50 countries, the organization has immediate access to trained surgical and medical professionals who have experience working in difficult environments. In addition, the Operation Smile logistics team is skilled in deploying and organizing highly functional field hospitals in developing countries across the globe.
For updates on Operation Smile’s efforts in Haiti, visit the daily blog on www.operationsmile.org/haiti, follow @operationsmile on Twitter, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/operationsmile. To make a $5 donation to Operation Smile in support of Haiti relief, you can text SMILE to 90999.
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Harrison Ford arrives in Santo Domingo to help Operation Smile's relief efforts in Haiti by ferrying cargo and team members in his plane from Santo Domingo, DR, to Hinche, Haiti, where the team will treat earthquake victims.
Harrison Ford stands in front of the Cessna 208 Caravan he piloted into Hinche, Haiti, for Operation Smile, carrying much-needed volunteer medical teams, medicines and supplies to treat earthquake victims.
Harrison Ford laughs with 10-year-old Sterley Jeanty who was buried in the rubble and suffered a severe broken femur. He hasn’t been able to walk since earthquake. Operation Smile gave him a new cast for his leg and a new reason to smile. He said, “I can’t wait to play football again!”
Photos courtesy Operation Smile
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