Early this week, a Boeing 747 took off from Portland, Oregon, loaded with more than 190,000 pounds (86,000 kilos) of lifesaving humanitarian aid, bound for Kabul, Afghanistan. Reportedly the first non-military flight to receive approval to fly from the United States into Afghanistan since Sept. 11, the mercy mission carried hygiene kits, newborn and baby kits, livestock feed, winter clothing and blankets, school kits and medical supplies. The flight took wing with the help of a US$50,000 donation from Microsoft to Mercy Corps, which teamed up with Evergreen Humanitarian Services to send and distribute the supplies. The two nonprofit organizations provided the costs of the plane and crew, and provided for aid distribution once on the ground in Kabul.
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