DoD provides vital vehicles to Mali communities

The residents of Bourem and Niafunke, two communities in northern Mali, became the proud recipients of vehicles donated to them by the U.S government on 16 May 2003.

While Bourem received a heavy-duty one and a half ton pick-up truck and a tow-able water tank, the people of Niafunke received a moped for use by local citizens.

These vehicles were obtained via the Department of Defense Humanitarian Assistance Excess Property (HA-EP) program, which is managed by Headquarters European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

An impromptu ceremony was held in the courtyard of the Directorate of Natural Conservation in Bamako to officially hand over the vehicles.

Defense Attaché Major Michael Marzec and Security Assistance Manager Dioko Traoré represented the U.S. Embassy in Bamako. Felix Dakono, chief of directorate, Mr. Dicko, the directorate's Gao representative and Maj. Abdoulaye Biné Guindo of Bourem attended as representatives of Mali.

Dakono expressed sincere gratitude for the vehicles. He emphasized that these HA-EP vehicles, primarily the water tank, will be extremely beneficial to the local populace, particularly for the irrigation of land during the growing season.