-Published: Wednesday, November 20, 2019-




By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Ministry of Security announced Tuesday the most recent humanitarian operation with the collaboration of members of the U.S. Army, the Drug Control Police, the Air Surveillance Service and a volunteer doctor and a dentist, to bring 16 tons of food and medicine to the indigenous  residents in Alta Talamanca in the Province of Limón.

"The helicopters provided by the United States Government were vital for this mission," said the ministry in its statement.

According to the ministry, the full cargo was delivered in just four flights, each with a duration of 20 minutes, from the Limón International Airport to the town of Telire in Talamanca.

If they had not been assisted by members of the U.S. Army, the cargo would have to be carried overland, "which is practically impossible to move, because just one person would have to walk through the mountains during eight days, just to reach the indigenous villages," said the ministry.

In addition to delivering the aid, a doctor and a dentist, father and daughter, decided to join this mission. Both for six years have been providing free services to indigenous communities.

Luis Blanco, a general medicine physician, and his daughter Melissa Blanco, a dentist, both used their vacation days to offer free services to the remote residents, said the ministry.

“It is an opportunity to help because it is a work that we have been preparing for six years. We bring humanitarian aid for the indigenous people,” said Luis Blanco.

Also, people in the Zarcero district donated clothes, food, shoes and even solar panels to help solve some of the needs of the residents, authorities said.


This is not the first aid of the U.S. Army this week, on Monday members of the Army helped with the construction of a school for the Talamanca community of Telire.


According to the Ministry of Security, materials required for the construction of the school were transported Friday with the help of U.S. Army helicopters.

The U.S. Army assistance is part of the Peace Borders program. With this program, the authorities of the ministry attend both security needs in the area of border and indigenous communities.

According to Allan Obando, director of the Border Police, during continuous patrols in border communities, "the officers realized that the needs of these people went beyond security because of the deficiencies they have in areas such as education, health, housing, employment and the most basic services. "

In the remote regions where the border police work there are populations with the lowest human development rates in the entire country, said the ministry in its statement.

A large part of the jurisdiction in charge of the border police is located in various territories of natives communities as Ngöbes, Guaymíes, Cabécares, Bribris, Terrabas and Teribes, in which are indigenous peoples with some of the highest percentages basic needs unresolved, said the ministry.

According to the ministry, the goal of the Peace Borders program is to develop an intervention in the community, school and family environment, strengthening skills to reduce drug use.







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Where else the U.S. Army helicopters can be used for providing aid?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com