Background
In 2015, the conflict in Syria drove more than four million people – a sixth of the population – to seek sanctuary in neighboring countries, making it the largest refugee crisis for a quarter of a century.
With at least 7.6 million people forced from their homes within Syria, almost half the country’s people were either refugees or internally displaced. The conflict, which was in its fifth year, had killed more than 220,000 people.
How We Helped
In response to this tragedy, Hillwood Airways, known then as ATX Air Services, in collaboration with the Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. Foundation and Baylor Scott & White Health, helped shuttle $300,000 in supplies to Budapest, Hungary, where aid stations had been established for Syrian refugees. Supplies included surgical packs, operating tables, hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, stretchers, stethoscopes, defibrillators, diapers and enough formula to feed 5,000 babies for two weeks.
Special Arrangements
Hillwood Airways crews specially outfitted the Boeing 737-700C BBJ in an all-cargo configuration to accommodate 15,000 pounds of supplies to be taken to Budapest in one trip from Fort Worth Alliance Airport.