A critical warning was issued by the UN鈥檚 World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday, declaring that it may soon have 鈥渘o choice鈥� but to suspend 鈥渕ost鈥� of its critical aid flights, because of a lack of funding.
has been operating such flights to some 132 countries, as travel bans and closed borders in many parts of the world have caused logistics nightmares for the delivery of humanitarian aid and personnel.Unless a 鈥渟ubstantial injection of funds鈥� is provided by donors by early July, WFP spokesperson, Elisabeth Byrs, said that it would be forced to ground most of its humanitarian air fleet by the end of next month:
鈥淚 think all the operations will be affected, because you need money to get to charter a plane for passenger and medical evacuation, or to transport cargo鈥�, she told reporters in Geneva.
鈥淚 know that slowly and slowly, step by step, some commercial flights will resume and we use them as often as it鈥檚 possible鈥�, but there will still be countries, especially in regions like the Middle East, 鈥渨here it鈥檚 badly needed鈥�, she added.
Global network
WFP operates a network of so-called global aid hubs in China, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates, near the locations where supplies are manufactured.
It also controls regional hubs in Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Malaysia, Panama and Dubai.
The WFP aviation service has, over recent months, transported huge volumes of urgently-needed medical supplies 鈥� including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), masks and ventilators 鈥� as well as staff from scores of aid organisations. WFP also transports goods on behalf of other UN agencies and non-government organisations, by road and by sea.听
Response on a scale 鈥榥ever seen before鈥�
鈥淭his is a response on a scale never seen before鈥�, said Ms. Byrs, in reference to the emergency supply system, 鈥渁nd with the pandemic showing no signs of unabating it is crucial that the response doesn鈥檛 stop now when it is needed most鈥�.
听鈥淭he common services budget of $965 million to maintain the air service until the end of the year is only 14 per cent funded. Only 178 million US$ has so far been confirmed or advanced,鈥� Ms. Byrs said. 听Some 787 million US$ are urgently required to sustain these essential air cargo and passenger movement operations until the end of the year.听
Severe consequences
WFP鈥檚 Byrs warned of severe consequences should the humanitarian flights cease. Without the service, she warned that听鈥渉ospitals in developing countries would not receive desperately needed medical supplies鈥ealth centres serving pregnant women and undernourished children, would not receive life-saving nutritional products for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition.鈥�
听Since听1 May, the World Food Programme听has completed 375 cargo and passenger emergency flights, delivering听鈥渕ore than 2,500 responders from more than 80 aid organisations flown to destinations where their assistance is urgently needed鈥�.听Byrs added that 鈥淚 could also tell you that we have provided enough cargo to fill 120 jumbo jets, waiting to be transported in coming weeks鈥�.
听As part of this system, WFP also has access to a global network of contracted air ambulances which have so far carried out nine medical evacuations听of UN staff.
