A US$ 3.5 million contribution from the European Union helped UN World Food Programme- managed airlifts of over 60,000 aid workers to areas of West and Central Africa last year, Rome-based WFP said Friday in a statement.
“We are very grateful to the EU and all donor partners for their contributions at a time when UNHAS faced unprecedented funding shortages,” said Philippe Martou, WFP’s Chief of Aviation.
“UNHAS provides vital support to humanitarian workers across the region to reach populations in need,” Martou said.
Using the EU funds, the WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Air Service flew the aid workers to 66 remote locations in Mauritania, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Niger throughout 2021 at a time when humanitarian needs worsened.
Natural hazards, structural poverty and chronic food scarcity made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic are among the problems faced by the West and Central Africa region, the WFP statement said.
"UNHAS continues to face critical financial challenges. It is vital that UNHAS has adequate resources in 2022 to keep providing essential services to the humanitarian community," said the statement.
The EU’s contribution for 2021 was made through the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO), the statement noted.
Established in 2003, UNHAS operates "where viable air options do not exist," the statement underlined. UNHAS currently transports up-to 400,000 passengers to 300 regular destinations each year using a fleet of fixed-winged aircraft and helicopters.
UNHAS also carries out medical evacuations and security relocations upon request, the statement concluded.
