WFP air service in Sudan get one-month reprieve
March 29, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The UN World Food Programme air operations in Sudan and Darfur particularly won a temporary reprieve for one month from imminent closure thanks to generous donations totalling more than US$6 million, the agency announced on Friday.
In early March WFP warned that by the end of March it would be forced to ground the helicopters and aeroplanes that carry crucial supplies and relief workers to remote parts of Darfur because no confirmed donations had arrived to its US$77 million budget this year. It also said that rampant banditry is delaying vital food deliveries to Darfur.
The UN WFP-Humanitarian Air Service (WFP-HAS) will be able to keep flying for another month, until 30 April, because four donors responded quickly to a recent announcement that the air operation would be grounded by 31 March due to lack of funds.
The WFP received US$6.24 million from the European Commission (US$4.5 million), Ireland (US$740,000), the UN Common Humanitarian Fund, US$500,000 and US$500,000 from Not On Our Watch — founded by Hollywood actors George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub and civil rights lawyer David Pressman — to finance the delivery of humanitarian aid by aircrafts.
“We are hoping that more funds will come in, because there is a big gap between the US$6 million we have now and the US$77 million that we need this year,” said Kenro Oshidari, WFP Representative in Sudan, adding that the air service is especially vital amid deteriorating security on the roads.
The helicopters are more important than ever because insecurity and banditry mean that many roads are ‘no go’ for humanitarian workers. Just this week, WFP announced that three drivers of WFP-contracted trucks had been murdered recently in Sudan.
An average of 8,000 relief workers in Darfur, who provide essential food assistance, water and healthcare services, use WFP-HAS each month. This number includes 3,000 passengers on the six helicopters travelling to the most remote parts of Darfur.
More than half of WFP-HAS passengers work for non-governmental organizations and charities, while others work for UN humanitarian agencies such as WFP, UNICEF the World Health Organization and others.
(ST)