Europen Council donates €2.7 million to Un air service in Sudan

December 17, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The Humanitarian Air Service (WFP-HAS) in Sudan – a vital operation run by the World Food Programme (WFP) – today welcomed a €2.7 million contribution from ECHO, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office.

The humanitarian air service transports some 14,000 passengers a month to and from different parts of Sudan, including 8,000 relief workers in Darfur who deliver essential food assistance, water and healthcare in the region. WFP-HAS operates 18 fixed wing aircraft and five helicopters.

The latest EU donation brought total contributions from the European Commission to €11.7 million for 2008. It will allow WFP-HAS to keep flying for the rest of December to serve the entire humanitarian community in Sudan.

Contributions from the European Commission, the United States, Canada, Japan and other donors, will ensure that humanitarian operations in Darfur and throughout Sudan will not be interrupted, said Kenro Oshidari, WFP Representative in Sudan.

WFP-HAS faced tough challenges this year from rising fuel and staffing costs and was forced to make changes to maintain its flying schedule. These included raising the airfare from US$100 to $200 per passenger on flights, reducing its fleet by one helicopter and decreasing flights from six to five times a week to Darfur.

Despite these economising measures, and taking into account the recent ECHO donation, WFP-HAS still needs US$89 million to continue operating in 2009 — an increase of US$12 million from 2008.

Continued insecurity, including bandit attacks on truck convoys carrying food assistance and the hijacking of nearly 110 WFP-operated trucks in 2008, make road travel extremely dangerous for humanitarian workers. So the air service has become more important than ever.

(ST)