Spain supports WFP with €300,000
The government of Spain has donated an amount of €300,000 to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support its management of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) in Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
A press release on WFP’s website today says that the contribution which is equally distributed among the three countries, will help maintain regular air transport between the capitals and the areas where humanitarian assistance is needed.
The UNHAS transports humanitarian staff working for NGOs, other UN agencies, their partners, as well as officials from donor countries and journalists to reach vulnerable people in remote and insecure areas. Like WFP, UNHAS relies entirely on voluntary funds, it noted.
“WFP aviation services are essential in many places where alternative transport is non-existent or insufficient to support life-saving activities carried out by humanitarian organizations. Spain, among other donors, fully understands our role in providing humanitarian access, and WFP is grateful for the diverse support which Spain provides annually to our operations,” Eric Perdison, Chief of WFP Aviation was cited as saying in the release.
It also says that long distances, poor infrastructure and insecurity pose challenges for road access within Mali, Mauritania and Niger, making air transport the most efficient means for humanitarian staff to reach the communities in urgent need of their assistance. UNHAS also facilitates the movement of essential light cargo, such as medical supplies, specialized nutrition products, and telecommunications equipment.
“In humanitarian crises, the work of UNHAS is vital for humanitarian staff to access the most vulnerable populations, and to ensure safe travel amid often challenging security conditions. We fully support the work of UNHAS and that, therefore, the contributions provided by Spanish citizens are reaching those most in need,” Luis Tejada, director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) was also quoted as saying in the release.
WFP operates flights that link several destinations with the capitals of each of the Sahel countries, facilitating humanitarian access to remote and hard to reach areas.
For 2017, UNHAS still requires over $10 million to fund operations in the Sahel region for the duration of the year.
By Pamela Ofori-Boateng
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