The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is set to halt air operations in Sudan in the next two months due to a lack of funding.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the move will impact the distribution of aid in the country, as most places where the displaced sought refuge are hard to access.
WFP spokesperson Bianka Zyra said both internally displaced Sudanese and refugees from South Sudan, who have fled across the border, will be affected.
UN humanitarian agencies’ air operations are responsible for delivering vital supplies. The helicopters can reach remote locations that are difficult to access by road.
UNHAS says it has little funding left, that will barely keep it flying until the end of November. This raises the possibility that operations may have to cease from December.
UNHAS has two fixed wing aircraft and three helicopters, but has already stopped flying to five out of 41 locations in the African country.
“We are currently funded until end of November and we require one million dollars more to continue operations until the end of the year,” Sudan spokesperson for the WFP Bianka Zyra, said.
“If we don’t receive that one million dollars then operations will cease.”
Aid workers say UNHAS is a vital service for delivering humanitarian supplies, especially medicines, in Sudan’s conflict-wracked regions such as Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
