WFP: fund crisis may halt airlifting relief supplies in Burma

Mungpi

Friday, 20 June 2008 22:54

New Delhi – The use of helicopters for airlifting relief materials into Burma's Irrawaddy delta could come to a halt by next week, unless more funds come in, the United Nations World Food Program spokesperson said on Friday. "We need funds to the tune of 20 million USD to keep the helicopters operational," Paul Risley, WFP's spokesperson in Bangkok told Mizzima. Risley said the 10 helicopters, which the government of Burma finally allowed to be used for carrying relief supplies on June 2, have been ferrying aid supplies for at least 50 aid agencies, which are helping cyclone survivors in Burma's Irrawaddy division. "The helicopters are crucial," said Risley, adding that before the use of choppers relief supplies had not been reaching the majority of cyclone survivors in remote areas due to difficulties in transportation and communication. "But we are in serious fund crisis now," Risley added. The WFP said 20 million USD is needed for fuel for the helicopters as well as to pay for hourly usage. "We have to pay several thousand US dollars per hour," said Risley. The WFP earlier made an appeal for 50 million USD for aid supplies for victims of Cyclone Nargis that lashed Burma's northwestern coastal divisions of Irrawaddy and Rangoon on May 2 and 3. "To date, only just over half of the US$ 50 million required for the logistical operation has been secured," WFP said in its statement released on Friday. Much of the funds have been used on barges, boats, river craft and basic infrastructure needed to reach cyclone survivors in remote, hard-hit villages across the Irrawaddy Delta, the statement added. Fresh Appeals Risley said the WFP will make an appeal for donations that is needed to maintain the use of helicopters for supplying relief materials. "We will make a donor appeal next week in Geneva, Switzerland and to all countries. There should be small contributions," Risley said. Meanwhile, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), on Thursday said it will give an additional US $ 3 million to support the WFP's logistical operations in Burma. The USAID has so far contributed a total of $ 4 million to WFP for its logistical support in Burma. "The international humanitarian community has come to rely on the UN World Food Program logistics operation to provide assistance to the Burmese people, and we are pleased to offer this much needed additional support for the relief efforts," said USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore in a statement on Thursday. In response to the killer Cyclone Nargis that left at least 134,000 dead and missing, the USAID has provided US$ 31.4 million as emergency assistance to the devastation caused by the cyclone. Reaching remote villages While the WFP has been able to transport at least 2,649 metric tons of relief supplies to cyclone victims, Risley said, "There are still villages that have not been reached." The aid supplies to remote areas are only possible with the use of boats and helicopters and several areas remain out of reach due to problems of transportation, Risley said. "There are still many places that we have not reached yet," said Risley, adding that it is important that assistance is given regularly to survivors, to enable them to start rebuilding their lives. "What's important now is to start regular deliveries of food and other assistance, may be for one or two weeks, something like that," Risley said. < Prev   Next >