European Union humanitarian air bridge: Third flight arrived in Cabo Delgado today

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

European Union humanitarian air bridge: Third flight arrived in Cabo Delgado today

4:19 CAT | 09 Jul 2021

All photos: Courtesy of Delegation of the European Union to Mozambique

The third and final European Union Humanitarian Air Bridge flight to Mozambique arrived at Pemba Airport, in Cabo Delgado province, on July 9, with a humanitarian cargo that includes medical equipment, hygiene kits and medicines. Combined with the first two EU humanitarian flights, which arrived in Pemba on the 3rd and 4th of July, more than 20 tons of humanitarian aid have already been unloaded in Cabo Delgado.

European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, who was present at the departure of the first flight on June 30, 2021, said on the occasion that “the Humanitarian Air Bridge to Mozambique ensured crucial assistance offered by Italy and Portugal to save the lives of people in Mozambique in a situation of vulnerability in Cabo Delgado, where the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. Humanitarian Air Bridge flights, which began in 2020 when transport and air traffic were restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, are now activated in other challenging humanitarian environments. This is another example of Team Europe in action, a tangible example of European solidarity”.

The humanitarian situation in Mozambique and especially in Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula provinces continues to deteriorate. Almost 2 million people in Mozambique face severe food insecurity due to the security situation, drought and the socio-economic impact of Covid-19. The escalation of violence in Cabo Delgado has internally displaced some 800,000 people and at least 1.3 million people are estimated to be in need of immediate humanitarian assistance and protection in Cabo Delgado and in Niassa and Nampula provinces.

In 2021, the European Union allocated more than €17 million in humanitarian aid funding to Mozambique, €15 million for the Cabo Delgado crisis, including for combating food insecurity and improving disaster preparedness, and for education on emergencies. European Union assistance in Cabo Delgado, particularly to IDPs and host communities, covers the provision of shelter, non-food items, water and sanitation, education in emergencies and access to healthcare.

The European Union continues to advocate greater access for humanitarian personnel and assistance and the removal of obstacles delaying the delivery of aid to those who need it. The European Union therefore calls for respect and compliance with international human rights standards and international humanitarian law.

From 2020 to now, the European Union Humanitarian Air Bridge has facilitated 67 flights to 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, mobilizing more than 1,150 tonnes of vital medical and humanitarian equipment and transporting around 1,700 medical and humanitarian teams and other health personnel.

Third & final flight of the Humanitarian Air Bridge🇪🇺 for #CaboDelgado arrived with humanitarian assistance, medical equipmt/hygiene kits/medicines for the population affected by violence. In total 20+ tons of humanitarian asssiatance thanks to IT🇮🇹PT🇪🇺 @ECHO_CESAfrica efforts. pic.twitter.com/wWTSRqDpko

— Antonio Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar (@SBeneditoEU) July 9, 2021