(B2) That's it, material and humanitarian personnel are starting to arrive in the field again. On Friday (8 May), the first plane from the European Union's humanitarian bridge landed in Bangui, in the Central African Republic. Two other flights are scheduled for Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 May
Commissioner Janez Lenarcic for Crisis Management, in Lyon, before the first flight of the EU's humanitarian bridge to Bangui, Central African Republic (credit: European Commission)
Between international air traffic stopped, and borders closed, the pandemic has cut the classic supply chains used by NGOs and international organizations. To the detriment of the already most vulnerable populations. The airlift organized and financed by the European Union is the solution, to provide humanitarian material where it is needed.
40 tonnes of humanitarian cargo
A total of 40 tonnes of humanitarian supplies will reach Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic by Thursday morning (14 May). Departing from Lyon, France, the first flight had 13 tons of equipment on board. The rest will be shared between the next two planes, Tuesday (May 12) and Wednesday (May 13). 60 aid workers were also able to land in the Central African Republic on Friday (8 May).
Coupled with a repatriation effort
For the sake of efficiency, the European Union took advantage of the return flight last Friday to repatriate Europeans. 144 people thus returned from Bangui.
Quarantine for personnel and equipment
Once they arrived in Bangui, the aid workers were quarantined. The equipment is kept in a warehouse reserved for this purpose. The objective: to avoid possible contamination with the coronavirus through deliveries.
Focus on Africa
Thirty flights should take place over the next six months, for the whole world. This figure is likely to change depending on the evolution of the crisis. The priority will be granted to African countries in which the pandemic is likely to aggravate the many existing humanitarian crises “, specifies the European Commission.
