Kathmandu, November 16

Airlifts of food and other humanitarian items will continue to reach earthquake-affected people in Nepal, after Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom agreed to donate more than Rs 270 million to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, said World Food Programme today.

A press statement issued here today said that Sweden has contributed Rs 126 million (US$1.2 million), Switzerland Rs 65 million (US$ 620,000) and the United Kingdom has donated Rs 79 million (US$760,000) to UNHAS, which is managed by the UN WFP.

It said that the funds will allow helicopters to continue flying vital supplies to remote earthquake-affected mountain communities until the end of the year as many mountain communities in Nepal have been cut-off from the rest of the country after the April 25 quake and the aftershocks that caused landslides which destroyed access trails.

“WFP is extremely grateful to Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom for their generous contribution,” said Pippa Bradford, WFP Nepal Country Director in the statement.

Bradford further said, “Keeping helicopters flying shelter materials and food to 146,000 people in otherwise inaccessible communities is critical to helping villagers prepare for the onset of winter. Without these contributions, UNHAS helicopters would have had to cease operations at the end of October, with serious consequences for these high altitude villages.”

According to the statement, since April 29, UNHAS has delivered urgently needed relief to remote communities on behalf of 156 humanitarian agencies. To date, its helicopters have moved more than 3,400 humanitarian workers and 2,300 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies to mountainous areas.

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.