French support keeps UNHAS flying in Afghanistan

The support allowed UNHAS to transport aid workers from UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and other partners as well as essential cargo like food, medical supplies and emergency shelter materials to remote locations across the country.

“France is proud to support UNHAS, a crucial lifeline delivering humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable populations in Afghanistan and all over the world,” said H.E. Ms Céline Jurgensen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Rome.

UNHAS currently flies aid workers to 25 destinations across the country, many of them remote and inaccessible. Earlier in 2024, UNHAS also operated an international airbridge connecting Kabul with Doha, Qatar and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ensuring quick and reliable delivery of humanitarian assistance and safe transport for aid workers to sustain life-saving operations. After commercial airlines started serving these destinations reliably, these destinations were discontinued. UNHAS still flies to Islamabad, Pakistan and Dushanbe, Tajikistan, twice a week.

“UNHAS enables humanitarian aid workers to reach and support vulnerable populations in remote, hard-to-access areas while also providing them with peace of mind, knowing that medical evacuations and security relocations are available in critical situations,” said Mutinta Chimuka, WFP’s acting Country Director in Afghanistan. “We are grateful for the generous support from our partners who help WFP keep UNHAS in the air.”

The Government of France has been a dedicated supporter of WFP in Afghanistan, contributing nearly US$9 million in 2023 and over US$6.5 million in 2024. This unwavering commitment places France squarely among the top ten donors for WFP in Afghanistan. 

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change