United Nations Humanitarian Air Service - World Food Programme 2013

February 2013 - Established in 1961 the World Food Programme (WFP) is the food assistance arm of the United Nations and is the largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger in the world. WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable populations as a means of addressing hunger and global food insecurity. WFP has demonstrated knowledge and capacity to address the urgent food needs of vulnerable populations and to contribute to fighting global hunger. Given WFP's presence and capacity there are no other agencies that are able to perform the same functions on a similar scale as WFP. With Canada's support the World Food Programme Humanitarian Air Service (WFP-UNHAS) is providing safe reliable responsive and efficient air service for humanitarian agencies in numerous countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo Sudan and South Sudan. The UNHAS services are also used to transport light cargo for humanitarian agencies and to carry out emergency medical and security evacuations.

The expected outputs include: (i) safe reliable and efficient passenger air transport service provided to the humanitarian community; (ii) transportation of light cargo for humanitarian agencies; and (iii) timely medical and security evacuation services are carried out. The expected intermediate outcome is to reduce vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.