Humanitarian Aid to Mauritania Mali and Niger by Spain

Spain's contribution to the humanitarian efforts of Mali, Mauritania, and Niger totals more than 321,000 euros.

The gift will assist in the shipment of particularly specific medical supplies, nutrition goods, and telecommunications equipment.

It is very challenging to provide assistance to some of the most inaccessible areas in Mauritania, Mali, and Niger due to the obstacles posed by the lack of infrastructure, particularly the accessibility of roads. Therefore, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS), which is managed by the World Food Programme of the United Nations, has turned to air travel as an efficient way to reach these underserved populations. The Spanish government has given a donation of 100,000 euros to each of these countries – Mauritania, Mali, and Niger – in order to show its support for the work being done by these organizations. 

The money will be used to facilitate the transportation of very important light cargo, such as medical supplies, specialized nutrition products, and telecommunications equipment, from the capitals of these countries to more remote areas. In addition, the funding will assist in the frequent transportation of humanitarian teams working with United Nations agencies and their partners, Non-Governmental Organizations, representatives from donor countries, and journalists, so that they can reach people in vulnerable situations in the remote and dangerous locations.

The Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) said that the work of the UNHAS is highly important for humanitarian employees and workers to be able to reach vulnerable individuals in dangerous situations. In the face of a variety of security challenges, UNHAS is ready to enable the safe movement of staff members as well as the delivery of essential supplies. He added that the Spanish government is totally supportive of what UNHAS is doing, and as a result, the donation made by the Spanish people, which amounts to 300,000 Euros, is being provided to offer assistance to those who are in the greatest need of it.

The World Food Programme (WFP), which provides assistance to over 80 million people in around 80 countries, is recognized as the biggest humanitarian organization in the world that works to combat hunger globally. In the Sahel area, they run flights with each of the capitals in the region to different other locations, which makes it easier for humanitarian organizations to obtain access to many towns that are located a great distance away. For the next year, the United Nations Humanitarian Assistance Service (UNHAS) will continue to need more than 10 million US dollars to sustain the tasks it does inside the Sahel area.

Eric Permission, Chief of WFP Aviation, stated that the aviation services of WFP are crucial in many places where alternative transport does not exist or inadequate to support life-saving activities which the humanitarian organizations carry out. He went on to state that Spain as a donor, clearly recognizes its responsibility in providing humanitarian access, and WFP appreciates the diversified assistance which Spain contributes yearly to its activities.