Panalpina donates flight to UNICEF for South Sudan aid effort

A child in South Sudan receives treatment. (Photo by Peter Martell / UNICEF)

Panalpina has again assisted the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) by flying relief aid to Africa to help children in war torn South Sudan.

A Panalpina chartered MD-11 cargo aircraft landed last night in neighboring Uganda, carrying nearly 70 tons of supplies including emergency health kits.

The supplies will be trucked to South Sudan and distributed across the country as the dry season begins.

Panalpina’s Charter Network arranged the flight in support of the respected UN organization.

The relief aid flight left Belgium from Liège on Wednesday afternoon for Entebbe carrying items such as health and education kits as well as therapeutic milk to fight malnutrition,supplied by UNICEF are now headed for children, women and families in South Sudan.

From Uganda, the cargo was trucked to South Sudan.

The standardized health packs containing medicines and medical supplies cover the diverse health needs in humanitarian emergencies and disasters. The kits ensure a fast, reliable and affordable supply of essential medicines for 50,000 people for three months and also address the need of children for psychosocial treatment in emergency situations.

UNICEF South Sudan chief of communications Tim Irwin said: “The peace agreement signed in August 2018 gives us hope that children in South Sudan can be children once again and look forward to a better future. But the years of conflict have come at an enormous cost and the humanitarian needs remain massive.”

Panalpina’s chief executive Stefan Karlen added: “I am very pleased that we have again partnered with UNICEF and donated a relief flight to Africa.

"We have done this for the sixth time now, instead of making gifts to customers and employees before Christmas. The relief flights have become a tradition whereby we offer our air charter expertise and bring some respite to those who are less fortunate than us, especially children."

It is the second year that Panalpina has supported UNICEF's South Sudan relief efforts. In the past, it has flown aid to Chad and Burundi amongst other locations.

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