KATHMANDU – 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 US$ 2.58 million to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).

Sweden has contributed US$1.2 million (Rs. 126 million), Switzerland US$ 620,000 (Rs. 65 million) and the United Kingdom has donated US$760,000 (Rs. 79 million) to UNHAS, which is managed by the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The funds will allow helicopters to continue flying vital supplies to remote earthquake-affected mountain communities until the end of the year. Many mountain communities in Nepal remain cut-off from the rest of the country after the 25 April quake and aftershocks caused landslides that 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. “Keeping helicopters flying shelter material 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.”

Since 29 April, 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 tons of humanitarian supplies to mountainous areas.

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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.

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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Seetashma Thapa, WFP Nepal, seetashma.thapa@wfp.org, +977 9851177901 Ramjee Dahal, WFP Nepal, ramjee.dahal@wfp.org, +9851057843