Geneva - Aid agencies and the UN warned Friday that humanitarian flights vital to distributing aid in Sudan would have to stop if more funding was not forthcoming. Christiane Berthiaume of the UN World Food Programme, WFP, which manages the service on behalf of around 70 UN and other aid organizations, said another 77 million dollars was needed to keep the flights running for the year.
Contributions worth six million dollars from Ireland the EU Commission and Not on our Watch, a charity group founded by actors George Clooney and Matt Damon among others, had ensured the service throughout April.
In a joint statement, 14 non-governmental organizations, NGO's, including CARE, Christian Aid, Oxfam and Catholic Relief Services said much of their work would not be possible without the flights.
The 16 helicopters carried around 8,000 aid workers a month in Darfur and were the soul means of reaching around two million people located in the most dangerous areas.
"It is essential that we keep this service running as the situation becomes more and more insecure," said Berthiaume.
Three drivers hired by the WFP had been shot dead at the weekend as they were delivering supplies. Berthaume said repeated attacks was jeopardizing aid distribution.
The organization was currently able to transport just half the supplies it needed to position before the rainy season started in a few weeks.
