United Nations Afghanistan: Humanitarian flights operations essential

The Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan seeks to clarify the role of United Nations Flight Operations for Afghanistan. This information is provided in light of recent events and misinformation about the nature of United Nations Flight Operations for Afghanistan.
Since 1991, the Office of the Co-ordinator has been responsible for UN aircraft operations in support of United Nations activities in Afghanistan. The aircraft constitute a most reliable air link to Afghanistan and have a 100% safety record during the entire duration of their operations.

The operating base for the aircraft is Islamabad. Flight Operations has flown approximately 60,000 passengers and transported almost 1,600 metric tons of humanitarian cargo in its ten years of operation. It runs regular flights to all major airports in Afghanistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and other locations throughout the region as required.

The service provides essential transport for staff from both the United Nations and NGOs, donors, and high level officials. In late August, Flight Operations ferried a delegation of high level Pakistani officials to Kabul, Herat, Mazar, and Jalalabad so that they could witness first hand the severity of the situation in Afghanistan and the magnitude of international assistance. The Pakistani mission characterised the visit as extremely productive and said that they benefited greatly from the visit to the camps for displaced persons in Afghanistan.

UN FlightOps are indispensable to United Nations work in Afghanistan, particularly its humanitarian operations, because of the topography and poor infrastructure of the country. At times, various areas are almost entirely inaccessible except by air. Due to terrain and poor roads, other areas are much farther than they appear on the map. For example, to reach Mazar from Islamabad would require five days of driving--one way. Moreover, in initial emergency operations, such as those in response to earthquakes, flights are the only way to get in staff and essential supplies when they are needed.

Apart from flying the normal monthly schedule to various destinations inside Afghanistan, Flight Operations also undertakes relocations, relief flights, and medical evacuations. In case of a life threatening accident, FlightOps either scrambles a stand by plane or diverts scheduled flights to the nearest usable airstrip to carry out a medical evacuation to a hospital in Pakistan. In January this year, FlightOps saved the life of an Afghan de-miner, when a landmine blew up in his face. Without the timely rescue, the de-miner would have died.

The task of FlightOps is eased by the excellent co-operation extended by the Government of Pakistan, including the Civil Aviation Authority, and local authorities in Afghanistan. They provide various facilities, including clearances and landing permission, even on short notice.

Flight Operations is crucial to maintain urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

For further information, please call Stephanie Bunker, Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan, 92 51 2211451 x 415; mobile 0320 4261325