Provision of Humanitarian Air Services in Sudan

This operation has been modified as per budget revision 2 (see below)

This Special Operation (SO) is established to provide safe, efficient and effective air transport services to the humanitarian community in Sudan. Nearly 20 percent of Sudan’s population is in need of humanitarian assistance.1 However, continuing insecurity, vast distances, and poor transportation networks within the country severely limit access for aid workers to beneficiaries. Since 2004, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has been the main means through which NGOs, UN agencies and the donor community travel to implement and monitor humanitarian projects, and the service is deemed necessary to continue in 2015. 

With a budgeted cost of US$ 30,814,600, SO 200774 will be managed by the WFP Sudan Country Office, in coordination with the UNHAS Steering Committee (SC). The fleet will consist of six aircraft, and the SO will run from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015. The budget requirements will be raised through donor contributions (approximately 85 percent) and partial cost-recovery (15 percent) in the form of ticket sales.

Fleet composition and operational routes have been determined after needs assessments and consultations with relevant stakeholders. The project will be implemented through standard WFP management structure and support systems and regularly reviewed in accordance with standard procedures in order to minimize risks and ensure operational efficiency.

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Budget revision 2 to SO 200774 seeks to decrease the cost of teh operation by US$ 5,034,654 to US$ 52,962,439 in line with reductions in aircraft and related contracted costs. This will have no impact on the continued provision of air transport services to the humanitarian community in Sudan until 31 December 2016.