DUBAI // The UN is continuing its flights carrying aid from the UAE to the Philippines to help the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan.
More than 930 tonnes of aid has been shipped so far from the Humanitarian Response Depot of the UN World Food Programme in Dubai, as aid agencies continue to support families hit by the disaster.
“We are continuing to fly to Manila and Cebu,” said Bill Campbell, manager of the WFP’s Dubai office.
“We have been shipping food, medical equipment, high-energy biscuits, shelter, water-sanitation kits and telecoms equipment.
“We are also sending general support equipment from computers to vehicles and day-to-day requirements for our operations.”
The UAE is one of five UN Humanitarian Response Depots around the world managed by the WFP. Since the disaster on November 8, the food agency in International Humanitarian City has sent 40 charter flights from Dubai to Manila, Cebu and Tacloban.
“The last flight was five days ago and we are sending another one next week,” said Mr Campbell.
The food agency has helped more than three million people so far. It plans to reach another one million in 64 municipalities.
More than 6,000 tonnes of rice, 230 tonnes of high-energy biscuits and eight tonnes of Plumpy’Doz – a peanut paste that prevents malnutrition in infants – has been sent to the Philippines from WFP offices around the world.
“There are a few small flights arranged in the near future for the supply of additional shelters and water-sanitation kits, Mr Campbell said.
“These types of requests are slowing down as WFP will gradually phase out its emergency operations in January and move towards more targeted resilience building and early recovery activities.
“This will include targeted cash for work and food for work that will be informed by more in-depth market and livelihood assessments.
“Teams have reported it’s been very difficult, especially on the water side. There is a lot more electricity and generators now. Markets have started opening up. It is a little easier to get around with roads getting clearer.”
Although the situation is slowly improving, challenges remain.
“Protecting children from malnutrition is crucial in the weeks and months ahead,” Mr Campbell said.
“WFP is working with partners to provide specialised nutritional products for the youngest and most vulnerable in hard-hit areas.
“WFP, in conjunction with Unicef, the Department of Health and NGOs, is targeting 100,000 children under the age of five.
“Interventions vary, with Plumpy’Doz to prevent the rise of acute malnutrition in children aged between 6 and 23 months.”
Agency officials hoped donors in the UAE would dip into their pockets to fund its operations.
Latest estimates show it needs at least US$112 million (Dh411.3m), of which $88m will go towards food aid.
“We need donations from individuals and corporates in the UAE,” said Elise Bijon, WFP’s partnerships and business development manager for the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
“They have always been generous. A hundred dollars is enough to provide a thousand packs of high-energy biscuits.
“Biscuits are excellent for emergency response as they are highly nutritious, require no cooking, are easy to transport and easy to use with children.”
Donors can contribute on the WFP's website, www.wfp.org.
pkannan@thenational.ae