Provision of Humanitarian Air Services in Yemen

This operation has been modified as per budget revision 5 (with an extension in time up to 31 December 2018)

This Special Operation (SO) is established to provide safe and reliable air transport services to facilitate the humanitarian response to the crisis in Yemen. In addition, the project caters for an air bridge between Sana’a and Djibouti for a period of three months in order to ensure a means for aid workers to move in and out of Yemen until the resumption of international commercial flights. 

In the aftermath of escalated violence in March 2015, humanitarian needs in Yemen have increased significantly due to high insecurity, massive displacement of the population and social services at the verge of collapse. Consequently, humanitarian actors have called for WFP to establish its United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) as a key part of the response strategy to address most urgent humanitarian needs.

With a budgeted cost of US$ 7,287,530 Special Operation 200845 will be managed by WFP Yemen Country Office from 1 May to 31 December 2015 with one fixed wing
aircraft in Yemen. Another aircraft based in Djibouti will be used for hub operations for a period of 3 months only.

The fleet structure and operational routes will be adapted to the needs of the humanitarian community after consultations with the Humanitarian Country Team and other relevant stakeholders. The project will be implemented through standard WFP management structures and support systems and regularly reviewed using standard procedures in order to minimize risks and ensure operational efficiency.