Coronavirus: France supports EU's humanitarian airlift to several countries facing Covid-19

09 Mai 2020

Paris, France, May 9 (Infosplusgabon) - France on Friday gave its full support to the initiative taken by the European Union (EU), in conjunction with humanitarian NGOs, notably French and humanitarian actors, to set up a bridge air transport of freight and humanitarian personnel to several countries facing an acute humanitarian crisis, in the context of a health emergency resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

These countries are primarily in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

This solidarity initiative links together logistical resources from the European Union, several Member States, including France, and numerous NGOs in the humanitarian sector, notably grouped together in the Humanitarian Logistics Network.

"In the context of suspension of flights because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it will, in cooperation with local authorities, allow the delivery of humanitarian supplies and personnel to vulnerable populations. The humanitarian supplies will help prevent and fight against the pandemic. This European Union initiative is a useful complement to the United Nations humanitarian response plan, and in particular the logistical response plan of the World Food Program," Agnès von der Mühll, spokesperson of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday.

The first flight of this humanitarian airlift took place on Thursday with a plane chartered by the European Commission, which linked, via the humanitarian platform Bioport, Lyon to Bangui, in the Central African Republic (CAR), allowing the transport of humanitarian workers and emergency cargo, including medical equipment provided by French NGOs, Agnès von der Mühll said.

She added that two flights of humanitarian cargo will complete this aid in the coming days to the CAR.

"The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs supports this initiative which illustrates and implements European solidarity towards the most vulnerable populations facing the Covid-19 pandemic and facilitates the continuity of humanitarian activities," she assured.d'Orsay.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/VVG/GABON2020

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