As the recent spike in gang violence is making even more critical the humanitarian situation in Haiti, the European Union launched a new Humanitarian Air Bridge to provide essential supplies to the country’s population. A total of 5 flights have arrived to Cap Haïtien, in the north of the country, as the international airport of Port of Prince is not functional since beginning of March.
The flights came from Panama, bringing up to 62 tonnes of medicines, emergency shelter equipment and water and sanitation items. Out of the total, 24 tonnes of material are donated from the EU’s own stockpile in Panama, which include blankets, hygiene kits and kitchen sets, among other goods.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “The EU remains ready to support the people in Haiti by any means in our power. With these five flights we are delivering much needed supplies to our partners in the country, where the population is struggling to get access to healthcare and other basic services. Preventing the spread of diseases such as cholera is a priority, as well as providing emergency shelter to the increasing number of people displaced by the ongoing violence”.
This Humanitarian Air Bridge, as well as the in kind donations, are organised in the framework of the European Humanitarian Response Capacity. On 13 March, the EU also announced the release of €20 million in humanitarian aid for Haiti.
