WFP/UNHAS common services for Southeast Asia during COVID-19

Project completed

Contribution by two funding entities (Humanitarian Aid and South Cooperation) to support WFP/UNHAS in Southeast  Asia in the framework of the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan in terms of passenger services, light cargo and MEDEVAC. With passenger planes and air ambulances (air base: Subang/Kuala Lumpur) the freedom of movement of humanitarian and development workers as well as other supporters to the Global Humanitarian Response Plan who got into “land-locked” situations where no commercial capacity is available or possible to use is enhanced by WFP/UNHAS’ air or sea transport services. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Mekong
Myanmar
Health
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
Primary health care
Humanitarian efficiency
Medical services
12.06.2020 - 31.12.2020
CHF  600’000
Background A disease outbreak was first reported in China in December 2019, subsequently identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a novel coronavirus, later named COVID-19. As the number of cases and death toll rose rapidly and crossed borders, on 11 March 2020 WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. As of end of April, more than three million cases were reported worldwide. The COVID-19 outbreak has led to widespread movement restrictions, disrupted supply chains and economies, triggered a global health response, and is severely threatening humanitarian operations. Unprecedented border closures, export bans, bottlenecks to commercial air and sea traffic, port restrictions and transport delays are impacting commercial and humanitarian supply chains.
Objectives To ensure the continuity of the health and humanitarian supply chain for life-saving response: In alignment with the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan and its strategic objectives, WFP/UNHAS establishes a comprehensive platform of services to secure the continuity of the supply chain, with the goal of maximising capacity and ensuring the timely delivery of health and other essential humanitarian cargo, providing air transport capacity for humanitarian staff to ensure movement of personnel and setting up medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) services for the safety and wellness of humanitarian and health responders whilst not creating additional burdens on host governments and their health systems or conflicting with existing commercial transport services.
Target groups All humanitarian, health and development organisations participating in the COVID-19 response, including UN agencies, international and national NGOs, civil societies and Embassy staff. 
Medium-term outcomes

-Support health partners and country efforts to augment national health systems and enable access to critical medical supplies including equipment, treatment facilities and training.

-Ensure that those furthest behind, who rely on WFP and humanitarian partners for dayto-day support, continue to receive assistance.

-Ensure duty of care for WFP staff and the broader humanitarian, health and development community. 

Results

Expected results:  

1.    Air and shipping cargo services for 9 months,     

2.    Medical Evacuation Services (MEDEVAC) for 9 months, and

3.    Passenger air services for 3 months.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • World Food Programme


Coordination with other projects and actors

-Multi-bi contribution by SDC/HA to WFP in Myanmar (CHF 2.5 million in 2020)

-COVID-19 related new projects or reprogrammed projects by SDC oriented towards the fight against COVID-19 in Southeast Asia will benefit from the cargo, passenger and MEDEVAC services under the WFP Common Services Plan.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    600’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    600’000
Project phases

Phase 1 12.06.2020 - 31.12.2020   (Completed)