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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Bringing hope where hope is hard to reach

Due to the increasing humanitarian needs resulting from the unprecedented drought in the Horn of Africa, coupled with entrenched insecurity in Somalia, the EU launched a series of Humanitarian Air Bridge flights to the country.

These flights, which started in July 2022, reinforce humanitarian logistic capacities to deliver nutrition and medical supplies to hard-to-reach areas.

Our humanitarian partners on the ground then distribute the supplies where they are most needed. It is envisaged that a total of approximately 50 flights will be needed to complete the operation.

Loading the plane in Mogadishu with life-saving supplies.
Loading the plane in Mogadishu with life-saving supplies.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
2 photos, one of a person unloading goods from a plane, the other a view of a staple of boxes on the ground
Upon arrival at the destination, the supplies – in this case, supplements for malnourished children – are handed over to our humanitarian partners on the ground.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
Doctor weighing a child to be screened for malnutrition
In this hospital in south central Somalia, children are screened for malnutrition. If needed, they will be given nutritional supplements.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
Mother sitting on a bed with her child behind her
UNICEF estimates that by the end of the year, 7.1 million Somalis will be facing severe food insecurity. Some 1.5 million children under the age of 5 will be severely malnourished, accounting for 45% of all children.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
View of people in front of a distribution centre
Supplies delivered by the Humanitarian Air Bridge flights are also distributed to centres for those internally displaced by the drought.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
Woman being briefed by health workers
Women that have been displaced by the drought and are living in displacement sites being briefed by health workers on how to identify signs of malnutrition and illness in their children.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
Doctor measuring the arm of a child that is hold in the arms of her mother.
Babies in the centre for internally displaced persons are screened for malnutrition using the MUAC technique. If the strap around the baby’s arm shows the red, then the child needs urgent supplementary feeding.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
Doctor weighing a child in a basket while the mother stands at the left side watching
With EU support, our humanitarian partners provide aid to malnourished children.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
Mothers, sitting in a circle on chairs, are shown how to treat malnutrition
Mothers are shown how to treat malnutrition and, if needed, are provided with medicines or nutritional supplements delivered by the Humanitarian Air Bridge.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
Woman standing in line while a doctor hands out ready-to-use therapeutic food
Ready-to-use therapeutic food is distributed to parents of malnourished children. This life-saving aid is delivered by the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flights.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)
View of a village made up of tents.
For these hard-to-reach areas of Somalia affected by the drought and mass displacement of people, airlifts such as the Humanitarian Air Bridge are the only way to get supplies to those who need them the most.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)

Story by Yolanda Valassopoulou, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
Photos: © European Union, 2022 (photographer: Said Yusuf Warsame)

Publication date: 01/09/2022