Airlink supports Ebola relief in Central Africa

Airlink, a nonprofit organization that connects the aviation and humanitarian sectors, is responding to the growing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This support is partially made possible through assistance from the U.S. government.

As part of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Eastern DRC, Airlink is providing free or heavily discounted air transport and logistics solutions for partner organizations sending aid to the region. An estimated 30 million people are affected by hunger and health crises, while demands on the humanitarian sector are rising and funding for emergency measures is declining. Many nonprofit organizations have closed their local offices, further exacerbating the situation.

In 2014, Airlink responded to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which ranks among the largest operations in the organization’s over 15-year history. In collaboration with 23 nonprofit organizations, 68 infectious disease specialists were dispatched, and over 450 tons of aid, including protective equipment and infection control materials, were delivered. This international response helped contain the outbreak, including through the airlift coordinated by Airlink.

Currently, the costs of transporting the necessary aid, from burial kits to medical supplies, are nearly double what they were a decade ago. Limited air freight options and the lack of seaport alternatives leave nonprofit organizations with few ways to deliver critical assistance to the doctors and clinics treating patients. Airlink has already taken steps to help organizations overcome transport barriers and send aid through open borders for humanitarian goods and services. Airlink is currently working with seven partner organizations to reach remote communities and is ready to assist many more.

“Finding solutions to seemingly intractable humanitarian logistical challenges is what Airlink specializes in: We will get the aid where it is needed,” said Paloma Adams-Allen, President and CEO of Airlink. “We have a dedicated, experienced team that is deeply rooted in working in sub-Saharan Africa and is aware of the cultural, political, and unique circumstances our partners face in this epidemic. We are managing the many variables involved in this recent outbreak and identifying ways to get the urgently needed aid where it needs to go.”

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