medical supplies

The supplies were sent Friday on behalf of WHO, UNFPA, UNDP, UN in Pacific and the Government of New Zealand.

“We are pleased that our Pacific Humanitarian Air Service continues to be the lifeline filling in the gaps left by commercial supply chain disruptions. The impacts of the Covid-19 are still being strongly felt across the Pacific, and with the support of our UN and government partners, we are able to move lifesaving medical cargo, when and where it is needed,” said Carlos Veloso, Country Director a.i. of WFP’s Pacific Multi-Country Office.

The air delivery demonstrates WFP’s continued support to the COVID-19 response in the region.

On 22 April, the Government of Kiribati raised an urgent request for intravenous (IV) fluids which was about to run out in its hospitals.

WFP responded immediately - together with the Australian Government who procured 6 metric tonnes of IV fluid within 24 hours.

The supplies were delivered by WFP to Tarawa via Nadi using WFP’s humanitarian flight, along with medical supplies from UNICEF and WHO.