(TAN): Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Temasek Foundation are partnering with the World Food Programme (WFP) to support the global COVID-19 response to help transport essential medical supplies and other health and humanitarian items by air to points of need around the world.
Under this agreement, SIA is making ad-hoc charter flights and freight space in its scheduled services available on a cost-recovery basis, with flight costs being covered by a contribution of up to USD 6.5 million from the Temasek Foundation, which is a Singapore government-owned investment firm.
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Providing the logistics backbone for global Covid-19 efforts, WFP operates a network of hubs and passenger and cargo airlinks to ensure a steady flow of supplies and support to the frontlines of the pandemic. Since these services commenced in May, WFP has managed more than 800 humanitarian flights to 159 countries.
“While demand for WFP Common Services grows every week, resources are stretched incredibly thin and additional support is urgently needed. We are very grateful to Singapore Airlines and Temasek Foundation for stepping up so we can continue delivering life-saving supplies to those who need them most,” said Amer Daoudi, WFP’s COVID-19 Corporate Response Director.
Chin Yau Seng, Senior Vice President Cargo, Singapore Airlines, said: “It is a pleasure for SIA to partner with WFP and Temasek Foundation in this meaningful programme. This will allow us to draw on our expertise as a global airfreight provider and use our international network to deliver essential supplies to the points of need and help to make a positive impact on the communities that have been directly affected by COVID-19.”
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An estimated USD 965 million is required to sustain WFP’s Common Services on behalf of the humanitarian and health community. To date only 21% of this sum has been received. WFP’s passenger and cargo flights are likely to grind to a halt at the end of August if no additional support is received.
Mr Ng Boon Heong, CEO of Temasek Foundation, said: “We are pleased to partner with the WFP and SIA to help make these flights possible. This partnership is one way for us to ensure that essential supplies reach communities with the most need, even if they are separated by distance.”
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