UN continues to operate a few humanitarian flights out of Fiji for normal scheduled departures for the UN, diplomatic missions and NGOs

United Nations Resident Coordinator, Sanaka Samarasinha says they continue to operate a few humanitarian flights out of Fiji for normal scheduled departures only for the UN, diplomatic missions and NGOs.

Samarasinha says as per the government policy, for the moment, the flights are only for the people leaving, and not coming in.

He says in the last six weeks, about 11 staff have left and about 18 staff will leave in June. The UN agencies have over 1,400 staff and dependents in Suva alone.

Samarasinha says the focal point for these humanitarian flights is the UN’s World Food Program.

The flights have been taking place from last year, coming into Fiji and from Fiji going to other parts of the Pacific with cargo and personnel.

Samarasinha says these flights have been bringing in amongst other things a lot of cargo relating to the pandemic, Personal Protection Equipment, ventilators, technical personnel to assist the Ministry of Health and vaccines.

He also says their policy is to use the national airline for these humanitarian flights wherever possible to help stimulate the economy.