EU Provides Helicopter For Cyclone Idai Relief Operation

We believe that this helicopter will make a crucial difference to the difficult relief operations currently underway. The humanitarian teams are now able to reach the victims in the most remote areas, supply them with relief items, including medicines, shelter kits and hygiene pocks, and to assist the medical evacuation where needed. Flying into the affected areas will also help us gathering a better picture of the extent of derange and devastation and to coordinate further assistance.

The helicopter’s cost of EUR 250.000 is covered from the EUR 3.5 million that the EU’s humanitarian arm, ECHO, has provided for relief operations in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. EU support is already on the ground through ongoing EU-funded projects, such as the Health Development Fund, which just earmarked an additional USD 600000 for crucial medication, and the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund. Beyond that, the EU’s Earth Observation Programme, Copernicus, provides Emergency Satellite Maps to gather updated information and assess the impact of Cyclone Ida!, which will assist not only the relief mission, but also the EU in determining what additional support will be needed.