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Syria: high winds and technical difficulties hinder UN airdrop Syria: high winds and technical difficulties hinder UN airdrop
(6 months later)
The UN’s first attempt to airdrop food to thousands of Syrian civilians in the besieged city of Deir ez-Zor has been thwarted by high winds and technical difficulties, according to the World Food Programme.The UN’s first attempt to airdrop food to thousands of Syrian civilians in the besieged city of Deir ez-Zor has been thwarted by high winds and technical difficulties, according to the World Food Programme.
The UN food agency, which organised Wednesday’s operation, said of the 21 pallets of food airdropped to the city, four were damaged because their parachutes failed to open properly, seven landed in no man’s land and 10 drifted away and remained unaccounted for.The UN food agency, which organised Wednesday’s operation, said of the 21 pallets of food airdropped to the city, four were damaged because their parachutes failed to open properly, seven landed in no man’s land and 10 drifted away and remained unaccounted for.
The mission saw a WFP-chartered Russian transport plane drop the equivalent of a medium-sized truckload of vegetable oil, lentils, rice and salt from an altitude of 7,000 metres (23,000ft). Had it landed safely, the food would have fed 2,500 people for a month. Unverified reports have suggested that as many as 20 people in the city have already died of starvation.The mission saw a WFP-chartered Russian transport plane drop the equivalent of a medium-sized truckload of vegetable oil, lentils, rice and salt from an altitude of 7,000 metres (23,000ft). Had it landed safely, the food would have fed 2,500 people for a month. Unverified reports have suggested that as many as 20 people in the city have already died of starvation.
Related: UK discusses humanitarian aid drops to Syria but 'only as last resort'
The agency described the drop as “a desperate measure in desperate times” and said it had been affected by changing weather conditions and unexpected high winds over the area. “The aircraft crew is highly experienced and have done numerous airdrops before but this was their first high altitude airdrop in Syria and this operation is not without risk,” said a spokeswoman. “Security constraints and weather conditions are important factors in the success of airdrops.”The agency described the drop as “a desperate measure in desperate times” and said it had been affected by changing weather conditions and unexpected high winds over the area. “The aircraft crew is highly experienced and have done numerous airdrops before but this was their first high altitude airdrop in Syria and this operation is not without risk,” said a spokeswoman. “Security constraints and weather conditions are important factors in the success of airdrops.”
She said WFP would try to make another airdrop as soon as possible to Deir ez-Zor, where 200,000 people surrounded by Islamic State militants are enduring severe food shortages and rapidly deteriorating conditions.She said WFP would try to make another airdrop as soon as possible to Deir ez-Zor, where 200,000 people surrounded by Islamic State militants are enduring severe food shortages and rapidly deteriorating conditions.
Although UN truck convoys have managed to deliver food to 113,000 people stranded in six besieged Syrian towns over the past week, they have been unable to get into Deir ez-Zor since March 2014.Although UN truck convoys have managed to deliver food to 113,000 people stranded in six besieged Syrian towns over the past week, they have been unable to get into Deir ez-Zor since March 2014.
Airdrops are used as a last resort by aid agencies because of their cost and complexity. The plane used in Wednesday’s airdrop was brought in from South Sudan, where the country’s two-year civil war has left millions short of food and pushed some areas to the brink of famine.Airdrops are used as a last resort by aid agencies because of their cost and complexity. The plane used in Wednesday’s airdrop was brought in from South Sudan, where the country’s two-year civil war has left millions short of food and pushed some areas to the brink of famine.
It has also given airdrop crews ample opportunity to practise and hone their skills. Humanitarian agencies including WFP and the International Committee of the Red Cross have responded to the South Sudanese crisis with airdrops to those areas that are cut off by fighting, or which cannot be reached because of rain or a lack of roads. Until it began airdropping food to South Sudan two years ago, the ICRC had not used the delivery method since Afghanistan in 1998.It has also given airdrop crews ample opportunity to practise and hone their skills. Humanitarian agencies including WFP and the International Committee of the Red Cross have responded to the South Sudanese crisis with airdrops to those areas that are cut off by fighting, or which cannot be reached because of rain or a lack of roads. Until it began airdropping food to South Sudan two years ago, the ICRC had not used the delivery method since Afghanistan in 1998.
In addition to being difficult, expensive and potentially dangerous for aircrew and people on the ground, airdrops are not a foolproof method of getting food to those people who need it most. Without adequate organisation, order and cooperation on the ground, food aid can fall into the wrong hands or be seized by the strongest before they can be distributed to older people and children.In addition to being difficult, expensive and potentially dangerous for aircrew and people on the ground, airdrops are not a foolproof method of getting food to those people who need it most. Without adequate organisation, order and cooperation on the ground, food aid can fall into the wrong hands or be seized by the strongest before they can be distributed to older people and children.
Related: South Sudan: little to celebrate as war and hunger mar independence day | Sam Jones
WFP said it had been working with Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff on the ground to make sure the food dropped would be properly collected and distributed.WFP said it had been working with Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff on the ground to make sure the food dropped would be properly collected and distributed.
“Airdrops are always a last option,” the spokeswoman added. “We would still prefer land access, which is easier and most cost-effective. However, as humanitarians we must use every opportunity to reach hungry people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria.”“Airdrops are always a last option,” the spokeswoman added. “We would still prefer land access, which is easier and most cost-effective. However, as humanitarians we must use every opportunity to reach hungry people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria.”
In August 2014, Britain’s Royal Air Force had to abandon an airdrop to thousands of Yazidi civilians stranded on an Iraqi mountain because of fears the food and drink they were delivering would injure its desperate recipients.In August 2014, Britain’s Royal Air Force had to abandon an airdrop to thousands of Yazidi civilians stranded on an Iraqi mountain because of fears the food and drink they were delivering would injure its desperate recipients.
The UN’s decision to use airdrops followed weeks of speculation and mounting international pressure for more to be done to reach starving Syrian civilians.The UN’s decision to use airdrops followed weeks of speculation and mounting international pressure for more to be done to reach starving Syrian civilians.