The UN has wound up a massive helicopter operation in earthquake-hit Pakistan due to pressure on resources, officials said yesterday.
The "largest humanitarian helicopter operation" in UN history ended on Wednesday after ferrying thousands of tons of supplies and survivors over the past eight months.
"We would have liked to keep a smaller fleet during the coming monsoon period when some roads could be blocked, but we do not have enough resources to maintain the operation," Michael Jones, World Food Program (WFP) Pakistan director said in a statement.
The UN Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS), administered by the WFP, launched helicopter flights in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and North Western Frontier Province two days after the huge earthquake killed more than 73,000 on Oct. 8 last year.
The helicopters were vital in reaching hundreds of thousands of people in areas cut off by landslides after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake, which left 70,000 seriously injured and 3.3 million homeless.
UNHAS flew 24 helicopters until March 2006, including eight from the US and NATO forces. By the end of April, UNHAS was left with only eight helicopters. During May it worked with four helicopters.
"These helicopters remained crucial in transporting food and non-food items like medicine and warm clothing and they helped to prevent many deaths during the emergency phase," said Jones.
Shorty Adlard, head of UNHAS air operations, said 28,000 tonnes of aid and 40,000 passengers were transported.
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