By ifeoma Onyekachi

The United Nations has approved a $48 million emergency allocation to sustain critical air transport services for humanitarian operations in Nigeria and seven other countries facing severe crises.

The funding, authorised by Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, comes from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and is aimed at keeping the UN Humanitarian Air Service operational amid a deepening global funding shortfall.

The intervention will support ongoing operations in Nigeria, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan and Syria—all of which rely heavily on UNHAS to access hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas.

UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, described the service as indispensable, noting that it enables humanitarian personnel and life-saving supplies to reach vulnerable populations in inaccessible regions. Operated by the World Food Programme (WFP), UNHAS functions as a logistical backbone for aid delivery, particularly in conflict zones and areas with limited infrastructure.

He warned, however, that without sustained financial support, the air service risks scaling down or suspending operations entirely, potentially disrupting humanitarian access at a critical time.

The latest allocation follows a recent $2 billion contribution from the United States to UN-managed humanitarian funds, which helped unlock emergency financing for urgent interventions such as UNHAS.

In Nigeria, the funding comes against the backdrop of a recent operational setback. In September 2025, the UN was forced to suspend fixed-wing flight operations in the country after funding constraints crippled services, cutting off a vital access route for aid workers operating in the insurgency-affected North-East.

The suspension coincided with a worsening humanitarian financing gap that has already prompted warnings from WFP over possible reductions in emergency food and nutrition assistance for approximately 1.3 million people in the region.

Operational data underscores the importance of the service. In 2024, UNHAS transported more than 9,000 passengers in Nigeria alone, while in 2025, over 4,500 humanitarian workers relied on the flights to reach isolated communities affected by conflict and insecurity.

Humanitarian analysts say the restored funding is critical not only for maintaining field presence but also for preventing further deterioration in already fragile regions where access constraints remain one of the biggest barriers to effective aid delivery.

With global humanitarian needs rising and funding under pressure, the UN’s intervention highlights the growing reliance on pooled emergency funds to sustain essential services and avert disruptions in life-saving operations.