September 2024 Update: Airlink’s Latest Responses
Read the latest update from Airlink to see the tangible impact of your support, which ensures humanitarian personnel and critical aid supplies reach those who need it most. Discover the nonprofit partners and communities we’re helping together with the generous assistance of our airline partners and sponsors. As the demand for Airlink’s services grows worldwide, your continued support of our mission is invaluable — thank you!
Hawai’i Wildfires
Recovery
More than one year after wildfires decimated the historic town of Lahaina and other areas of Maui, Airlink continues to support the communities’ recovery by transporting expert responders. Taskforce Kiwi, an Airlink partner based in New Zealand, was requested by fellow partner Red Lightning to provide additional human resources for smoke remediation work on up to 1,400 homes—work that will allow residents to safely return home. With support from United Airlines, Airlink helped deploy 12 volunteers from New Zealand across two waves of support for the island. Completing this necessary work quickly, thanks to more skilled on-ground resources, will help families in Lahaina return home sooner.
Ukraine – Conflict & Displacement
Response
Airlink continues coordinating flights for partners who are responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and surrounding countries. Since March 2022, Airlink has provided flights for more than 1,200 humanitarian responders and nearly 2,800 tons of aid to the region. In August, with ongoing support from American Airlines and United Airlines, Airlink secured passenger travel on behalf of partners International Mutual Aid, Protez Hub, Smart Medical Aid, and MedGlobal who are providing direct medical care to beneficiary communities on the frontlines in Ukraine as well as training to local healthcare providers.
Hurricane Beryl
Response
In July, Hurricane Beryl, the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane, caused extensive damage throughout the Caribbean. As it moved through Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the storm caused severe infrastructure damage, widespread power outages, communication breakdowns, and restricted access to essential services. In Jamaica, the hurricane’s high winds, flooding, and storm surge led to widespread power failures and water contamination.
Through a public-private partnership led by Airlink and supported by USAID/BHA, commercial airlines and logistics actors, and nonprofit organizations, Airlink activated its Latin America & the Caribbean Regional Response Plan. We coordinated with humanitarian, logistics, and airline partners in the region to assess main needs and response capabilities.
During the first two months of the response, Airlink facilitated 76 flights for humanitarian workers, providing essential healthcare, psychosocial support, mass-feeding, water and sanitation services, as well as cleanup and rebuilding assistance to the affected communities. Additionally, Airlink helped transport 116 metric tonnes of shelter supplies, WASH kits, and basic necessities to Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This effort included coordinating two multi-agency charter flights from Miami and Panama City, Panama.
These operations were made possible through donated and discounted services from American Airlines, Amerijet International, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, The UPS Foundation, and Virgin Atlantic, as well as through support from USAID/BHA.
U.S.-Mexico Border Crisis
Response
In partnership with Volaris, we supported flights to Tijuana for three medical volunteers with Refugee Health Alliance (RHA). RHA is working to address the urgent medical and mental health needs of refugees and migrants along the US-Mexico Border. In August, their team visited several shelters and clinics in Tijuana and provided medical care to more than 140 beneficiaries.
Southern Brazil Flooding
Recovery
Airlink continues to support long-term recovery efforts in response to the severe flooding event in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil this spring. Throughout August, we supported flights for 20 volunteers for All Hands and Hearts’ active response. Their team continues to work in collaboration with local community leaders to identify areas of need for long-term recovery. Team members are providing shelter support for affected communities by muck and gutting, sanitizing and cleaning debris. In addition, the team has supported meal distribution efforts, as well as building beds for flood-affected homes.
Haiti – Complex Crisis
Response
Airlink continues to support programming in Haiti, as millions of people face challenges due to the complex crisis in the country. In July, thanks to the support of Qatar Airways and Amerijet International, we supported the movement of trauma and emergency surgical kits on behalf of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) from Dubai to Port-au-Prince. The kits are anticipated to support the surgical procedures of 500 patients due to the ongoing and urgent medical need of people harmed by gun violence in Port-au-Prince. In addition, thanks to the support of American Airlines, we supported flights for CHF Foundation staff, bringing critical life savings medical equipment, supplies, materials and medications to CHF Hospital to support the only functioning hospital in Cité-Soleil.
Finally, thanks to the ongoing support of United Airlines, Airlink supported HIAS’ migrant support program in the Dominican Republic. HIAS works with partners like UNHCR to meet Haitian migrants’ protection needs, enhancing their capacity to program mental health support, economic empowerment, legal support, child protection, and gender-based violence prevention.
Gaza – Humanitarian Crisis
Response
In response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Airlink has coordinated transportation for over 400 tons of critically needed relief supplies and 80 humanitarian responders in partnership with 14 NGO partners to support the immense needs across the region. This includes hospital theaters, medicines, medical supplies, durable medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, shelter items, baby and feminine hygiene supplies, food and nutrition items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene kits with delivery to emergency response programs throughout the region supporting emergency needs in Gaza and regional cargo pre-positioning. Despite significant difficulties in cross-border transportation to Gaza, Airlink remains committed to supporting partners who retain access for cargo storage and pre-positioning as well as final mile delivery.
In August, we supported NGO partners United Palestinian Appeal (UPA), Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), and Shelters International Disaster Response (SIDR) in the movement of 1 million meals and 75 wheelchairs. Food items continue to be a priority for the humanitarian aid community as starvation and malnutrition worsen in Gaza. The wheelchairs transported will be used in local health facilities for recovering patients and amputees in need.
Morocco Earthquake
Response
Since September 2023, Airlink has been supporting our NGO partner network in the long-term rebuilding and recovery of communities affected by the earthquake in Morocco. Hundreds of thousands of people remain without consistent access to shelter or hygiene services and facilities.
This month, Airlink supported passenger travel on behalf of Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) thanks to support from American Airlines. The HPIC team was deployed to conduct damage assessments based on the most pressing needs on the ground. Their field visit will be allowing them to provide targeted support to the most vulnerable communities in the Atlas Mountains to ensure their long-term health and resilience.
Jasper, Canada – Wildfire
Response
In July 2024, a devastating wildfire erupted in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. Over the past two months, it has consumed approximately 81,663 acres of land, making it Jasper’s largest wildfire in over a century. The fire forced the evacuation of over 25,000 residents, who were displaced for several weeks as the flames ravaged parts of the surrounding town.
As of August 22, evacuation orders have been lifted, allowing residents to return to their homes. Unfortunately, the fire has destroyed 30% of the town’s structures, with the majority being homes and businesses. The community now faces a significant need for recovery and rebuilding support. With the generous support of Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation and United Airlines, we have supported flights for 33 responders from Team Rubicon Canada and Taskforce Kiwi. Over the next few weeks, their expert volunteers will be conducting physical reconnaissance, site surveys, damage assessments, and property examinations of homes impacted by the wildfire.
Hurricanes Beryl & Debby
Response
Airlink continues supporting partners’ responses to the devastating effects of Hurricanes Beryl and Debby. Communities in Texas and Florida were severely impacted by the hurricanes, leaving thousands of people displaced and in need of healthcare and rebuilding support. In August, we supported flights for 63 responders with Team Rubicon, Inspiritus, Operation BBQ Relief, ToolBank, Emergency Legal Responders, and Crisis Relief and Recovery. These programs are made possible with the support of American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
Malawi and Kenya – Health Systems Strengthening
Response
In August, Airlink supported one flight for partner IsraAID to Malawi. IsraAID started its emergency response in Malawi in March 2023 after Cyclone Freddy, with the aim of providing immediate relief and access to basic services. Over time, the program has expanded to focus on long-term development and resilience initiatives and is now dealing with drought response in the southern part of the country. The ongoing drought in Malawi and the surrounding region has severely impacted communities, leading to widespread food insecurity and water shortages. Urgent humanitarian emergency assistance is needed to support those affected and to help mitigate the long-term effects of this crisis.
Airlink also supported flights for CADENA’s team to Kenya where they are responding to the ongoing food insecurity and health crises. Kenya has faced a cyclic pattern of rainfall and drought, but the El Niño phenomenon has significantly altered this year’s rainfall, causing flooding, leaving soils and livestock areas significantly damaged. In the Turkana community, areas with suboptimal rainfall are facing significant hunger gaps and deficits in their livelihoods. The lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation facilities, and low levels of water treatment exacerbate these challenges, contributing to poor health outcomes. CADENA’s team is providing food and medical services to more than 9,000 individuals in Turkana. Both of these programs were made possible with the generous support of United Airlines.