The United Nations has shut down a key air service in northeast Nigeria after running out of funds, threatening aid access to millions in conflict-affected communities.
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), operated by the World Food Programme (WFP), ended fixed-wing flights last week after nearly a decade of transporting aid workers and supplies into Borno and Yobe states.
“In 2024, UNHAS carried more than 9,000 passengers. This year alone, 4,500 humanitarian staff relied on the service,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York. “But $5.4 million is needed to remain operational for the next six months.”
The WFP said the closure highlights worsening financial shortfalls, which in July also forced warnings of possible suspension of food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people.
Road travel in Nigeria’s northeast remains highly dangerous after 16 years of insurgency, making air transport essential for reaching displaced and vulnerable populations.
Humanitarian agencies warned the shutdown could deepen one of Nigeria’s longest-running crises, cutting safe access to communities already struggling with hunger, violence, and displacement.
WFP regional director Margot van der Velden stressed that while Nigeria’s government has become the largest funder of emergency response, international contributions remain critical to sustaining operations at scale.