Air Serv sends second relief aircraft to South Sudan

The Grand Caravan departed Entebbe, Uganda, on Jan. 13 with a scheduled refueling and inspection stop in Juba, South Sudan’s capital.

“South Sudan marked five years of civil war in December 2018 and experts estimate that there are currently 2.5 million refugees and 1.8 million internally displaced people within the country,” Warrenton, Virginia-based Air Serv International said in a Jan. 14 news release. “Despite a peace deal signed between the South Sudanese government and the opposition in September 2018, violence continues and the humanitarian crisis has escalated.”

The Grand Caravan and a six-member team will base their operation in Wau, which is approximately 400 miles northwest of Juba and has been the site of heavy tribal clashes, ethnic violence, and difficult conditions for aid workers, Air Serv said.

With access to the area limited by poor or nonexistent roads and a disrupted railway from Khartoum, Sudan, the aircraft will operate from a single unpaved runway during its mission, expected to last about 24 months.

Air Serv International's other aircraft in South Sudan is a Cessna Caravan that was positioned in Juba several months ago to assist a third party in providing support and transport for aid organizations working within the country.

The organization's aircraft serve as a bridge, carrying aid from donors to those who need it most. With a fleet of five Cessna Caravans, Air Serv specializes in “last mile” air transportation in support of humanitarian programs. AOPA flew on a humanitarian mission with  Air Serv in 2016. For information about humanitarian programs or to make a donation to support emergency response efforts, please visit the Air Serv International website.