Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Temasek Foundation will partner with the World Food Programme (WFP) to help transport essential medical supplies and other health and humanitarian items to areas of need around the world, according to a joint press release. 

WFP said it has enough cargo to fill 188 jumbo jets that would require transport in the coming weeks, but resources have been stretched incredibly thin. 

WFP has been sending a steady flow of supplies to the frontlines since May, operating more than 800 humanitarian flights to 159 countries. 

Under the partnership, SIA will operate ad-hoc charter flights and make freight space available in its scheduled services on a cost-recovery basis. The costs will be covered by the US$6.5 million contribution from nonprofit Temasek Foundation. 

Chin Yau Seng, senior vice president for cargo at SIA, said the move will allow the carrier to tap on its global network to deliver much needed supplies to the communities that have been directly affected by Covid-19. 

SIA Group said it has facilitated multiple repatriation flights during this challenging period, whilst SIA Cargo has been transporting medical supplies and equipment to high-risk places and keeping supply lines open for essential goods. 

The press release added that an estimated US$965 million is required to sustain WFP’s common services but only 21 percent of this sum has been received.  

With this, WFP’s passenger and cargo flights may grind to a halt if no additional support is received by the end of August.