3rd Egyptian humanitarian aid plane arrives in Juba

CAIRO – 22 June 2017: The third Egyptian humanitarian aid plane arrived in South Sudan on Thursday according to a statement released by the foreign ministry.

The aid plane is part of a direct air bridge between Egypt and South Sudan for humanitarian aid. Seven more planes are expected to arrive in South Sudan during the coming period, two aircraft per week.

The bridge started June 12 after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s response to the call of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit to the international community to support his country fight against the threat of famine.

According to the statement, the planes are carrying food, dried milk and medicine.

In February 2017, Pope Francis appealed for the international community to help South Sudan combat famine. He said “words are not enough anymore as millions are sentenced to death.

At this time it’s more necessary than ever for everyone not to stop at words, but to take concrete action so that food aid can reach suffering populations.”