TNT emergency airlift operation for WFP Sudan

Hetty van Doorn, TNT staff member for the Moving the World programme, based in the WFP Headquarters in Rome, received the request in the evening of the 5th of September and called Ferry Spaan, Emergency Response Officer at the Emergency Response desk in Duiven, The Netherlands on the 6th. Ferry’s immediate task was to find and coordinate an operational solution to transport 7 large warehouse tents from WFP’s depot in Brindisi, Italy to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. This involved amongst others TNT Airways (aircraft, traffic rights and crew), TNT Special Services (pick up and transportation) and Swissport (palletizing, customs clearance) in Liege, TNT Khartoum (co-ordination with WFP Sudan, airport authorities, handling). The end result that was agreed with WFP on the 7th of September (within 48 hours after the first request!) was that TNT would truck 7 tents from Brindisi to Liege and airlift these to Khartoum on the 15th of September. The TNT A300 Airbus could lift a maximum of 7 tents (29.600 kilos). The Moving the World project office funded the entire operation.

I belief TNT’s made the right choice to play an active role in this world together with WFP. TNT has proved time and time again to have the capability and knowledge, the people to do it and the mentality. All of that filters through to the minds of us in TNT, in the ER Team and the community, this crazy world we live in. And that is what matters!

When Ferry called me at 17:15 on the 7th of September, he added: “For now the final destination is Khartoum. On Monday we’ll know if WFP have accepted our offer to transport the shipment all the way to Nyala. If it is Khartoum you’ll fly back on the same aircraft. However, if it is Nyala, you’ll be away for a week and we will bring you back on a commercial airline. We might send a camera man with you”.

Happy that I said yes, during the weekend I started collecting information about Sudan, Darfur and WFP in Sudan. A week to prepare I guess is luxury, given the fact that most ER Team deployments are within 48 hours.

In my mind the picture became clear; I silently hoped we would go all the way to Darfur. What a challenge and experience that would be. A kind of ‘see’, ‘touch’ and ‘do’ with my own eyes and hands. It was to be a unique experience, despite of the fact that I have traveled around the world and lived in countries like Pakistan.

However, the latest country security profile I downloaded from a WFP website somewhat tempered my enthusiasm to travel down to Nyala. I could have coped with the very high risk profile myself and I most probably would have gone. My main concern though was my home front.

I mean, you can’t tell your family that the overall security situation in Sudan remains volatile with a substantial potential for rapid deterioration, that there’s a significant exposure to banditry, looting, that traveling by car or truck seems to be a very dangerous business, that the terrorist threat towards the UN in Sudan is currently high and that it is assessed that the likelihood of attacks against UN might increase dramatically, that the capability to launch multiple attacks against UN is present, that there a risk of hostage taking and simply leave them behind and carry on traveling…

I therefore felt somewhat relieved when on Monday it was confirmed that we would turn around in Khartoum. Relieved but also disappointed.

The operation itself was an adventure and an experience with very little difficulties encountered. We had a smooth flight to Khartoum where it turned out to be 43 degrees centigrade when we arrived. We were met by Milad Mubarak, country Ops manager Sudan for TNT and a representative of WFP. The speed of handling upon arrival in Khartoum understandably lacked in view of the fact that people were well into Ramadan. You can’t change them into any other priorities and we simply needed to be patient and understanding. We accepted to wait and the latest possible scheduled departure time was decided by the captain. This was unfortunate but decided due to the number of hours we were able to operate (observing the needed crew rest timing).

As nothing happened we decided to walk to the WFP warehouse at the other side of the airport.

The airport itself in the evening didn’t see much activity. It was a nearly 15 minute walk over the dark ramp. We passed a dozen small aircraft hangars with ‘guards’ lying on makeshift beds in front of them. Aircrafts were parked literally everywhere. It felt like walking in an aviation museum. When we arrived at the WFP warehouse we found the handling crew to an extend lying on top of pallets and sitting next to them drinking tea, according to a supervisor waiting for customs authorities to approve offloading the pallets. We rushed back to the TNT aircraft and as we were close to departure time left Khartoum after 4 hours on the airport without aircraft pallets.

As the cockpit crew couldn’t make it back to Liege because of the number of hours they would then have to operate, we planned an intermediate stopover in Cairo, Egypt around mid night.

Eventually we departed for Liege on Sunday afternoon and landed in Liege that evening at around 19:45 pm CET.

This operation was in my opinion a severely needed operation to prevent a real emergency to happen.

It is satisfactory to know that we indirectly helped WFP to respond a highly needed cause. The real emergency situation in Sudan is constant and a structural resolution might not be forthcoming for years.

I said yes because of the fact that, with TNT and WFP behind the ER Team operation, I am able to make a difference and actively support the ones that need it so badly. The fact that I am part of the ER Team itself is a step in that direction. Being deployed for me is that ultimate pace forward.

The mood and vibes of whoever you meet involved in this are positive and full of drive. Deployment might never be necessary; if it does I guess it should be incredibly rewarding, satisfying and motivating.

This short, intermediary trip was a great experience and we can look back on a mission accomplished.

My private and social preparation for this mission was calm and supportive, especially once it was known that I did not have to travel to Nyala.