In 2017, Humanity & Inclusion transported 8,590 tons of goods to some of the most isolated corners of Central African Republic (CAR), a country that has been devastated by decades of violence and instability.

On the Human Development Index, CAR ranks at the bottom. Nowhere else in the world are the challenges to life and dignity so prevalent. Sixty-seven percent of the mainly rural population lives on less than a dollar a day and just 30% have access to clean water. An armed insurgency that began in 2012 has resulted in the severe deterioration of the country’s infrastructure.

Delivering humanitarian assistance such as food and medicine is a major logistical challenge, particularly as most people live in remote areas. Roads are poorly maintained, communication networks are unreliable, and many areas are too dangerous to travel. This means that large areas of the country are only accessible by air.

Our teams have taken on a coordination role in the county in order to improve logistics for all humanitarian associations trying to reach those in need. One of the first priorities is to restore airfields and landing strips in remote areas so that humanitarian flights can land safely. We work with local communities to manage repairs and maintenance, such as filling potholes and clearing vegetation.

Our logistics team coordinates deliveries by air, pooling together the goods to be sent in order to improve efficiency. HI manages the schedules, security checks, and loading of humanitarian cargo planes from Bangui M’Poko airport and coordinates safe arrival.

Since January 2016, Handicap International has worked to ensure that the most vulnerable people in Central African Republic receive the life-saving, life-enabling aid they need after three years of acute crisis. In a country where disease is rife, infrastructure is lacking, and half the population (2.3 million people) is in “dire need of assistance,” Handicap International’s logistics expertise fills a crucial gap, allowing humanitarian organizations to deliver aid the extra mile, despite sometimes harrowing road conditions. Cyril Chérie, Handicap International’s logistics project manager in Bangui, recently took time to tell us more.