Panalpina flies UNICEF relief to Burundi

For the third year in a row, Panalpina and UNICEF joined forces to deliver much-needed relief to an African nation where recurring crises have left children vulnerable to major health risks. On Nov. 27, a Panalpina-chartered cargo aircraft touched down in the landlocked nation of Burundi with 70 tonnes of primary medical goods on board.

The cargo contained antibiotics, analgesics, infusion sets and hospital equipment provided by UNICEF. The aircraft left Europe the night before, landing in Burundi’s capital city of Bujumbura. The medicine and other supplies will be distributed to Burundi’s health centers.

Burundi has seen repeated cycles of violence since its independence in 1962. An ethnic conflict has left 240 people dead, and more than 20,000 crossing borders to seek safe shelter elsewhere. The current crisis has led to an acute shortage of medication and hospital equipment, so a timely supply of essential drugs for quick treatment was critical to improve child health and survival in Burundi.