Korean Air to deliver aid to Africa

Korean Air announced Thursday that it will provide flights to deliver United Nations aid to famine-stricken regions in Africa.

The carrier said that the flights are being operated as part of the U.N. World Food Program, in which it is taking part in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Under the plans, the company will operate four cargo flights to Mombasa, Kenya to deliver the 400 metric tons of food stuffs stockpiled in Brussels.

The company said that the first flight could take off as early as this month, and that from Mombasa the U.N. will transport the cargo to Somalia over land.

The costs will be equally divided between Korean Air and the Korean government. The company added that this is the first time a Korean carrier is transporting international aid.

According to the company the plans were drawn up in response to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s call for Korean firms to help address hunger in Africa during his visit to Korea in August.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)