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Britain's leading arms manufacturer has quietly terminated support for a group of aircraft that were providing crucial humanitarian aid to among the world's poorest countries.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Multiple East African Countries

This decision diminishes the delivery of crucial assistance to nations experiencing severe humanitarian crises, including Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This arms corporation this year announced record earnings of more than £3bn, supported by increased military expenditure linked to global tensions.

Industry analysts believe the decision to scrap support for the aid fleet was taken to allow the company to pursue projects related to increased defense budgets by global organizations.

Major Aid Agreements Terminated

Several critical aid agreements have been cancelled since the announcement, among them one with the UN's WFP to deliver aid to twelve locations across East Africa where almost 5 million people face crisis levels of hunger.

This situation comes after the firm's decision to willingly surrender the airworthiness approval issued by the UK's aviation regulator for its final civilian plane type.

This manufacturer notified European aircraft regulators that these models were not produced and that, to their knowledge, only few planes remained in operation.

Consequences on Aid Operations

Though multiple nations still have the aircraft registered, the last known user was a East African cargo operator that specialized in transporting humanitarian aid across east Africa.

"Our aid our planes delivered represented a lifeline to the people of South Sudan and the Congo during a period of great worldwide instability," stated the company's director.

"This unexpected withdrawal of maintenance for all planes has grounded the aircraft and halted essential supplies to those most in need. Now, the populations of east Africa face an growing perilous crisis while the company prioritizes their own interests."

Between March 2023 and last month, the aircraft delivered 18,677 tonnes of supplies to Somalia, Chad, Central African Republic and additional African nations.

Nutrition Security Estimates

Per aid agencies, one ton of food – usually containing cereals, legumes and oil – can satisfy the daily requirements of about over 1,600 people.

The specific aircraft model was considered perfect for aid operations because it could function on shorter runways that are typical in remote locations. Every aircraft could transport a load of over 8 tons.

Legal Proceedings Started

A pre-action document submitted by legal representatives acting for the airline to the company claims that, since the announcement, its 12 aid aircraft "are unable to be used" and are now "worthless for their primary purpose".

This correspondence cites electronic communications and discussions between the manufacturer's senior leadership and the operator that the Kenyan firm claims demonstrate it was given the impression that ongoing maintenance would be provided for a minimum of five years.

This correspondence adds that the decision was taken "without any consultation with or official notification to" the operator.

A spokesperson for the arms company stated: "The company do not comment on potential legal proceedings."

Irreversible Decision

At the same time, documents from the company show that its move to revoke the airworthiness certificate for the planes is "permanent and unchangeable".

One letter from the arms company's director of commercial airplane programmes, from spring 2025, stated the company intended to inform the British aviation regulator it wanted to "start the process to willingly surrender the aircraft type certificate."

Aid Crisis Data

• In Somalia, 4.6 million individuals face emergency situations of hunger
• Nearly two million children aged below five years are experiencing severe malnutrition
• Throughout the nation, over seven million individuals face acute hunger – more than half the total population
• An unprecedented over 27 million people in the DRC are facing severe food shortages

The situation is most severe in eastern regions where communities have lost ability to their livelihoods after prolonged violence in the region.

Following the company's announcement, the airline has ceased activities in East Africa and is now seeking £187m in losses and compensation for what it describes "careless false information and misstatement" by the company.

Industry analysts predict the defense company's profits to increase further this year as it profits from increased defense spending globally amid increasing international instability.