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UN Chief unveils new initiative to reduce UN air costs

Xinhua, April 20, 2017 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday launched an initiative to reduce costs by increasing the efficiency in the use of UN air assets, as part of the UN Secretariat's ongoing review of costs and use of resources provided by member states.

The UN currently deploys 58 fixed-wing and 157 rotary-wing aircraft in 12 peacekeeping and six special political missions, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

He added that the annual cost of these aircraft was close to 750 million U.S. dollars in 2015-2016.

"While these assets provide essential logistics and military enabling capabilities, given their significant cost implications, the secretary-general has asked the heads of field missions to systematically analyse and adjust the composition and utilization of their fleet and seek alternative solutions that may be more cost-effective," Dujarric said. "This is an opportunity for mission to innovate."

"Mandate delivery is of course at the core of defining logistics and safety must remain paramount," he said. "As the analysis is ongoing, the secretary-general requested with immediate effect that passenger movements be limited to critical mandated tasks; non-mission passengers be reduced; and schedules be more finely tuned to allow for reduced fleets. Special flights must also become exceptional."

"The secretary-general said that the Secretariat bears a great burden of responsibility when it comes to the judicious use of funding and assets provided by member states," he said. "He has asked the Department of Field Support to lead and coordinate this initiative at Headquarters."

Reducing unnecessary costs and improving work efficiency are among a reform package proposed by the UN chief, who assumed office on Jan. 1. Endit