Mission Aviation Fellowship - A vital service

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a Christian organisation formed in 1945 by former World War II air force personnel in recognition that aircraft could be used constructively to bring help and hope to those in isolation. MAF has operated light aircraft for over 50 years in developing countries so that people in remote areas can receive essential help - flying to thousands more destinations than any airline!

MAF works in partnership with missions, national churches, evangelists, local aid workers and larger international aid agencies. On a typical day’s flying, MAF aircraft make 300 flights, taking people and supplies into remote communities. In times of emergency, planes become air ambulances, flying patients to hospital.

Decades of civil war in southern Sudan have left people with virtually nothing. Schools have been destroyed, leaving a huge need for rebuilding and restoring education. Infrastructure is weak and, in many areas, practically non-existent. Few have access to healthcare and many die unnecessarily from easily preventable diseases. Cattle rustling is a common problem in this area, particularly when people have insufficient food and are starving. They take advantage by stealing from others.

In Panacier, a remote village in southern Sudan, 30-year-old Deng was shot by rustlers while guarding his cattle one night. Taking his herd, the thieves left him lying in a pool of blood. One of the bullets had passed through Deng’s leg, breaking his left femur in three places. Friends carried him on a stretcher to the health clinic at Liethnom, where World Relief nurse Julius gave him antibiotics, a tetanus injection, painkillers and fluids. The following day, it became evident that Deng needed to be transferred to the nearest hospital at Wau for X-rays and traction. Julius contacted MAF for help. An aircraft already on site in Liethnom flew Deng to Luanyaker, from where it would be easier to transport him overland to the hospital.In northern Uganda.

Flights carry food and medical supplies for the many aid agencies working to help those living in internally displaced people (IDP) camps. A one-hour flight to Gulu regularly enables a medical team from Mildmay to travel to IDP camps and run a one-day clinic. By road, the journey would take seven hours and the team wouldn’t be able to do these short medical safaris. Pilot Laura Westley flew the Mildmay team to Gulu, from where they travelled to Awi IDP camp to run a medical clinic for babies, children and mothers.

With thousands of people living in these overcrowded camps, there are many health issues. A crowd was waiting as the team set up a triage area where people were assessed before being sent on to see a doctor or a nurse. Laura writes, ‘I spent the day in triage: my job to weigh babies, children and mothers.’ Many of the babies and children were undernourished and there were many cases of malnutrition, skin infections, unhealed wounds, serious coughs and rashes. Laura continues, ‘A constant stream of ill children and babies filed past me. Many wore rags; some were simply half-dressed. None had shoes. I noticed how most of the people had very badly damaged feet.’ People queued for hours to see the team, and many were still queuing at the end of the day when they had to leave. MAF flies the team to Gulu every second Saturday, enabling them to continue this vital work. Laura concludes, ‘They are all busy people and told me that the only reason they can come is because by flying they get there and back in a single day.

'For more information about the work of MAF, please write to: Mission Aviation Fellowship.

Mission Aviation Fellowship
Castle Hill Avenue
Folkestone
CT20 2TN