Recent floods spurred by remnants of Typhoon Halong over Western Alaska have devastated several remote, coastal Native communities. Airlink, a global humanitarian organization that leverages the capacity of the aviation industry for rapid disaster response, today announced that it is partnering with United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and World Central Kitchen to deliver critical aid to the area.
The floods displaced more than 1,400 people from remote communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, especially the hardest-hit Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. Hundreds more are cut off from basic necessities including food, clean water, and electricity, due to extensive damage to the Kipnuk airport, area roads, and the power infrastructure.
United Airlines, a Global Signature Lead Partner to Airlink, as well as Alaska Airlines, is delivering solar equipment and sending first responders to Anchorage for initial positioning with World Central Kitchen. Alaska Airlines is also donating additional cargo travel to Airlink for local coordination and transport of the aid to Bethel, Alaska.
“The biggest obstacle to effective disaster responses are high transportation costs and difficulty accessing impacted communities. Airlink works with its network of nonprofit humanitarian partners and aviation and other transport companies to get rapid relief to communities in crisis, no matter how hard to reach, with the goal of bringing hope and saving lives”, said Paloma Adams-Allen, President & CEO of Airlink. “We thank World Central Kitchen for trusting Airlink with delivering this critical shipment to the right place at the right time, and United and Alaska for their flexibility and generosity in making that happen.”
Alaska Airlines pledged 1.6M Atmos Rewards points to Airlink’s Alaska the response, expanding the organization’s capacity to send more disaster relief and responders flexibly and affordably.
“In the face of unimaginable hardship across Western Alaska, we are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Airlink and World Central Kitchen to ensure these much-needed supplies reach those most in need,” said Marilyn Romano, regional vice president to Alaska Airlines. “This is more than logistics—it’s a lifeline. Together, we’re delivering emergency supplies and comfort to so many in need.”
Additional storm fronts are anticipated in the coming days, threatening to impede the ongoing search and rescue efforts, evacuations, and distribution of aid. In addition to World Central Kitchen’s food assistance, the shipment of solar lights will give at least 600 displaced people access to emergency power resources.
“Providing solar light and charging capabilities alongside our food deliveries helps families cook, work, and care for each other—especially as winter days shorten and power remains unreliable or nonexistent. We’re grateful to Airlink, United, and Alaska Airlines for enabling this rapid deployment,” said World Central Kitchen’s Response Director, John Torpey.
Residents of these remote villages are especially concerned about the onset of winter and are anticipating needing continued support in the coming months to replenish the stockpile of food and resources that have been depleted, washed away, or spoiled during the storms.
“United’s role in delivering critical relief to the region is one of the ways in which we live out how Good Leads the Way,” said Helon Hammond, Vice President of Global Learning, People, and Community Impact at United Airlines. “In working with Airlink and World Central Kitchen to transport these essential supplies, we hope to instill a sense of hope in communities who’ve been impacted by the unthinkable.”
