MAF flights bring lifeline to flooded East Arnhem Land

In East Arnhem Land, record-breaking April rains have transformed red dirt roads into impassable rivers, isolating more than 550 people across 25 Laynhapuy homelands. 

Cut off by relentless wet season downpours and flooded river crossings, eight of the affected homelands are in critical condition. Access by road is impossible.

“We manage homelands that covers some of the most remote parts of East Arnhem Land,” said Glenda Abraham, CEO of Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation. 

“In many homelands, people are risking lives to travel in, to get food or some sort of supply.”

With fuel supplies dwindling, and food running out, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is keeping these remote communities connected to the outside world.

For now, MAF planes operating from Gove Airport in Nhulunbuy are the only way in - and out.

In places like Baniyala, where fuel is running out, vital infrastructure is under threat. 

“It doesn’t sound like a big issue, but not being able to run a generator for refrigeration of food causes issues around food safety. Medical equipment can’t run. Water pumps shut off. Our Starlinks and communications, all gone,” said Glenda.

According to Glenda, the flooded roads won’t re-open to heavy vehicles for at least three weeks, and without trucks, fuel and food can't get through.

MAF pilot James Gullett, who recently flew to the cut-off community of Dhalinybuy, described the moment he landed with a planeload of supplies. 

“Initially, no one came to the plane,” James said. “I don’t think anybody knew what I had on board. I said, ‘Look, I’ve got loads of supplies and food here.’ Then, out of nowhere, about 20 people emerged around the plane and they were very thankful and excited.”

MAF has a strong 50-year history supporting remote communities in East Arnhem and is ready to respond with lifeline flights.

MAF’s Arnhem Land Programme Director Ben Brown said, "There is literally no other way for these essential items to reach people except by air, and despite the challenging conditions, during the past 48 hours MAF has flown over 1100kg of essential food items to five communities.”

Even for seasoned pilots, these conditions are extreme. Airstrips are waterlogged, and access roads are submerged or washed away. 

“It’s really bad,” James said. “Once you get onto the individual access roads for each homeland, it’s just not passable. They haven’t had food for what has probably been a couple of weeks in some places.”

The pressure is mounting. Without refuelling capacity, entire homelands face a compounding crisis - not only a lack of food but also communication blackouts, health risks, and compromised water safety. And yet, every plane that lands brings not just supplies, but hope.

“We're not even sending staff; our staff aren't going out so we can put as much food on the planes as possible,” said Glenda. 

“If someone gets hurt, we’ve got no way of medically getting people out. If this rain continues and MAF can’t land, then what do we do?”

Despite the urgency and exhaustion, there is gratitude, and a sense of partnership. 

“The one thing about MAF is they don’t charge us if they don’t go — there’s always this level of empathy provisioned back,” Glenda said. “It’s not fair that we have to call on somebody else’s philanthropic and empathetic nature for support, but it is nice to feel like you are partnering with somebody who has the same level of respect for what they’re trying to deliver.”

For MAF’s team, it’s more than just logistics - it’s mission. 

“It is busy, but it is a privilege and a real blessing to do this work,” said James. “It’s very rewarding. That’s a blessing to me, just to be able to play a small part and to share Jesus, to pray with the people we meet, to thank God for these supplies.”

In a closing wet season crisis, MAF’s unwavering flights are not only delivering aid — they’re delivering connection and faith to keep communities afloat.