UPS, DHL Provide Logistics Support for Nepal Earthquake Recovery
UPS Inc. and DHL said they will be providing logistics support for recovery efforts in Nepal after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake April 25 killed more than 4,000 people.
Through its philanthropic arm, UPS Foundation, some funds already have gone to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for shelter supplies and solar lanterns.
The foundation’s Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Program also has donated to The World Food Program for emergency food assistance and to CARE for supply kits, including tarps, blankets and toiletries.
“The devastation in Nepal is heartbreaking, and our condolences go out to all of the people impacted by this terrible tragedy,” UPS Foundation President Eduardo Martinez said in a statement.
The company said it is working with the United Nations Logistics Cluster and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to find additional logistics support.
A relief charter flight to Nepal in support of humanitarian organizations in Dubai also is being planned, UPS said in a statement.
UPS ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.
Deutsche Post DHL Group said it deployed its disaster response team and will provide logistics support to help manage international aid at Tribhuvan Kathmandu International Airport.
“In the aftermath of a disaster, airports can become bottlenecks that delay the distribution of emergency relief supplies. In these situations, logistics expertise can make a huge difference in coordinating the incoming supplies, and so save lives by ensuring a swift and organized handling of all aid,” Chris Weeks, DHL director for humanitarian affairs, said in a statement.
A team of DHL employees from Bahrain, Belgium, Dubai, India, Malaysia and Singapore arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 27 and will work with the UNOCHA to mobilize and coordinate humanitarian relief efforts.
“The massive scale of destruction from the Nepal earthquake has hugely crippled infrastructure and damaged roads and local airports, posing a great logistical challenge towards relief efforts. It’s a race against time to rescue those still captured in the debris as well as those in urgent need for critical assistance and amenities like medical help, food and water,” Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group, said in a statement.
“The sudden influx of relief goods at Kathmandu airport challenges the local capacities to distribute these goods in a timely manner to reach beneficiaries. This is the specific logistics support that our DHL Disaster Response Team will provide at the airport,” Appel said.
Our base of operations at KTM where our #DHLGoHelp DRT crew supports #logistics after #NepalQuake @Chris_weeks pic.twitter.com/TgrKvXIWuc
— DPDHL News (@DeutschePostDHL) April 30, 2015
