DHL has announced the successful delivery in partnership with Mercy Corps, a U.S.-based relieforganization, of more than 100,000 survival blankets to assist the victims of the devastating
earthquake that hit Pakistan in October last year. The shipment, valued at more than US$200,000 andweighing over 11 tons, arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan in end-February from DHL’s Los AngelesGateway, via Dubai.This is the second time that DHL has partnered with Mercy Corps in transporting thesespecially-designed blankets, which are light and efficient at heat retaining, from the U.S. toPakistan. As temperatures remain very low in the early part of the year, these survival blanketswill be invaluable for the victims going back to their homes in the mountains as they begin therebuilding process.
These efforts are part of DHL’s Rehabilitation initiative under its Managing Disaster Responseprogram. DHL employees around the world have leveraged their expertise in the management of complexlogistics and transportation processes to help to deliver aid and relief supplies to the earthquakesurvivors, as the country copes with the aftermath of the massive earthquake. Thus far, DHL hashandled aid supplies from over 230 international relief flights, managing more than 9,000 tons ofrelief aid in the process.
“DHL not only aims to offer immediate relief following a natural disaster, but to alsocontinuously provide rehabilitation aid to assist affected communities to rebuild their lives,”said Dan McHugh, Senior Vice-President – Commercial, DHL Express Asia Pacific. “Together with MercyCorps and our colleagues in the U.S., we have spared no effort to get these blankets delivered toPakistan as quickly as possible.”
“For humanitarian aid groups like Mercy Corps, the cost of shipping goods is often a majorobstacle in delivering timely and effective disaster assistance,” said Mercy Corps CEO NealKeny-Guyer. “DHL is providing a terrific service by donating the transportation of these survivalblankets.”
From 8-14 February, DHL employees in Belgium and Germany also contributed 50,000 winter jacketsin a collection drive to benefit the young victims of the South Asia earthquake. Together with thesurvival blankets, these winter jackets were transported by the DHL aircraft from Dubai toIslamabad.
