TNT, UPS and freight group Agility have linked up to create ‘Logistics Emergency Teams’ innatural disaster zones, it was announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The initiative is
open to other logistics and transport groups.The three logistics companies are joining forces to help the humanitarian sector with thelogistics of emergency response to large-scale natural disasters, the World Economic Forum said ina statement. In addition, a set of ten high-level Guiding Principles designed to guide both theprivate sector and humanitarian community in working together was also agreed at the annual meetingof world leaders in Davos.
“The United Nations is eager to increase its partnerships with the private sector, particularlygiven the escalating number and scale of disasters as a result of climate change,” said JohnHolmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency ReliefCoordinator. “We need to bring together all public and private capacities—global, national,regional, and local–to respond to the needs of growing numbers of vulnerable people.”
“The future of humanitarian partnership is collaborative,” says Peter Bakker, TNT’s CEO and theinitiator of the initiative. “That is the first time three industry leaders put competition asideto contribute their core competencies to the humanitarian community. We are calling for otherlogistics and transport companies to join.”
The three companies and the United Nations Global Logistics Cluster agreed on guidelines andconditions for the intervention of joint ‘Logistics Emergency Teams’ (LETs). LETs’ support includesproviding logistics specialists (e.g. airport coordination, airport managers and warehousemanagers), logistics assets (e.g. warehouses, trucks, forklifts) and transportation services. LETswill intervene for the first three to six weeks following natural disasters such as earthquakes,floods, or storms.
“The LETs program presents an incredible opportunity to bring the full weight of the logisticsindustry to bear at a time when lives are in the balance. UPS is pleased and honoured to join withour respected competitors in this effort,” said Dan Brutto, President, UPS International.
The companies stand ready to deploy Logistics Emergency Teams worldwide upon request from theUnited Nations Global Logistics Cluster. The nature of the request, local situations and thecompanies’ available resources will dictate the teams’ size and composition. As a general rule,they will serve in countries where member companies already operate, thereby leveraging theirknowledge of local constraints. A committee representing the member companies is to answer requestsfrom the Global Logistics Cluster led by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and decide on thedeployment of LETs.
“When disaster strikes, our job is to mobilise massive assistance and to make sure it reachesthose in need — fast,” said Josette Sheeran, WFP’s Executive Director. “Private sector expertiseand corporate partnerships are critical to helping us save lives.”
“Global presence brings social responsibilities. As we grow as companies and as an industry,particularly in emerging markets, we can see for ourselves that the scourge of poverty, disease anddisasters affects us all. No one can afford to ignore these problems – and in fact, workingtogether, we are in a unique position to help,” commented Tarek Sultan, Chairman and ManagingDirector of Agility.
The quality of the partnership was first demonstrated on the ground in August 2007 when Agility,TNT and UPS set up Logistics Emergency Teams in Indonesia during an operational exercise with theWorld Food Programme. In February 2007, UPS and TNT together offered free warehouses to the UnitedNations Humanitarian Response Depots run by the World Food Programme in Ghana and Panama.
