DHL and FedEx are further contributing to relief efforts for Myanmar cyclone victims by providingurgent humanitarian aid and additional financial support.
DHL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under the framework of its humanitarianpartnership with UN/OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) toprovide assistance from DHL’s Disaster Response Team (DRT) Asia Pacific in Myanmar.
Under the terms of the MOU, DHL’s Disaster Response Team will manage the common humanitarianwarehouse identified by the UN, for three weeks. The facility is a 3,050 square meter warehouselocated twenty five minutes from the Yangon airport, south-west of the city. It will be a centralconsolidation point for supplies directed through various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) inMyanmar to enable the efficient organization and management of goods to the intended destinationsfor the benefit of communities affected by Cyclone Nargis.
DHL’s immediate tasks for the common humanitarian warehouse include engaging local workersfor assistance, setting up communications for the site, and restoring power at the facility so thatstaff can work through the night in shifts to distribute aid as swiftly as possible. In addition,the DHL Disaster Response Team will receive and sort cargo so that it can be re-loaded onto trucksor aircraft and distributed quickly.
“In the aftermath of a disaster, the initial surge of inflowing aid and supplies sometimesresults in delays due to the sheer volume of aid flowing in. DHL’s Disaster Response Team has beenon active standby since news of Cyclone Nargis broke. Our team is on the ground and ready fordeployment,” said Chris Weeks, DHL’s Humanitarian Affairs Director who arrived in Myanmar on 14 Mayto undertake preparations.
Separately, FedEx is also contributing the relief efforts in Myanmar and China by providingcomplimentary transportation services to Water Missions International, a nonprofit, Christianengineering organization carrying 40 large water systems to Bangkok, Thailand, which they will thentake into Myanmar. These systems will provide a total of 400,000 gallons of purified water eachday. Each water system treats up to ten gallons of water per minute, approximately 10,000 gallonsper day, and supports communities of up to 3,000 people.
Along with the emergency shipping aid, FedEx made an immediate cash grant of $50,000 to theRed Cross and the Salvation Army in support of their initial relief efforts in response to thedevastating disasters in Myanmar and China. This grant is in addition to significant ongoing cashand in-kind support FedEx is providing to these and other relief organizations in support of theirongoing work year round in response to disasters across the globe.
