The UPS Foundation has made an initial commitment of US$500,000 to aid response and recovery efforts in Nepal following the devastating earthquake on April 25 while FedEx has stepped up its relief aid activities.
The UPS Foundation will contribute a combination of cash and in-kind support to enable the provision of urgent relief supplies as well as potential on-the-ground logistics support for long-term recovery needs.
UPS is also coordinating a consolidated relief charter flight to Nepal in support of the Dubai International Humanitarian City (IHC) partner organisations. Additionally, The UPS Foundation is working closely with the United Nations Logistics Cluster and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) to identify additional logistics support needs once further immediate and long-term recovery needs are determined.
Through its Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Program, The UPS Foundation has already contributed a significant portion of these funds toward the immediate activation of emergency funds, enabling the purchase and distribution of critical relief supplies in the region. These funds have gone to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to secure shelter supplies and solar lanterns as well as to The World Food Programme for emergency food assistance such as high energy biscuits, and to CARE for the purchase of supply kits including tarps, blankets, jerry cans and toiletries.
"The devastation in Nepal is heartbreaking, and our condolences go out to all of the people impacted by this terrible tragedy," said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. "As recovery efforts continue, we will work closely with our partner organisations and the United Nations Logistics Cluster to evaluate additional ways that UPS can help through critical logistics support."
Most recently engaged in the relief efforts in Vanuatu, The UPS Foundation's Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Program supported more than 263 humanitarian relief shipments across 43 countries with particular focus on Typhoon Haiyan and the Ebola outbreak throughout 2014. The program provides communities with crisis recovery support at all stages, from disaster preparation to urgent relief following an event through post-crisis rehabilitation. This process is designed to help build long-term resilience after a disaster.
Meanwhile, FedEx is involved in another relief supplies project for Nepal. To speed medical treatment and help to victims of the quake, the company is sponsoring Heart to Heart International’s mobile medical clinic which is scheduled to arrive in Nepal on Friday, May 1, along with HHI’s first medical team. The mobile clinic allows medical teams to set up shop anywhere without relying on available structures. It contains tents, tables, chairs and office supplies as well as vital medicines, medical supplies, portable medical equipment, communication equipment, non-perishable food and water purification systems.
In addition, a FedEx-funded large emergency medical kit containing supplies to serve up to 10,000 people for the next three months is in transit and is expected to arrive in Nepal on Saturday (May 2).
The company has already flown two large “Living Water Treatment Systems,” six potable water chlorinators and two large water tanks to Nepal for US-based Water Missions. These systems will provide fresh water for up to 70,000 people per day.
