BAHRAIN: Deutsche Post World Net, the world’s leading logistics provider, recently announced the launch of its third DHL Disaster Response Team (DRT), which will cover the Middle East/Africa region., according to a press statement.
Based out of the DHL Express UAE headquarters in Dubai, the team of over 40 volunteers is capable of setting up an effective airport logistics operation in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, ensuring that relief supplies are efficiently sorted, stored and distributed.
As part of the strategic partnership with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), two teams of specially trained DHL experts have previously been created for missions in the Asia/Pacific and America/Latin America/Caribbean regions.
“Thanks to the third DRT, the company can now provide skilled support to humanitarian relief operations globally following natural disasters. A total of 200 employees are on call 24 hours a day around the world, ready to quickly create a logistics infrastructure at airports. As one of the world’s largest employers, we view these teams as part of our social responsibility to offer local expertise and global know-how, says Susanne Meier, director corporate social responsibility strategy at Deutsche Post World Net.
The Disaster Response Teams are composed of volunteer employees who are experts in the areas of goods handling, warehouse management, inventory and customs.
Team leader for the new DRT team is Paul Dowling, customer operations manager for DHL Express Middle East/Africa. “The Disaster Response teams are equipped for rapid deployment and bring the necessary basic equipment with them. This includes work clothing, necessary information and communication technology, pallet trolleys, office supplies and start-up operational supplies, he explained.
DHL has supported relief missions that followed the earthquakes in Peru (2007) and Indonesia (2006), cyclone Gonu in Oman (2007), Hurricane Katrina in the United States (2005) and the tsunami in Southeast Asia (2004).
