PARIS: The devastating impact of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean and Florida and its impact on the region highlighted the vital importance of fast response logistics services to deliver humanitarian aid to the worst affected areas.
In the aftermath of Irma, CargoLogicAir has so far operated two flights, carrying nearly 200 tons of humanitarian goods to hurricane-affected areas.
Both of the flights were operated by the British cargo airline’s Boeing 747-400F on behalf of the French Government. The first flight on 13th September from Vatry to
Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet Airport, Guadalupe, was followed shortly afterwards by the second flight on 16th September. The first flight from France departed within less than 48 hours of the initial enquiry being received.
Dmitry Grishin, CEO of CargoLogicAir, said: “We may still be a relatively new name in the world of aviation but our highly experienced team of air logistics professionals have many years’ expertise in the airline industry, including providing a fast response to such situations where humanitarian relief is urgently needed. We anticipate operating several more flights in the coming days.”
MEMPHIS: More than $11 million worth of critical aid is in the hands of relief workers in Florida and more than 150 dogs and cats are in a no-kill shelter in San Francisco thanks to FedEx, Direct Relief, Heart to Heart International, the Miami HEAT and the Golden State Warriors.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) dedicated the special flight to make the emergency response possible to hurricane-ravaged areas in Florida and parts of the Caribbean.
The FedEx Express MD-10 was loaded in Memphis with medicines and medical supplies to assist Direct Relief’s humanitarian efforts for the people and communities affected by Hurricane Irma.
The resources were delivered to community health centers and clinics throughout Florida , inclose coordination with the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, as well as to hospitals in Anguilla, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, and British Virgin Islands.
The cargo jet was also carrying more than 4,000 hygiene kits for Heart to Heart International as well as employee relief supplies and generators.
The relief supplies were unloaded upon arrival in Miami, and more than 150 dogs and cats from Miami-area shelters were loaded on board the MD-10. The animals were then flown to Oakland, Calif., where they were delivered to no-kill shelters in the San Francisco area.
“On behalf of our 400,000 FedEx team members, we take great pride in using our global network to deliver hope and help in times of crisis,” said David J. Bronczek, president and chief operating officer of FedEx Corp. “We are inspired by the passion of these organizations and their drive to make a difference in the world. All of us at FedEx remain committed to working closely with humanitarian and disaster relief organizations to provide support and deliver supplies to assist those hardest hit by these storms.”
FedEx has worked with Direct Relief for more than a decade to deliver medical resources during times of disaster.
“Hurricane Irma’s toll on lives and livelihoods in Florida and across the Caribbean has been steep, while at the same time damaging to the health facilities and infrastructure that are essential for recovery,” said Thomas Tighe, president and CEO, Direct Relief. “That’s why the leadership of FedEx in logistics and transportation is critically important and serves as a lifeline to the people and communities still at risk.”
Hurricane Irma also created a pet emergency, with shelters becoming quickly overcrowded due to displaced dogs and cats in hard-hit areas. Members of the Miami HEAT heard about the overcrowding crisis at local shelters and collaborated with the Golden State Warriors to come up with a plan. The NBA teams reached out to FedEx to assist.
ABU DHABI: The Abu-Dhabi based aviation company and the largest all-cargo airline in the UAE, Maximus Air, flew in vital humanitarian relief to people in the Barbados in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
Irma caused catastrophic damage when it swept across the Caribbean and several US states in September.
Thereafter, the airline was tapped to send three relief flights to Barbados, surmounting geographical distance and short notice to accomplish the relief mission.
The airline’s commercial team in coordination with the flight operation department and flight and loading crew successfully dispatched the company’s Antonov AN-124-100 plane to Barbados and back three times within the space of a week. The AN-124 – one of the largest cargo planes in the world – is the ideal transport method for delivering outsize cargo over long distances in a timely manner at a short notice.
“We are proud to have been able to put our logistical expertise to the service of those affected by Hurricane Irma,” said Mohamed Al Qassimi, CEO of Maximus Air.
BAKU: Azerbaijan and the UAE have sent humanitarian aid to thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar in recent weeks to escape death and torture from the military.
More than 500,000 are now trapped in the impoverished country of Bangladesh without food and shelter. Many are facing near death from starvation and diseases emanating from their dire situation.
The oil-rich Azerbaijan was among the first countries to send in help to the Rohingyas with the government sending 100 tons of humanitarian aid via Silkway West Airlines.
In a joint statement, the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Emergency Situations said President ilham Aliyev ordered the relief goods to be sent to the Rohingya Muslims.
It includes 20 tons of sugar, 10,000 liters each of corn and sunflower oil, 10,000 tons of condensed milk, 10,000 tons of canned beef, 10 tons of pasta, 10 tons of vermicelli and 20 tons of flour.
In Dubai, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ordered an air flight to carry UNHCR’s emergency aid to the refugee camp of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
T he United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported
the cargo aid safely which carries 1,671 family tents worth about AED2.7 million arrived in Bangladesh and were distributed to provide shelter to some 8,355 refugees.
In a statement, the UNHCR’s Head of Office in the UAE, Toby Harward, praised the humanitarian response of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, adding, “We are very grateful to His Highness for his generous support. The UAE, and the facilities at IHC in Dubai, is a critical logistical hub that allows UNHCR to respond rapidly in times of emergency. T h e country’s leadership has repeatedly responded benevolently to the many humanitarian challenges that we face today.”
The UNHCR global stockpile in the UAE is the largest global warehouse in the world, and was established in late 2006 as part of the International Humanitarian City, IHC.
Rohingyas continue to flee violence in Myanmar overwhelming the capacity of Bangladeshi refugee camps in Kutupalong and Nayapara.
Tens of thousands of Rohingyas walked through jungles and mountains for days, others in risky voyages through the Bay of Bengal, to escape Myanmar military crackdown against them.
Hundreds have died with some women complaining they were raped by soldiers and their husbands forcibly taken away and killed.
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
