DHL has expanded its GoHelp programme to Europe following a rise in the number of catastrophes hitting the continent in recent years.
The new GoHelp Europe team is divided into two areas: disaster response (DRT) and disaster preparedness. The European DRT team is holding its first training session between April 19 and 21 at Istanbul Airport.
The DRT teams deploy to airports in need when called upon by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The Get Airports Ready for Disaster programme collaborates with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to prepare airport personnel and local disaster management organizations to better manage incoming relief goods.
“Europe has been facing an increasing number of climate-related crises, like the floods in Germany and Belgium in 2021. On top of this we witnessed terrible earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco last year,” said Christoph Selig, vice president of sustainability communications and programs at DHL Group.
“Recognising this, we’re extending GoHelp’s reach and impact to Europe after a successful implementation over the past 15 years in Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region. This expansion reflects our commitment to contributing our core logistics expertise to support those affected by disasters, ensuring a more efficient and coordinated disaster response.”
For Europe, the scope of DRT operations may be expanded beyond airport deployments.
The DRT training consists of theoretical and practical sessions. Multiple exercises are included, depending on the region and venue of the training.
The focus lies on optimising movement sequences and mastering techniques for assembling and disassembling pallets, particularly for airline pallets, locks, and nets.
DHL Group is also hosting a Global GoHelp Conference in Istanbul (April 22-23).
“The conference intends to serve as a platform for focused discussions and collaborative initiatives within the humanitarian sector, featuring representatives from the Group’s GoHelp program, internal DHL divisional and functional experts, esteemed partners and colleagues from the United Nations, and other organisations,” DHL said.
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