DHL Group and United Nations boost Mauritius’ airport disaster defences

Deutsche Post DHL Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Mauritius will conduct the disaster preparedness program Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) from February 15 to 18 at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.

DPDHL and UNDP aim to better prepare the airports to handle the surge of incoming relief goods, should a major natural disaster strike.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center, the Red Cross, United Nations agencies as well as representatives of civil aviation authorities from Seychelles and Reunion Island will come together and share skills and experience at a dedicated workshop.

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and UNDP Resident Representative Simon Springett, Said: “This important workshop will be the first of its kind to be held in Africa and the first for a small island state and will build upon the support of the UNDP in Mauritius in supporting Disaster Management and Disaster Risk reduction.”

DHL Group Director of Humanitarian Affairs Chris Weeks said: “The GARD workshop allows us to work with authorities to increase the surge capacity of airports after natural disasters. It also helps to improve the overall coordination across various organizations involved in relief efforts when a disaster hits. Using our logistics expertise and the partnership with UNDP, we have together completed 30 GARD workshops and trained 600 people at airports around the world.”

DHL Mauritius Country Manager, Rahman Bholah, said, “During natural calamities, the Airport becomes the center for international support after a natural disaster has hit. The GARD program is coordinated jointly with the national stakeholders – from airport authorities to emergency services such as the special mobile force, police helicopter squadron as well as the security manager. It is therefore vital to prepare all relevant stakeholders to be able to work hand in hand in this situation and to develop a contingency plan that will respond well to an emergency and its potential humanitarian impact”.

Read the February Issue of Supply Chain Digital.

Follow @SupplyChainD and @MrNLon on Twitter.

Like our Facebook Page.