FedEx and Direct Relief partner to deliver aid to Lebanon

The logistics giants, FedEx, supported the disaster relief effort through its relationship with humanitarian organisation Direct Relief. FedEx picked up US$11mn worth of medicines, medical supplies and personal protective equipment from Direct Relief headquarters in Santa Barbara, California, and transported it to Memphis.

On 22 August, team members loaded those supplies onto a FedEx Express Boeing 777 at the FedEx World Hub. The flight landed on the following day in Luxembourg, where FedEx worked with Cargolux, who also donated its services, to transport the supplies to Beirut.

“FedEx has catalyzed and made possible a huge boost of urgently needed assistance to people in Beirut by providing its world-class team, logistics expertise and aircraft,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO. “Direct Relief and the many partners with which we’re working to help, including the American Task Force on Lebanon, are profoundly grateful for FedEx once again providing just an extraordinary example of leadership and action to assist people slammed by a humanitarian crisis.”

The relief effort is part of the company’s FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative, where the company uses its global network and unparalleled logistics expertise to help organisations with mission-critical needs in times of disaster.

“We’ve seen the devastation from the explosion and know people are still in desperate need of help. On behalf of our 500,000 FedEx team members, we are proud to be able to use our global network to provide these lifesaving resources,” said Richard Smith, executive vice president, Global Support, FedEx Express. “We are inspired by Direct Relief’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of others and we are honored to work alongside this incredible organisation.”

Image: FedEx