Maersk Group has joined a team of international companies designated as a disaster relief support network under the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The Logistics Emergency Teams (LETs) consist of four of the world’s leading logistics and transport companies and supports the WFP and the humanitarian community during disaster relief efforts by providing access to a global network of transportation and logistics expertise. As the newest member of the LETs, Maersk joins Agility, UPS and TNT Express.
Maersk brings to the team a global ocean transportation network which includes the world’s largest container shipping fleet and more than 50 terminals across the world. In addition, Maersk has extensive experience and presence in Africa.
“Maersk has a history of stepping in when it comes to disaster relief, whether through employee involvement or with the use of our business assets. Given our competencies in sea transport, container terminal operations and supply chain management, joining the LETs is a natural step,” says Helene Regnell, Head of Corporate Responsibility in Maersk Line.
“Our vessels call ports all over the world, and we are present in more then 130 countries. So when it comes to disaster relief, we are never far away. The LETs enable us to further leverage our local knowledge and global capabilities and ensure that our disaster relief efforts are coordinated and aligned for maximum impact.” she says.
Helene Regnell and her husband Knut-Erik lived in Thailand a few years ago where they were active members of the Scandinavian community. The Danish-Norwegian couple is likely to still be wellknown to many ScandAsia readers in Thailand.
Humanitarian disasters impact different parts of the world every year. Getting the right people, food and supplies to the affected area as quickly as possible is crucial. Through the LETs, Maersk is supporting the Logistics Cluster, a platform led by the WFP that coordinates and supports the logistics operations of emergency relief organisations during major disasters.
“As the leader of the Logistics Cluster, WFP needs to be able to quickly augment its own logistics capacities when a disaster strikes in order to support the entire humanitarian community. Our partners from the LETs help us fill critical logistics gaps,” says Lucien Jaggi, Logistics Officer for the WFP.
“In emergencies where a quick response is necessary and when we need immediate access to materials, transport, storage or technical expertise, the network LETs provide can make a significant difference in our logistics operations,” he says.
