DHL Group has operated a humanitarian aid freighter flight to Colombia carrying nearly 40 tons of aid for communities affected by the recent earthquake in the country.
The Boeing 767F from Miami International Airport landed at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali on 15 August with food, drinking water, hygiene kits, essential family supplies, medical materials and first-aid items for people affected by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake on 10 August.
The flight operation was coordinated by DHL Group’s Disaster Response Team (DRT), which is part of DHL Group’s GoHelp disaster management programme and is comprised of specially trained volunteers
from across DHL’s divisions,
“Transporting nearly 40 tons of aid to Colombia involves much more than loading supplies onto an aircraft. Behind every shipment is a significant effort involving sorting, preparation, packing, organization, and coordination to ensure that each item reaches the country and can continue its journey to affected areas,” said Gilberto Castro, head of DHL Group’s DRT for the Americas.
The supplies were provided by Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), an international humanitarian organisation specialising in disaster response and recovery, and will be distributed in the affected areas in coordination with local authorities and other humanitarian organisations leading the response efforts on the ground.
The relief supplies were prepared by volunteers at GEM’s headquarters and consolidated at the DHL Hub located at Miami International Airport before being transported on the humanitarian flight to Cali.
As part of DHL Group’s response to the emergency, DHL’s three divisions in Colombia (DHL Express, DHL Supply Chain, and DHL Global Forwarding) have combined their capabilities and logistics expertise across several initiatives, including the humanitarian flight, the transportation of five tons of aid by road to Cali and Pereira for distribution in affected areas, and the work carried out by DRT members alongside local DHL teams and other relevant partners.
Country managers and employees from DHL’s three divisions in Colombia have also mobilised across the country to support colleagues and their families affected by the earthquake through donations of food, medicines, and essential supplies, while contributing their time, commitment, and expertise.
“When a natural disaster occurs, every minute counts and preparedness makes a difference. Our role is to contribute logistics expertise, capacity, and coordination to help ensure aid reaches the people who need it most. That is the purpose that drives our volunteers and the teams involved in every operation,” added Castro.
In June, DHL Group launched the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics, an initiative designed to provide humanitarian organizations with practical training and specialized logistics expertise to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
Avianca Cargo has also independently and in partnership with GOL transported over 100 tons of aid to Colombia.
