The FINANCIAL — The UPS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of UPS on April 29 announced an initial commitment of $500,000 (US) to aid in response and recovery efforts following the devastating earthquake on April 25 in Nepal.
The UPS Foundation will contribute a combination of cash and in-kind support to enable the provision of urgent relief supplies as well as potential on-the-ground logistics support for long-term recovery needs.
Through its Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Program, The UPS Foundation already has contributed a significant portion of these funds toward the immediate activation of emergency funds, enabling the purchase and distribution of critical relief supplies in the region. These funds have gone to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to secure shelter supplies and solar lanterns as well as to The World Food Programme for emergency food assistance such as high energy biscuits, and to CARE for the purchase of supply kits including tarps, blankets, jerry cans and toiletries, according to UPS.
UPS is also coordinating a consolidated relief charter flight to Nepal in support of the Dubai International Humanitarian City (IHC) partner organizations. Additionally, The UPS Foundation is working closely with the United Nations Logistics Cluster and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) to identify additional logistics support needs once further immediate and long-term recovery needs are determined.
“The devastation in Nepal is heartbreaking, and our condolences go out to all of the people impacted by this terrible tragedy,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. “As recovery efforts continue, we will work closely with our partner organizations and the United Nations Logistics Cluster to evaluate additional ways that UPS can help through critical logistics support.”
Most recently engaged in the relief efforts in Vanuatu, The UPS Foundation’s Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Program supported more than 263 humanitarian relief shipments across 43 countries with particular focus on Typhoon Haiyan and the Ebola outbreak throughout 2014. The program provides communities with crisis recovery support at all stages, from disaster preparation to urgent relief following an event through post-crisis rehabilitation. This process is designed to help build long-term resilience after a disaster.
