DHL Middle East, the world's leading logistics and express company, recently mobilised its resources to bring relief efforts directed towards the Gonu cyclone-affected areas in Oman.
DHL UAE and Oman offices were directly involved in the relief efforts, with a dedicated team that included Mark Benton, Country Manager for DHL Oman, Paul Dowling, Customer Operations and Product Development Manager for DHL UAE and Geoff Walsh, Operations Manager for DHL UAE.
“DHL has a long history of providing aid to countries and organisations on local, regional and global levels that have been affected by natural disasters. As a global company and an integral part of the local communities in which we operate, we are committed to assist wherever possible with logistical expertise and humanitarian aid,” said David Wild, Commercial Director for DHL Middle East.
To date, DHL has sent two 40ft trailers and four 2 ton vans which delivered water, food and candles to areas with no power or water supply, such as the cut off village of Tiwi. The second area the team assisted was the village of Qurayat where 80% of homes were destroyed. As part of the aid, DHL provided the local people with boxes of drinking water which were desperately needed by the local communities.
“As the infrastructure damage is severe post the cyclone, we faced huge challenges in reaching the devastated areas. What was usually a 15 minute drive, took us eight hours to deliver drinking water to victims. The DHL Oman team was in good spirits throughout and worked 24/7 to make a difference to overcome challenges,” said Benton.
“We worked round the clock to provide support and assistance to all our customers, employees and their families offering them water and other supplies. In addition, two of our vans delivered water boxes at a refugee site and all the people we provided aid for were very grateful for DHL’s efforts,” said Dowling.
Even with the weaker wind speeds, Gonu, which means a bag made of palm leaves in the language of the Maldives, is believed to have been the strongest cyclone to threaten the Arabian Peninsula since record-keeping started in 1945. Oman’s eastern provinces were cut off, with heavy rains making the roads unusable and communication lines severed.
“It is our responsibility to support and act quickly to assist in humanitarian relief efforts. We have been present in the region for over 30 years and our local operations were proud to be able to assist local communities in this devastated area,” said Walsh.
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
