DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics company, recently signed an MoU with the Ministry of Ports and Aviation to assist the Sri Lankan government in supporting disaster response through the donation of specified services by the DHL Disaster Response Team (DRT).

The DHL Disaster Response Team (DRT) is a DPWN initiative under its Corporate Social Responsibility umbrella, to provide logistics support in case of disasters. Thosapala Hewage Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Aviation said that the Ministry was happy to partner with DHL on a project of this nature. “DHL with its international presence and wide ranging resources is the ideal choice in supporting disaster response. Given its overall profile and excellent track record, I have no doubt of the overall success of this project,” he added.

Country Manager, DHL Express Sri Lanka, Martin Dudek said, “In urgent situations, we are committed to making a difference by doing what we do best – helping resolve logistical bottlenecks and helping the organization of aid relief”.

Among the wide ranging services provided by DHL are providing leadership and direction of its DRT in the handling of humanitarian relief cargo, delivered via cargo flights to disaster struck areas; day-to-day management of the DRT; supervising the transfer of relief goods in bulk or from aircraft pallets to wooden pallets; providing airside warehouse management; reloading relief goods by forklift and manual labour onto vehicles for onward transportation (trucks or helicopters) and moving relief cargo or freight within airport