More than 30 tons of critical aid is on the ground and in the hands of relief workers in Haiti. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) delivered the emergency supplies on board two charter flights this week in an effort to provide assistance to the people and communities affected by Hurricane Matthew.
FedEx supported these disaster relief efforts through its humanitarian organization relationships with Direct Relief, International Medical Corps and Heart to Heart International. These organizations have medical staff and disaster relief supplies pre-positioned in the region.
“The devastating reality is people in Haiti are relying on the delivery of humanitarian aid for life’s most basic necessities,” said Jenny Robertson, director of Global Citizenship and Reputation Management at FedEx. “The FedEx network and our people who power it are equipped to deliver these critical supplies where they’re needed most.”
FedEx has worked with Direct Relief for more than a decade to deliver medical resources during times of disaster. The organization’s aid filled a charter flight that took off from the Memphis World Hub and arrived in Port-au-Prince Wednesday, October 12. Supplies included medication, medical equipment, hygiene kits and tents that can be used as pop-up health facilities.
“Hurricane Matthew dealt a doubly cruel blow to Haiti, causing tragic loss of life and vastly increased risks and harm while at the same time damaging the health facilities and infrastructure critical to responding,” said Thomas Tighe, president and CEO, Direct Relief. “That’s why an aggressive, targeted response is so important and why FedEx’s leadership to take care of the transportation barrier is such a critically important step.”
A second charter flight landed in Haiti October 13, filled with 35,000 pounds of relief supplies from International Medical Corps and Heart to Heart International. Together with these two organizations, FedEx delivered 11,000 hygiene kits, medicines and medical supplies.
“Heart to Heart International (HHI) is proud of our long-standing relationship with FedEx. The humanitarian aid on today’s charter flight includes more than 11,000 personal hygiene kits that will be distributed to the people in Haiti where HHI is providing medical care. These hygiene kits play an important role in preventing the spread of disease, such as cholera,” said Jim Mitchum, CEO of Heart to Heart International.
With many health facilities damaged, inaccessible, or non-functional as a result of Hurricane Matthew, the urgently needed aid will reach the most affected areas of Haiti, including Grand’Anse and Sud.
“FedEx’s swift action in the wake of Hurricane Matthew makes it possible for our teams to save lives and alleviate suffering in some of the hardest hit communities in Haiti,” said Nancy Aossey, president and CEO of International Medical Corps. “FedEx knows that speed saves lives, and that every hour counts. They are making it possible for our teams to deliver urgently needed supplies and bring lifesaving medical care to those in need, helping stop the spread of cholera—a disease that has the potential to be far deadlier than the storm itself.”
The relief effort is part of the company’s FedEx Cares initiative, through which FedEx will invest $200 million in more than 200 global communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver positive change around the world.
