DHL Global Forwarding launches Global Competence Center for Humanitarian Logistics

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The Center will see close coordination across all DHL business divisions to provide all related services and products, to meet customers' needs. A DHL veteran with over 15 years of experience in creating, providing and implementing solutions for complex humanitarian operations, Fatima Ait Bendawad has been appointed to lead the Global Competence Center for Humanitarian Logistics.

Range of services

The Center offers non-governmental organisations, aid agencies, and their suppliers and manufacturers a broad range of services including air and ocean freight, customs clearance, warehousing and local distribution of humanitarian shipments. These services will be backed by control tower and data analytics services designed to offer heightened levels of freight visibility for humanitarian situations of any level of urgency and complexity.

Organisations can also use the Center to tap into DHL Global Forwarding's global network of freight connections for rapid, efficient transport of resources; as well as sector-specific services including temperature-controlled and cold-chain shipments for life sciences and healthcare - critical for public health assistance projects involving the long-term delivery of medicines and medical equipment to developing areas.

"The impact of conflicts and natural disasters on the world is evident and at DHL Global Forwarding, we have the capability, expertise and global network to render resilient logistics support to organisations who are highly committed to ensure that critical resources are delivered, to meet the needs of those who require them," said Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, Middle East and Africa.

With its geographical location and longstanding reputation as a cluster for global aid and relief organisations, Dubai currently plays host to several major logistics hubs including the International Humanitarian City, reportedly the largest humanitarian hub worldwide from which nine United Nations (UN) agencies and 48 NGOs currently run logistics operations.

The Center will play the pivotal role of coordinating humanitarian logistics services globally, by leveraging expertise in regional hubs in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe - to optimise delivery schedule and routes to areas which need the resources.

Experience in disaster management services

DHL has extensive experience in disaster management activities - which includes the deployment of its Disaster Response Teams (DRT) consisting of DHL experts to provide on-ground logistics support in natural disaster zones; and the Get Airports Ready for Disasters (GARD) program, which runs joint workshops with the UN Development Programme to prepare local airport management for the logistical issues associated with natural disaster situations.

"The level of preparedness - whether it be expedited customs clearances, readiness to handle dangerous goods like chemicals or medicines, or processes for on-ground collaboration between multiple agencies - directly correlates with the efficiency of humanitarian logistics. Our work on the front line, has helped us build and maintain familiarity with the nuances of compliance, regulation and international standards that apply to movements of critical goods," said Fatima Ait Bendawad, Head of Global Humanitarian Logistics Competence Center, DHL Global Forwarding.

"Humanitarian logistics requires dedication and coordination with different stakeholders to get critical goods to those in need, gaining trust and working with numerous partners to coordinate shipments in situations which often require short turnaround times," said Massar Diop, Director of Humanitarian Logistics, DHL Global Forwarding.