Preparedness Training Conducted By United Nations Development
Programme, Deutsche Post DHL
Airports in Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh are in line for
"Get Airports Ready for Disaster" (GARD) training conducted by
logistics company Deutsche Post DHL in conjunction with the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The training, set for this
month is designed to prepare airports and personnel for
post-disaster logistics. The aim of the training is to improve
local logistics capacities so that bottlenecks at disaster-site
airports can be avoided when huge volumes of incoming relief goods
arrive. During the four-day program, airport staff as well as local
and government officials learn to assess local requirements and
create detailed contingency plans.
The GARD program was developed together with UNDP to train
airport personnel, local security officials and representatives of
national disaster agencies in airport logistics management.
Launched in 2009, GARD grew out of first-hand experience that
showed just how important it is for disaster-prone regions and
airports to be disaster-ready, that is, to be able to respond
quickly and effectively to the challenges of disaster relief
logistics. "We've gathered enough experience in disaster relief to
know that efficient airport logistics are critical when it comes to
getting aid to the people who need it most," said Frank Appel, CEO
Deutsche Post DHL. "The GARD initiative allows us to pass on our
logistics expertise to local communities in disaster-free times.
This way GARD is a smart addition to our regular disaster
management activities following natural disasters."
The GARD instructors are specially trained logistics and
training experts from Deutsche Post DHL, some of whom are already
involved as volunteers in the company's disaster management
program. They will conduct the GARD training for some 20
participants in the capital city of Dhaka, and in the port city of
Chittagong, which is located in southern Bangladesh. Trainees
include not only airport personnel but security officers and
military officials. Representatives from various humanitarian
organizations, such as the UN World Food Programme and the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are also present as
important partners on the ground.
"For many across the globe, Bangladesh is synonymous with
disasters. Yet the country has a strong tradition of resilience in
the face of natural hazards, and is now recognised as a leader in
disaster management," says Robert Juhkam, Country Director a.i,
UNDP Bangladesh. "UNDP has been working hand-in-hand with
Government of Bangladesh since the early 1990s on building disaster
management capacity and a key player in coordinating emergency
response and preparedness efforts. The importance of airports
during the immediate aftermath of a disaster event cannot be
understated."
"GARD is a useful initiative and Deutsche Post DHL applies a
unique approach in Bangladesh. GARD is one of the programs through
which DHL is helping the communities in Bangladesh and across the
globe", said Nooruddin Chowdhury, Managing Director, DHL Global
Forwarding Bangladesh.
Previously conducted in Indonesia and Nepal, the GARD training
program begins with an assessment of the existing situation,
including available personnel, equipment and the airfield
situation. Warehouse space, for example, is one the program's focus
areas. Trainees are instructed in assessing storage options for
relief goods and whether the necessary equipment is available for
cargo handling, such as forklifts, pallets, gloves and boxes. In
the workshops, the local trainees evaluate the results and develop
contingency plans accordingly. GARD participants learn how to
optimize logistics processes and capacities for when international
relief goods begin to pour into the airport. Once trained, the
participants in Bangladesh shall evaluate their contingency plans
on a regular basis and prepare the event of a crisis with local
NGOs, the government and airport officials. GARD will be conducted
as part of the "Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme
2010-2014 (CDMP II)" a multi-donor UNDP-support project of the
Bangladesh Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, to ensure
longer-term implementation of the training results.
Bangladesh is prone to regular flooding as well as to cyclones.
With most of the country situated in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna
River delta and along the Gulf of Bengal, monsoon rains and
meltwaters from the Himalaya place Bangladesh at constant risk of
flooding. Many of the country's large cities are also just a few
meters above sea level and are at high risk of earthquakes.
The GARD concept is the natural next step for Deutsche Post DHL
in its commitment to humanitarian relief, which began with its
Disaster Response Team (DRT) program. As part of the Group's
Corporate Responsibility program GoHelp, the DRTs have been
deployed to over 20 airports since 2005. The DRTs, which work free
of charge and in close cooperation with the UN, help keep the flow
of incoming relief goods moving at disaster-site airports.