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Global carriers Maersk and British Airways provided substantial free freight to UNICEF in support of the UNICEF emergency response to the Myanmar Cyclone disaster. UNICEF would like to thank the companies for their generosity, which freed up substantial funds – for UNICEF to use to get more emergency medical, water purification, sanitation and shelter supplies to children in need in Myanmar
Maersk kindly offered UNICEF 100 TEUs (20’ containers) of freight, of which the organization was able to use 76. Some 60 per cent of these where shipped to Yangon from European ports and 40 per cent from ports in Asia. The shipments included a wide range of goods, including drugs, mosquito nets, syringes, therapeutic food and large tents. Other UN Agencies (UNOPS, UNHCR and UNDP) were also able to take advantage of the offer.
During the tsunami response, British Airways gave UNICEF ten free charters of Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets from European airports to Asian destinations. For the Myanmar response, BA again came forward and offered the organization a free charter 747, from Copenhagen (site of UNICEF’s supply HQ) to Bangkok.
Other carriers also supported the Myanmar response with preferential prices, and extra operational support.
UNICEF Supply Division is coordinating supply support to large and small scale emergencies worldwide 365 days a year. If you are a carrier interested in helping UNICEF help children caught up in natural and man-made catastrophes, we would like to hear from you. Please contact Søren Hansen, Chief, The Logistics Centre at swhansen@unicef.org, tel. +45 3527 3450.