Deutsche Post DHL Group
and UNDP conduct a five-day disaster preparedness training and
assessment program at Almaty International Airport
ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN - Media OutReach/Parahyangan-post.com - September 18, 2017 - Deutsche Post DHL
Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will support the Kazakh
authorities in their efforts to build resilience against future natural
disasters. The two partners will team up with airport and government officials
and other humanitarian response experts in the Central Asian republic to host
their internationally recognized Getting Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD)
program from 18 to 22 September at the Almaty International Airport.
Over 50
officials and experts representing the administration of the Almaty
International Airport, representatives from the Committee of Emergency
Situation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Agency of Civil Aviation of
the Ministry of Investments and Development and other humanitarian
organizations will participate in the five-day GARD workshop, which will be led
by specialists from Deutsche Post DHL Group and UNDP and with technical assistance
of Center for Emergency Situation and Disaster Risk Reduction. During the
workshop, the participants and trainers will evaluate the current level of
preparedness at the airport, conduct training exercises, and develop specific
recommendations and an action plan to ensure that the airport is prepared for
future disasters.
In the
immediate aftermath of a disaster, airports play a critical role in channeling
humanitarian teams and relief goods quickly to people in need. Besides having
the necessary airport infrastructure and local transport connections to
smoothly deliver lifesaving support to impacted communities, the team on site
needs to be trained in the necessary protocols and know-how to handle the
dramatic rise in air traffic and flow of goods and people that typically follows
a disaster.
"Uninterrupted
functioning and capacities of transport logistics to receive humanitarian cargo
and admit rescue teams plays an important role in handling emergency situations
and deliver critical services to people," said Yuri Ilyin, Deputy Minister of
Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. "With Almaty being prone to
various major emergencies, I think it is important that the Almaty
International Airport undergoes an assessment of its preparedness to working in
emergency response situations. I am certain that the results of the seminar
will help take comprehensive measures to enable the airport to be ready for
emergencies of all kinds."
"A
clear and flexible action plan can help airport operators minimize logistics
bottlenecks and better manage sudden influxes of relief aid, bulky supplies
like food, water and medical supplies in the event of a natural hazard induced disaster,"
said Chris Weeks, Director of Humanitarian Affairs for DHL. "The experiences of
UNDP and Deutsche Post DHL Group in addressing disaster response and recovery
in locations that are vulnerable to adverse events around the world have shown
that an adequate level of infrastructure and effective logistical operations would
not only save lives but also help reduce economic loss. It is very encouraging
to see how the Kazakh government and the authorities at Almaty International
Airport are prioritizing preparedness and incorporating it into action plans to
better respond to any future disasters caused by natural hazards."
Almaty
is located in an active seismic zone and has an above-average risk of being
impacted by earthquakes. It also lies in close proximity to Kyrgyzstan and
Western China, two regions that have been affected by earthquakes in recent
years. In addition, Kazakhstan is vulnerable to floods -- melted snow caused
major floods in various areas of the country in 2015 and April this year.
"Central
Asia is highly prone to a variety of natural disasters, including floods,
landslides and earthquakes in particular. Given that many countries in the
region are landlocked, airports play a vital role in ensuring its overall
resilience to potential natural hazard induced disasters and are critical to
its emergency response capability," said Armen Grigoryan, Climate Change/Disaster Resilience Policy Advisor, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. "By
developing strong and effective contingency plans to manage the flow of
emergency relief goods to the people in need, the GARD workshop will support
UNDP's efforts in aiding the Government of Kazakhstan in mitigating the impact
of any possible disasters in Kazakhstan and will also ensure that Almaty
International Airport can play a supportive role in disaster relief efforts in
neighboring countries."
"As
one of the largest cargo hubs in Central Asia, accounting for more than
two-thirds of Kazakhstan's air cargo traffic and with a CAT III-certified
runway that can accommodate any aircraft type even in low visibility
conditions, Almaty would play a significant role in any disaster response in
the region," said Aibol
Bekmukhambetov, President of Almaty International Airport. "Working
with international experts in the field of disaster response, we expect to
develop a robust action plan that allows Almaty International Airport
strengthen its role in channeling incoming relief goods to affected communities
in the event of a natural disaster. In addition to assessing the readiness of
our airport infrastructure and strengthening staff expertise, the workshop will
lead to a series of follow-up activities including an action plan that we can use
to bolster our response to any potential emergencies."
Only a
week ago specialists from Deutsche Post DHL Group and UNDP delivered a five-day
GARD workshop at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador, which was attended
by over 30 officials and airport authorities, representatives from the Civil
Aviation Authority and humanitarian organizations.
About GARD
In
2009, GARD was developed by Deutsche Post DHL Group in cooperation with the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the aim of preparing airports
in disaster-prone areas to handle the surge of incoming relief goods after a
natural disaster occurs. It also enables the various organizations and aid
agencies to better understand the processes at the airport in the aftermath of
a disaster, which will help facilitate relief efforts and enhance overall
coordination.
To
date, GARD workshops have been held at more than 40 airports in Armenia,
Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, India, Indonesia,
Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, the Maldives, Nepal, Panama, Peru, the Philippines,
the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
GARD
trainers and training materials are provided free-of-charge by Deutsche Post
DHL Group while UNDP leads the project implementation and facilitates the
coordination with the government authorities. GARD training workshop
arrangements and logistics costs are fully covered by UNDP with funding
contribution by the government of Germany.
GARD
is an integral part of Deutsche Post DHL Group's GoHelp program in which the
Group pools all of its activities related to disaster preparedness and
management. As a form of crisis prevention, GARD workshops are used to prepare
airports for coping with potential natural disasters. Should a disaster strike,
Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) provide emergency aid and ensure that relief
supplies can be accepted in a coordinated manner and passed on to the correct
aid organizations.
The
DRTs were established in cooperation with the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). They encompass a worldwide
network of more than 400 volunteers, all specially trained employees of
Deutsche Post DHL Group.
You can
find the press release for download as well as further information on dpdhl.com/pressreleases
Deutsche
Post DHL Group
is the world's leading mail and logistics company. The Group connects people
and markets and is an enabler of global trade. It aspires to be the first
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achieve zero emissions logistics.
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is home to two strong brands: Deutsche Post is Europe's leading postal service
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