Agility, TNT and UPS recently held a joint training programme for the Logistics Emergency Teams (LETs) in Singapore, to further strengthen their integrated response to large scale disasters.
Over twenty logistics specialists representing the three logistics companies were trained for field deployment. The training included sessions covering the international relief system, safety and security in the field and preparing for deployment, among others. LETs project leaders, who have experience in the field, also shared stories and lessons learned with the delegates.
“This LETs training programme in Singapore is a landmark event as three logistics experts (Agility, TNT and UPS) come together to better understand the complex issues faced by teams on the ground in relief operations,” said Matthew Hollingworth, World Food Program (WFP) Logistics Officer.
“These sessions will help prepare the team to deal with most eventualities that arise in such challenging circumstances. With the increasing number and scale of natural disasters, having such logistics expertise prepared and ready to deploy at the request of the humanitarian community is critical to helping us save lives,” he added.
The LETs initiative was launched in January 2008 under the auspices of the World Food Program (WFP) at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. The LET’s partnership was first demonstrated on the ground in August 2007 in Indonesia during an operational exercise organised and hosted by WFP. In May 2008, the LETs supported humanitarian relief efforts on the ground in Myanmar and Bangkok following the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.