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Logistics UK’s members step up to help supply Ukraine
More than 55 organisations from across Logistics UK’s membership have offered to help in the collection and distribution of aid to refugees from the Ukrainian conflict in the past seven days.
Following a briefing from the Ukrainian Ambassador organised by the CBI, Logistics UK issued a request to its members for vehicles, drivers and air cargo capacity. And within a matter of hours, logistics businesses from across the UK stepped up with offers of vehicles, staff, warehousing space and packaging to assist with the relief efforts.
David Wells, Logistics UK’s Chief Executive, said: “The response to our appeal for help has been amazing, with businesses of all sizes volunteering their time and resources to help with the situation developing in Eastern Europe. All offers have been passed on to the Ukrainian embassy’s team as they are best placed to identify the areas of most need, and they will be contacting our members directly.
“Logistics as a sector has always had a reputation for going the extra mile, and the response to our appeal for help shows just how selfless and generous our industry is.
“Thank you to all those who have volunteered to help out: the embassy has acknowledged receipt of our offers, but as you can imagine, it will take a while to work through all the options, so please bear with them and they will be in touch as soon as they can.”
The team at Logistics UK has also been working with several charities and other groups in the UK to link logistics support with those collecting aid in the UK.
Mr Wells said: “Members have been so generous in donating their time and facilities to help with aid collections across the UK, as well as donating useful packaging materials and other resources to assist those preparing loads for transportation. On behalf of Logistics UK, many thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help with this initiative: our members really are incredible.”
If you can support the ongoing relief effort in Eastern Europe, please email supplyukraine@logistics.org.uk with details of what your business could provide. The Ukrainian Embassy is in particular need of available air cargo space to deliver donated goods to refugees in Poland and Germany – please get in touch if you can provide this.
Meanwhile, current advice to operators from the IRU is not to send unsolicited buses, vans, coaches or trucks to border crossings in the Ukraine. The IRU is working closely with the World Food Programme Logistics Cluster (group for major global humanitarian organisations) and UNHCR on coordinating road transport support for humanitarian goods and refugee transport respectively. Currently, supply chains for humanitarian goods and mobility networks to transport refugees are both under considerable strain as they are organised and ramped up in response to the crisis and rapidly evolving needs, and unexpected vehicles will simply cause more confusion and delays.
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Published On: 10/03/2022 16:00:00
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