Carriers Assist Japanese Relief Efforts

The March 11th Earthquake and Tsunami devastated the Tohoku region in Japan. The aftermath of the Earthquake was upheaval, chaos and tragedy. Houses and communities were destroyed. Countless people went missing, many were reported dead, and around half a million were displaced. The earthquake’s economic impact was far-reaching, causing over $235 billion in damages.

Thankfully, humanitarian relief poured in from many different sources, helping to alleviate the effects of this tragedy. Shipping companies such as UPS and FedEx have actively pitched in by providing long-distance transport, supply transfers, airlifts, facilities and personnel. Being shipping companies, FedEx and UPS are in a unique position to provide long-distance transport of supplies, and they are actively utilizing its shipping resources, such as airlift, facilities, and personnel, to deliver aid to Japan and assist other organizations in their efforts. FedEx has lent financial, logistics, and transportation assistance to organizations such as The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Heart to Heart International, Direct Relief International, Water Missions International, The United Way Worldwide, World Vision and Project Hope. This assistance has created the infrastructure needed during a crisis, allowing these organizations to provide essentials like shelter, food, clothing, blankets, and medical and hygiene supplies. This is conveniently coordinated from UPS and FedEx facilities in Japan.

Said FedEx CEO Frederick W. Smith:

“The FedEx team is incredibly saddened by the loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake in Japan and we extend our deepest sympathy to the Japanese people. FedEx will continue to work closely with several humanitarian and disaster relief organizations in coordinating logistics, assessing needs and providing support where we are best able to help in Japan.”

UPS has also coordinated with Red Cross and the Salvation Army for the transport of various supplies and trained humanitarian logistics personnel. UPS logistics support includes determining whether planes can land safely in airports and assessing which roads are good to travel on to reach distant parts of the country.

Said Jackie Blair, a spokesperson for UPS:

“Our goal is to help with logistics coordination and to help with transportation, because we are a logistics company.”

FedEx and UPS have each contributed over $1 million dollars to the relief effort.

Deliveries to Japan

International deliveries are among the services impacted by the nuclear power plant crisis in Japan following last week’s earthquakes and tsunami. FedEx has restarted flights to and from Tokyo’s Narita airport and is accepting inbound shipments except for perishable goods. FedEx has also suspended ground deliveries in eastern Japan.

UPS has suspended deliveries in northern, eastern and parts of central Japan due to extensive damage to the transportation infrastructure. It resumed flying to Narita this week after suspending operations immediately after the earthquake.

FedEx is offering relocation assistance to employees and their families in Fukushima prefecture near the quake-damaged nuclear plant. The company has about 12 workers in Fukushima, and they and the FedEx facility in the prefecture are outside the evacuation zone around the stricken facility.

The charitable arm of UPS – the UPS Foundation – has pledged $1m in relief for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. The funds will be used for in-kind transportation of emergency supplies, trained humanitarian logistics personnel and financial support. UPS is coordinating with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army to determine needs.