HAITI: One year after the earthquake

FedEx continues to support global relief efforts in Haiti through the Red Cross, Heart to Heart, Direct Relief International and Water Missions. To date, we have provided more than $2 million in-kind and cash support for the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Within seven days after the earthquake, FedEx had shipped over 500,000 pounds and within the first month, FedEx shipped over 1 million pounds.

In the following 11 months, an additional 300,000 pounds have shipped including:

* One million sachets of oral rehydration salts for cholera victims, delivered for the Red Cross in Haiti. Each sachet mixes with 1 liter of water to help replace lost water and electrolytes. FedEx team members donated their time to prepare the paperwork and logistics for these three shipments of 33 tons total.
* 60 water purification units for Water Missions International (WMI), providing 450,000 people with clean water.
* 5,000 cots (59 tons) for the American Red Cross by October 31, delivered through FedEx Trade Networks. The cots are being used in hospitals for cholera victims.

FedEx is also working with the NGO and business community to support Haiti recovery and prepare for future crises through sponsoring the just-launched Haiti Aid Map. The map helps tackle transparency and coordination issues such as who is doing what, where.

A key to quick response is having long-term relationships with relief organizations, and leveraging our transportation and logistics expertise to provide speedy and efficient relief. FedEx places a premium on working with organizations that have on-the-ground capacity to manage their shipments. Pre-existing relationships help not only in ensuring that relief will come quickly once supplies are on the ground; they also help expedite getting the goods in the air as organizations know the right people to call and understand each other’s needs and capabilities.

FedEx and its workforce have a long tradition of rapidly responding to emergencies and natural disasters, donating facilities, expertise and transportation for aid shipments. Each year, FedEx sets aside space for more than 4,000,000 pounds of charitable shipping.