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SINGAPORE, Dec. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- India's North East region, one of the world's most disaster-prone areas, will benefit from a disaster preparedness program developed by Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) and UNDP. 'Get Airports Ready for Disaster' or GARD aims to better prepare airports to handle the surge of incoming relief goods, should disaster strike. Guwahati International Airport in Assam will host the first GARD programme to be held in India from 8-11 December 2015.
Speaking at the event, UNDP India Country Director, Jaco Cilliers said, "During disasters, airports frequently become the logistical hub where relief and emergency supplies are distributed. However, airports are often not equipped to handle the huge volumes of goods and surge traffic that follows in the immediate aftermath of any disaster. Therefore, enhancing the preparedness of airports is vital to ensure business continuity and smooth rescue and relief efforts.
Chris Weeks, Director of Humanitarian Affairs, DHL, said, "Through these GARD workshops, DHL is able to work together with authorities all over the world to analyze and define the capacities needed at airports in case of natural disasters and improve the overall coordination across various organizations involved in relief efforts. Leveraging our logistics expertise and partnership with UNDP, we have completed over 30 GARD workshops at airports around the world."
India's North East region is among the most seismically active region and considered as the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world1.
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Status of Seismicity in the Northeast India and Earthquake Disaster Mitigation, R.P. Tiwari, Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796001, Mizoram. http://gbpihedenvis.nic.in/ENVIS%20Bullitin/Vol.%2010/vol10_1.pdf |
R.S. Subramanian, Senior Vice President & Country Manager, DHL Express India, said, "During natural calamities, the Guwahati International Airport becomes a critical nerve center as it is the only airport catering to international air travel to India's North East region. This program being the first for India will help to develop a blueprint specific to the country in times of disaster."
During the GARD workshop, participants will brainstorm and develop action plans on how to better prepare airport personnel for emergencies caused by natural disasters. This includes being able to address the often high volumes of emergency relief aid, incoming goods and passengers in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
Participants include a mix of staff from the airport's terminal management team, including cargo handling, operations, communications, navigation services, electric, civil and electric engineering, fire and security services, immigration, customs and district officials. Organizations involved in disaster relief such as the National Disaster Management Authority, Assam State Disaster Management Authority, the Indian Air Force and the International Organization for Migration are also participating in the workshop.
As disasters pose unique situations and logistical challenges for airports, disaster management planning, preparedness and capacity building of airport staff and other stakeholders is of paramount importance.
"Guwahati International Airport received 2.2 million passengers between 2011 and 2012. In the event of a disaster, the airport will play a crucial role in relief efforts undertaken. Realizing the increasing frequency and threats of disaster in civil aviation, Airport Authority of India (AAI), in partnership with UNDP and DHL, initiated Get Airport Ready for Disaster (GARD) programme as a preparedness measure to ensure the airport remains functional during and after disasters," said RK Srivasatava, Chairman, Airport Authority of India.
About the GARD Program
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.
GARD trainers and materials are provided free-of-charge by DPDHL Group while UNDP leads the project implementation and facilitate 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.
Deutsche Post DHL Group's disaster management programme
The GARD concept complements the disaster management program of Deutsche Post DHL Group, including the DHL Disaster Response Teams (DRT). DRTs step in to organize the logistics at airports following a disaster and this has been implemented at over 30 airports since its launch in 2005. The DRTs, which work free-of-charge and in close cooperation with the United Nations, help keep the flow of incoming relief goods moving at disaster-site airports. Both GARD and DRT form GoHelp, part of the Group's Corporate Responsibility Program "Living Responsibility". Both programs are conducted in partnership with the United Nations on the basis of a voluntary engagement.
To this date, GARD has been implemented at over 30 airports in Indonesia (2009, 2011), Nepal and Bangladesh (2010), Lebanon and Turkey (2012), El Salvador, Panama, Philippines, Armenia (2013), Peru, Philippines, Jordan, Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka (2014), as well as Macedonia and Dominican Republic (2015).
Since 2002, UNDP has partnered with the Ministry of Home Affairs in India in empowering communities to manage disaster risk in urban and rural areas. Pilot interventions with communities across India have been instrumental in strengthening community-based preparedness to tackle the onslaught of disaster across India. UNDP's programmes from 2002 to 2008 reached out to approximately 300 million people living in areas vulnerable to multi-hazards.
About Deutsche Post DHL Group
Deutsche Post DHL Group is the world's leading logistics and mail communications company. The Group is focused on being the first choice for customers, employees and investors in its core business areas worldwide. It makes a positive contribution to the world by connecting people and enabling global trade while being committed to responsible business practices and corporate citizenship.
Deutsche Post DHL Group operates under two brands: Deutsche Post is Europe's leading postal service provider. DHL is uniquely positioned in the world's growth markets, with a comprehensive range of international express, freight transportation, e-commerce, and supply chain management services.
Deutsche Post DHL Group employs more than 480,000 employees in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. The Group generated revenues of more than 56 billion Euros in 2014.
The logistics company for the world.
About the Airport Authority of India
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India. It provides Air traffic management (ATM) services over Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas. It also manages a total of 125 Airports, including 18 International Airports, 7 Customs Airports, 78 Domestic Airports and 26 Civil enclaves at Military Airfields. AAI also has ground installations at all airports and 25 other locations to ensure safety of aircraft operations.
AAI has entered into Joint Ventures at Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Nagpur Airports to upgrade these airports.AAI has four training establishments viz. The Civil Aviation Training College (CATC) at Allahabad, National Institute of Aviation Management and Research (NIAMAR) at Delhi and Fire Training Centres (FTC) at Delhi & Kolkata. In addition to in-house flight calibration of its navigational aids, AAI undertakes flight calibration of navigational aids for the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and other private airfields in the country.
About UNDP
UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.
UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from democratic governance to poverty eradication, to sustainable energy and environmental management. UNDP's programmes are aligned with national priorities and are reviewed and adjusted annually.
Please visit: www.in.undp.org for more information.
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