The Indonesian government, Deutsche Post DHL and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 21 November launched a four-day "Get Airports Ready for Disaster" (GARD) training programme at Polonia Airport in Medan and Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport in Banda Aceh.
The training aims to improve capacities of airport personnel so they can handle high volume of incoming goods and increasing number of passengers during the aftermath of a disaster. Similar trainings took place in 2009 and 2011 at the Mutiara Airport in Central Sulawesi, Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in South Sulawesi, Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali and El Tari in East Nusa Tenggara.
"The Ministry of Transportation has been improving the capacity of 27 airports in various disaster-prone areas in Indonesia. In view of this, we see GARD as a very relevant training as it can help airports to be better prepared when there are disasters," said Abdul Hani the Head of Airport Authority Region II from the Ministry of Transport.
Susanne Meier, Vice President Go Help at Deutsche Post DHL, said, "In close cooperation with DHL's experienced aviation trainers, participants identify possible bottlenecks in their airport in the event of a disaster. The goal is to develop a plan which ensures relief goods and aid channeled through airports can reach communities quickly and efficiently."
UNDP views GARD training as a part of its wider commitment to make disaster risk reduction 'everyone's business' in one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. The agency has played a key role in creating the necessary institutions and laws for efficient disaster prevention and management while strengthening the capacities of communities to manage and reduce the risks of disasters in Indonesia.
"In 2010, 664 disasters occurred in Indonesia. More than 1,700 people were killed, and almost 1.4 million were injured or reported missing. UNDP draws on its global networks of expertise, to extend participation and investment in disaster risk reduction in Indonesia ¨C by communities, civil society and the subnational and national governments", UNDP Indonesia Country Director Beate Trankmann said.
Corporate Responsibility is an integral part of Deutsche Post DHL's business strategy and focuses on the topics protecting the environment (GoGreen), delivering help (GoHelp) and championing education (GoTeach). The GARD concept was the natural next step for Deutsche Post DHL in its commitment to humanitarian relief, which began with the Disaster Response Team (DRT) program. The DRTs have been deployed to over 20 airports since 2005. The DRTs, which work free-of- charge and in close cooperation with the UN, help keep the flow of incoming relief goods moving at disaster-site airports.
GARD trainers and material are provided free-of-charge by DHL. Training is organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of State-Own Enterprises through one of its subsidiaries, PT. Angkasa Pura II. Training is funded by these two Ministries with coordination support from UNDP Indonesia.
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