Shipping lines, air carriers and logistics providers have been working round-the-clock to provide relief to the victims of the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China that have taken tens of thousands of lives and made many more homeless.
Korea's Hanjin Group, including Korean Air, have donated relief goods to the victims of the devastating 7.8 scale earthquake in China's south western Sichuan province.
Korean Air chartered a Boeing 747-400 freighter to transport 2,000 blankets and 3,000 boxes of drinking water (36,000 of 1.5 litre bottled water) - two items badly needed there.
Since the earthquake hit Wenchuan county May 12, Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU) airport is closed. 12 Chengdu airport flights en route to Chengdu were diverted to other airfields.
Air China enhanced its capacity for disaster relief, allocating 91 flights for evacuation of stranded passengers in Chengdu and cancelling 24 normal flights for urgent disaster relief.
AP Moller Maersk Group has donated CNY2 million (US$286,000) to the Chinese commerce ministry towards the emergency rescue work. The donation came May 13, hours after the earthquake happened. During the past three days, Maersk employees have donated CNY1 million. The company will match every donation made by an employee.
Japan's NYK has shipped out 65 TEU with aid supplies free of charge from Taiwan and Japan to ports near earthquake-stricken areas in Pakistan between October 2005 and June 2006.
The NYK Group is collaborating with Japan Platform (JPF), a humanitarian assistance organisation to send blankets, wheelchairs, power generators, and rice, in response to data gathered by non-profit organisations (NPOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) associated with JPF.
Shenzhen air carrier, Jade Cargo International, deployed a Boeing 747-400ER freighter to Tianjin Binhai International Airport where 100 tons of relief material were loaded for quake-stricken Chengdu, operating eight flights, moving 780 tons: Three flights from Shenzhen, four from Tianjin, and one from Nanning, all going to Chengdu.
Atlanta-based United Parcel Service (UPS) was donating US$1 million in cash and support to earthquake relief in China. The company said it would give a $500,000 cash donation to the American Red Cross in support of its efforts. UPS has pledged an additional $500,000 for in-kind support to help deliver relief supplies.
UPS has further pledged $50,000 to the China Charity Federation for medicine, biscuits, clothing, quilts, drinking water, tents, umbrella, torches, candles and masks among other items. The China Charity Federation is a China-based non-governmental humanitarian agency that provides assistance to low-income families and offers social relief work to those in need.
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