DHL Group activates Disaster Response Team to support relief efforts in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa

Working in close partnership with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), and other humanitarian organizations, DHL's DRT is ensuring that critical supplies reach the hardest-hit communities quickly and efficiently.

"In a humanitarian crisis, logistics can mean the difference between life and death," said Gilberto Castro, GoHelp Regional Head for the Americas. "Getting aid to the right place at the right time is as critical as the aid itself. Our team is proud to bring DHL's global logistics expertise to support the people of Jamaica and ensure that relief supplies reach those who need them most and fast."

DHL's DRT teams, deployed in Kingston since October 31, have managed the logistics of incoming humanitarian shipments and supported warehousing and distribution efforts. To date, the teams have handled 220 tons of relief aid, including supplies processed at the DHL Express Kingston warehouse, which is currently operating at 70% capacity. The teams' activities include assembling and distributing shelter kits, managing warehouse inventory, and loading and unloading trucks and trailers arriving from seaports and Kingston airport.

"The role of the private sector is absolutely essential during emergencies, and being able to leverage DHL's assets allowed us to move at pace, reduce lead times and costs, and reach affected communities faster. DHL's GoHelp program and WFP have a long-standing partnership, strengthened even before the hurricane season through DHL's flagship Getting Airports Ready for Disaster simulation - and it is exactly in moments like this that such preparedness pays off. This is connected, coordinated humanitarian-private sector collaboration at its best," said Andrew Jackson, Head of Supply Chain, WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Office.

DHL has operated six flights from Miami and Barbados to Jamaica to move urgently needed relief supplies. The company is also providing free temporary storage and logistics handling at its 10,000 sq. ft. Kingston warehouse, which is currently serving as a central hub for relief distribution across the island. 

"DHL's humanitarian logistics response to Hurricane Melissa has been unprecedented in mobilizing airlift capacity, and warehousing. Their active engagement with humanitarian agencies on the ground, along with their technical support and solutions, has made a tremendous difference in our relief efforts," said Jan Willem Wegdam, UN IOM Shelter Sector Coordinator.

All DHL employees in Jamaica have been accounted for and are safe. While some team members reported property damage, internal support resources have been activated to assist with recovery. DHL's Montego Bay gateway sustained significant damage and is expected to remain offline for up to a month. In the interim, customer shipments are being rerouted through Kingston under contingency protocols.

DHL Group's GoHelp Disaster Response Teams are part of a disaster management program founded 20 years ago and operated in partnership with the United Nations since 2005. The program provides pro bono logistics support in disaster zones, leveraging the expertise of over 1,000 trained employee volunteers worldwide who can deploy within 72 hours of a disaster. In the Americas region alone, DHL has more than 400 trained DRT volunteers across 10 countries.