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GoHelp: Preparing, Responding and Strengthening

In the wake of a natural disaster, getting relief goods quickly into the affected areas can be a matter of life and death. GoHelp aims to leverage our logistics expertise to help streamline the flow of incoming aid.

On December 26, 2003, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake devastated the Iranian city of Bam. In the immediate aftermath, countries and organizations worldwide flew tons of relief aid into the country. Because the small provincial airport was not designed to cope with the sudden rise in incoming air traffic carrying pallets of relief supplies, operations came to a standstill.

We realized there was a disconnect between the logistics and humanitarian communities, and many relief organizations needed airfield logistics expertise. Working with UN agencies and NGOs, we developed solutions to support disaster relief logistics - and our GoHelp program was born.

Why we GoHelp

Natural disasters are a fact of life, but airport bottlenecks don't have to be. Logistics is what we do best, and our people want to help - so it just makes sense to utilize our expertise and leverage our global network to support and improve relief efforts around the world.

Since 2004, we've been deploying teams of logistics experts to affected airports worldwide when called upon by the United Nations. If we can reduce the negative impact of a natural event and help communities recover more quickly, then we've done our job. And that's something we can be proud of.

How we GoHelp

At the global level, GoHelp is built around three strategic pillars: disaster response, disaster preparedness and capacity building.

Our Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) deploy to airports in need when called upon by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Our Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) program collaborates with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to prepare airport personnel and local disaster management organizations to better manage a surge in incoming relief goods. The DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL), a strategic capacity-building program, equips humanitarian organizations with practical, expert-led logistics training to enable faster, more effective, and locally-driven aid operations.

Disaster Response

More than 1,000 specially trained DHL volunteers form the Disaster Response Teams (DRTs), strategically positioned worldwide for rapid deployment.

Learn more about DRTs

Disaster Preparedness

Our GARD trainers conduct multi-day workshops at airports worldwide to help participants prepare for the logistics challenges of disaster relief.

Learn more about GARD

DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics

To equip humanitarian organizations with practical, expert-led logistics training for faster and more effective locally-led aid operations.

Learn more about the Academy

GoHelp also works through public-private partnerships with international and regional humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). These partnerships help strengthen humanitarian logistics, preparedness, coordination, and supply chain capabilities before, during, and after disasters.

At the local level, colleagues around the world volunteer their time and expertise to support disaster response, preparedness, and capacity-building activities — helping communities become more resilient and better prepared for crises.

At WFP, we have a track record of partnering with companies that share our vision of a world without hunger - and we are proud they trust us to deliver it. Partners such as Amazon, DHL, and Takeda have worked with us to reinforce our world-class supply chain and logistics networks, ensuring they serve the wider humanitarian community even more effectively.

Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme

The impact of GoHelp

Strategically located around the world, our DRTs cover 80% of the world's disaster hot spots, supported by the global GoHelp office in Germany.

  • Team Singapore is responsible for the Asia Pacific region
  • Team Panama handles deployments to Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Team Dubai covers the Middle East and Africa
  • Team Johannesburg covers Sub Sahara Africa
  • Team Brussels covers Europe

Each DRT is ready to deploy in their region and be operational on location within 72 hours. With a good mix of logistics experts across all DHL divisions, including airside, warehouse, and supply chain specialists, our DRTs can support any part of the logistics process to help keep airports operational and relief aid flowing.

70+

DRT deployments

60+

GARD workshops

650+

people trained through DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics

Our DRTs have deployed to disasters around the world, while our GARD instructors have trained more than 1,800 participants through 60+ workshops across 30 countries. Through the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL), more than 85 NGOs have also received expert-led logistics trainings. Each deployment and workshop provides an opportunity to learn, with knowledge continuously shared through ongoing training and preparedness activities.

Together with partners including OCHA, UNDP, WFP, and IOM, GoHelp demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in strengthening humanitarian preparedness, response, and logistics capabilities worldwide.

Our longstanding partnership with DHL, especially with the high-impact GoHelp programme, truly highlights how global companies play a vital role in humanitarian efforts worldwide. We measure success by delivering accountable, principled, and sustainable assistance to those who need it most. Looking forward, we are excited about deepening our collaboration through joint training and initiatives to strengthen our partnership, in alignment with OCHA's strategy to increase meaningful engagement with the private sector.

Sarah Muscroft, Chief of the Response Support Branch, UNOCHA

Our worldwide disaster management activities

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