Page 17 - LUA November December 2024 Issue for website

Shipment to Gaza
on behalf of United
Palestinian Appeal, prevent first-mile origin of unwanted
arranged by Airlink
waste and last-mile delivery of needed
aid for more sustainable aid responses
as communities in crises welcome such
positive intervention.

"So much of sustainability in aid transport
By expanding needs to be donor- and private-sector led:
WeQare’s reach • Airlines that can use sustainable
aviation fuel (SAF) on flights carrying aid;
to include more • Trucking companies that are
NGOs and by electrifying their fleets;
• Donors that can offset the reverse
transporting essential logistics cost to make sure that aid
humanitarian aid, packaging and pallets are sustainably
Qatar Airways Cargo disposed of; and
• Being supported by a logistics-
aims to replicate its centred NGO like Airlink helps NGOs
success in both the preserve limited resources to their
environmental and areas of expertise, optimising
everyone’s resources.
humanitarian sectors. Yes, sustainability is increasingly
MARK DRUSCH a consideration in the logistics and
QATAR AIRWAYS transportation of aid, adds Rouillon of
Quick. "Humanitarian organisations
cost of travel is prohibitive. In rural areas, "In complex emergencies driven and logistics companies are recognising
up to 83 percent of deliveries take place at by conflict - impact of the presence of the importance of minimising their
home, and, as a result, Kenya's maternal armed actors on access to in-country environmental footprint, even while
mortality rate of 362 deaths per 100,000 transportation limits available routes/ responding to urgent crises. By
live births remains among the highest access. Other challenges include impact optimising routes and ensuring vehicles
in the world.” of closed commercial airspace on are loaded efficiently, we can minimise
From Quick’s perspective, adds accessible airlift into the country, and less fuel consumption. This may include
Rouillon, there has been demand for attention from the general public." consolidating loads to reduce the
medical aid and supplies, including number of trips required."
medical devices, surgical kits, vitamins, SUSTAINABILITY AND AID As part of corporate social
personal protective equipment (PPE) and Airlink helps carriers optimise the use responsibility (CSR) efforts, Qatar
mobile clinic setups. "The requests for of their networks – both seat and cargo Airways is implementing sustainable
support we are seeing are all in Africa." capacity, and this also helps the humanitarian practices in operations to enhance
sector limit unnecessary emissions from global humanitarian contributions. "This
MORE CHALLENGING duplicative flights, says Steege. ensures that our aid delivery is not only
ASSIGNMENT - DISASTERS/ "Airlink ensures only the right aid impactful but also environmentally
CONFLICTS? is being sent to the right place at the responsible. Our commitment to
Steege says: "Each presents its own right time. Studies suggest 60 percent sustainability includes reducing our
challenges but there’s overlap including of the aid sent in emergencies is not carbon footprint, optimising fuel
displaced populations in both and appropriate at the time it arrives in efficiency and utilising eco-friendly
potential impact on transportation the country, leading to waste or even packaging materials," says Drusch.
infrastructure. Generally, natural necessitating its return, which further "Furthermore, we are investing in
disasters create geophysical challenges complicates supply chain issues. That's advanced logistics technology to improve
while conflicts present geopolitical why supporting locally-led responses the efficiency and reliability of our aid
challenges and risks. is essential. Airlink partners with distribution. By leveraging data analytics
"For natural disasters, damaged vetted and qualified humanitarian and real-time tracking systems, we can
transportation infrastructure can constrain organisations to ensure that airlift is ensure that humanitarian supplies reach
available movement options (airport coordinated only when local sourcing their destinations promptly and securely.
tarmac, roads, bridges) - this not only isn't viable and only when it directly Our dedicated teams are continuously
limits access to impacted communities, addresses identified needs on the trained to handle emergency situations,
but also creates bottlenecks in the supply ground. This approach minimises waste ensuring that we are always prepared to
chain. Natural disasters often receive more and maximises the effectiveness of respond swiftly to crises around
“attention” from the general public, etc. our humanitarian efforts. In short, we the world."

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2024 LUA 15