Aid to Haiti: shipments which save lives

03-Mar-2010

Rail Cargo Austria (RCA) is organising the transport of aid from Europe to Haiti; the vital supplies are being provided by 3M and a number of aid organisations.

The earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 hit one of the world's poorest countries. Haiti was already suffering not only from a weak economy, but also political instability and widespread unrest.

220,000 have died and 250,000 are injured; a total of three million people have been affected by the quake. Aid workers in Haiti are faced with a disaster situation of unprecedented proportions: an entire region has been destroyed. Experts predict it will take years before the ruined streets, hospitals and water and sanitary systems are rebuilt.

The situation will become particularly difficult from April on. Tents and sanitary equipment will be vital when the rainy season starts. "Haiti is absolutely dependant on aid, for nearly every screw and every bucket has to be brought in from abroad. There are no functioning authorities, no medical services and no trained staff. Aid organisations like us are reliant on the essential support and know-how of businesses such as Rail Cargo Austria (RCA) and 3M," explains Wolfgang Martinek from the aid organisation "Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern", which is currently working in Haiti.

RCA – transport assistance from Austria

Haiti is still in need of tonnes more aid supplies such as food, drinking water, drugs, blankets and tents. RCA responded to a call for support by promising to provide free and rapid container transport from Germany, Switzerland and Austria for these urgently required aid supplies. "Despite the catastrophic infrastructure, logistics and transport situation in Haiti, RCA was quickly able to create a transport link from Vienna to Haiti. I hope this enables us to make some contribution to relieving the suffering in Haiti," said RCA Board Chairman Ferdinand Schmidt at the ceremony to mark the departure of the aid supplies from Freudenau harbour.

Global transport experts Express-Interfracht

RCA subsidiary Express Interfracht was responsible for calculating the best transport route and coordinating transport. The total of 62 tonnes of supplies include products such as baby food; tents; blankets; textiles; plastic tarpaulins; wheelchairs; Nexcare plasters, wound dressings and first aid kits; 3M surgical masks and gowns and sterile drapes; 3M dust masks, and a range of office items. Wiencont Management has donated a 20ft container which will be used in Haiti as a store.

From Vienna Freudenau to Port au Prince

As the shipment left Freudenau Harbour, the Managing Director of 3M in Austria and Switzerland Felix Thun-Hohenstein summed up his company's approach. "3M is working on operating through partnerships to ensure that the donations reach their destination and are used effectively. We are therefore extremely pleased to have found a strong partner in Austria which will guarantee this happens."
The donations will be handed over to the child aid organisation "Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern" with the help of partners AmCham and RCA. "Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern" has been providing humanitarian aid in Haiti since 1988. The aid supplies will be used in the organisation's children's hospital, treatment and rehabilitation facilities and the children's village with its own school.

Vienna-Haiti transport route

All planning and transport coordination is being managed by the overseas container division of Express-Interfracht.

Rail transport from Vienna to Hamburg
Shipment from Hamburg to Caucedo (Dom. Rep. / Rio Haina Container Port)
Transit customs clearance & handling in Caucedo by a local logistics firm acting on our behalf
Some supplies sent on to distribution points run by local aid organisation in the Dominican Republic which organise further transport themselves
Other supplies sent on to Port au Prince, where a helicopter team will be waiting to distribute them