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ATLANTA, GA, April 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced relief efforts are underway to bring critical supplies and food to victims of the recent cyclone that slammed into East Africa and the tornadoes and floods that devastated parts of the U.S. Midwest. Collaborations between The UPS Foundation and leading humanitarian relief organizations are bringing urgent relief by land, sea and air.
The number of people impacted by Cyclone Idai has climbed to more than 3 million people, with 500 people reported dead, a number that’s been projected to increase. As flood waters slowly recede, UPS and The UPS Foundation continue to engage in close collaborations with the UN Logistics Cluster and relief organizations including The World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR, CARE and MedShare.
“The situation is heartwrenching, and the need for help is urgent” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and UPS chief diversity and inclusion officer. “The collaboration with our United Nations and disaster relief network partners is allowing us to address immediate needs for food and shelter, and to bring supplies that will be critical during the recovery period.”
The multi-modal relief strategy includes:
In collaboration with the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), UPS has also transported 15 pallets of cholera and typhoid treatment kits which will help prevent the outbreak of water-borne illnesses in Mozambique, an increasing threat as waters recede.
Recent flooding in the U.S. is now threatening the safety of more than a million private water wells. The National Ground Water Association estimates that people living more than 300 counties across 10 states are at risk of groundwater contamination from flood waters. The states include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The UPS Foundation continues to collaborate with relief partners across the U.S.:
The relief efforts and collaborations in the U.S. and Africa are just the latest in UPS’s history of supporting communities in times of need. In 2018, UPS and The UPS Foundation responded to 29 major world disasters and invested $16 million in funding, in-kind, and technical support for community safety initiatives that included disaster preparedness and urgent response, recovery and public health system strengthening. Relief spanned 71 countries across continents around the globe.
About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2018, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $114.9 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation and @UPS_Foundation on Twitter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.
June Holder 404-828-4805 jholder@ups.com