Giving thanks for Airlink’s help during natural disasters

Today and tomorrow, Air Cargo World will be closed in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. But while many U.S. companies have shut down to let their teams celebrate with their families, one aviation-related organization is still working tirelessly to provide aid and comfort to victims of natural disasters across the globe.

During this start of this holiday season, consider contributing to Airlink, a rapid-response humanitarian relief organization that links airlines with pre-qualified nonprofits. Airlink’s network includes more than 40 commercial and charter airlines and 80 international nonprofits.

Just last week, Airlink arranged a 4 ton shipment of medicines and supplies to treat survivors of Super Typhoon Yutu in the Northern Mariana Islands. Yutu struck the U.S. commonwealth on Oct. 25, as the strongest storm to impact the region since 1968, before moving on to do more damage in the Philippines. The heaviest damage from winds and flooding in the Northern Marianas was concentrated on the islands of Saipan and Tinian.

Working with partner with United Airlines and freight forwarder Flexport.org, Airlink coordinated the free Yutu shipment of emergency supplies for Americares. Valued at more than US$1.8 million, the cargo included antibiotics, wound-care supplies, tetanus vaccines and other essential health and hygiene products. Airlink partner American Logistics Aid Network also donated trucking services to carry the supplies from the airport to community hospitals.

Airlink’s network has also brought relief to survivors of record-breaking monsoon floods in the Indian state of Kerala that resulted in 483 deaths and the displacement of more than 1 million people in mid-August. Working with Flexport and cargo carrier Emirates SkyCargo, the network moved nearly 2 tons of gauze, gloves and other surgical supplies to Kerala on behalf of MedShare, which used the materials to treat 4,000 patients.

Since its inception in 2010, Airlink and its airline partners have responded in the aftermath of events such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti; the tsunamis in Japan and Sulawesi; Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013; the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis in West Africa; and hurricanes Sandy, Florence and Michael in the continental U.S.

To date, Airlink and its airline partners have sent more than 4,000 emergency personnel and over 3 million pounds of cargo in support of a wide range of humanitarian initiatives. Airlink estimates the value of these movements at about $8 million.

For more information about making donations, please visit Airlink.org. Have a happy, warm and peaceful Thanksgiving, from everyone at Air Cargo World.