TNT response as communicated to employees (a little long winded):
Dear colleagues,
Here is the fourth update on the tsunami disaster and our efforts to help.
1. TNT support for disaster relief efforts in Asia
In the wake of the devastating tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, TNT has made its resources available to help the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian agencies in their emergency relief operations.
TNT has donated EUR 225,000 of the funds raised by employees in the Asia Pacific region in 2004 to WFP's response to the Asian quake. Furthermore, we have made EUR 1.5 million available for in-kind support to WFP's efforts. This second amount falls under the Emergency Response initiative of the Moving the World programme and will be used to cover the costs of transport, warehousing and any TNT personnel deployed in direct support of WFP in the region.
To date we have received approximately EUR 450,000 in service/support requests from WFP and other humanitarian agencies active in the region.
2. Update on TNT actions in the region
India
TNT is supporting WFP and the national disaster committee to transport High Energy Biscuits from the hub in Calcutta to the crisis centre in Chennai. This is being done in cooperation with Wilson Logistics. High Energy Biscuits form a crucial part of WFP's initial response to humanitarian crises. They provide sustenance to disaster victims until food aid lines can be established.
In Chennai TNT is providing warehousing facilities and is supporting WFP with the transport of the biscuits to the distribution points in the four affected areas: Pondy, Cuddalore, Kanayakumari and Nagapattinam.
TNT is also providing procurement support for tarpaulins and utensil kits which are urgently needed for those who have lost their homes.
Indonesia
In cooperation with WFP, TNT organized a first convoy of trucks from Medan to Banda Aceh on 2 January. The trucks carried rice, biscuits, diesel fuel and water. A second convoy of 17 trucks is scheduled to depart on 3 January carrying 245 tons of rice and 60 tons of water.
TNT has chartered two MI8 helicopters. The first helicopter is due to be operational by 4 January for assessment and material deliveries in western Sumatra with the other following later this month.
The Jakarta operations centre, which is being set-up and run with the help of TNT is 50% operational as of 2 January.
As of 3 January, at the request of WFP, TNT will be assisting in setting up an operational control room close to the airport in Medan.
Starting 4 January,TNT will arrange convoys for UNHCR to move 400 tons of equipment from Medan to Banda Aceh.
TNT has proposed chartering coastal vessels to support distribution in the affected area and ease the supply line from Medan to Banda Aceh and has sourced a vessel.
TNT has offered WFP office and storage space at its Medan location, close to Banda Aceh.
TNT has made warehouse space available at Jakarta Airport.
TNT's Adhi Rachman (previously worked with WFP in Sudan as part of the Specialist Support Program.) from the Jakarta office has relocated to Medan to manage this process. Once Adhi has everything in place we will dispatch personnel from Jakarta to manage the fleet, based in UN camp in Aceh.
TNT is providing WFP with warehousing facilities in Medan, WFP's staging centre in the area.
TNT is assisting with the clearing and handling of a UN ship arriving Medan with a cargo of rice.
TNT ‘s Indonesia Operations manager and the Regional Managing Director will be in Medan and Banda Aceh on 4 January to discus further operational planning.
Thailand
TNT is providing linehaul transport from Bangkok to Phuket and has seconded warehouse staff to local WFP operations.
Sri Lanka
TNT has made 10 trucks available for inland distribution to affected locations in Trincomalee and Ampara.
TNT is providing support to the Airport Emergency Team at Colombo airport as well as support for the distribution of material elsewhere in the country. The Airport Emergency Team is part of an industry initiative organized through the World Economic Forum and has already offloaded 11 cargo planes full of aid, which organizations such as the Red Cross have picked up for further distribution.
Cambodia
TNT is providing support to transport material from the WFP Emergency Reserve in Pnom Penh.
TNT has made available staff members to work out of the Asia Emergency Reserve Facility if required.
Malaysia.
TNT operations are ready to support a regional HUB in Kuala Lumpur for strategic airlifts in tre area.
Dubai
In conjunction with local relief and charity organizations TNT has set up drop-off points for relief donations. Well over 50% of the UAE population is of an Indian or Sri Lankan origin.
Five TNT staff are on standby for the Airport Emergency in Colombo.
Freight has been made available to move material to the region.
3. Other TNT logistics support
Air Operations
In cooperation with WFP Aviation section we are forming ramp management teams, sourced from persons in the region and Ramp managers from other TNT BU's. The ramp teams will be used to support the loading and unloading of emergency relief flights coming and going within the region.
In follow up to the Airport Emergency Team currently in Sri Lanka, a new industry initiative between TNT and DHL has been launched to support WFP air operations inThailand, Malaysia and, particularly, Indonesia. These activites are under the supervision of WFP Aviation.
4. Fundraising and non-cash donations
Colleagues from around the world have been asking how they can make a contribution to relief efforts in Asia. The Moving the World programme office has set up a special transfer policy for TPG fundraising activities for the tsunami disaster.
For the month of January you can transfer all funds raised for the disaster to the following bank account:
ACCOUNT: 100910009
IBAN-NUMMER: NL28 RABO 0100 9100 09
NAME: MOVING THE WORLD
ADRES: POSTBUS 13000
1100 KG AMSTERDAM Z-O
NEDERLAND
BANKADRES: RABOBANK
postbus 17100
3500 HG UTRECHT
NEDERLAND
SWIFT ADRES: RABONL2U
Please indicate clearly that the funds you are transferring are for the Tsunami disaster and please state the contributing Business Unit. In February we will report on the total amount of funds raised for the crisis. From 10 January a daily update of the received fund-raise will be available via this update. Do not keep funds on local bank accounts since we would like to transfer cash to WFP asap and these amounts are not taken into account reporting the total funds-raised for the disaster.
Please note that non-crisis related fund-raising events (i.e. School Feeding Support) should continue to transfer funds through the established protocol.
Important: as reported yesterday, we are not able to handle non-cash donations, such as clothing and food items. Please inform your staff that the transport and distribution of such items cannot be coordinated by TNT. If such donations have already been made, please instruct your colleagues to make arrangements with local NGOs.
5. Communication
The contents of this message are to be used for internal and external communication purposes and should be seen as the official source of information on TNT's response to the Tsunami disaster.
6. External media coverage.
TNT's efforts were mentioned in a recent press release by UNHCR.
7. More information
For more information on TNT's response to the tsunami disaster please contact the Moving the World programme office at this email address or at +31 20 500 6740.