Qatar Red Crescent, a leader in international disaster relief and a member of the International Red Cross and Crescent Movement, and Aramex, the global logistics and transportation solutions provider, yesterday announced their partnership aimed at improving the speed of disaster response. The partnership, signed at the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) headquarters in Doha by QRCS Executive Director Saleh al-Mohannadi and Aramex Country Manager for Qatar Fadi Rayes, encourages skill-sharing, co-ordination and support between the two organisations and aims to strengthen QRCS’ international disaster response efforts by improving its logistics capacity. Throughout the year-long partnership, Aramex will offer training and advisory services to QRCS’ Logistics Department and support the effective transportation, storage and distribution of relief items to QRCS field operations in the Middle East and North Africa when disaster strikes. For its part, QRCS will provide Aramex staff with First Aid and Disaster Management Training, as well as facilitate its participation in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Logistics Training Courses. Emphasising the importance of this partnership, Saleh al-Mohannadi said: “Logistics is one of the main pillars of disaster relief. Mobilising our resources quickly and efficiently is one of QRCS’ top priorities. The faster we can get supplies and personnel on the ground, the faster we can help those in need.” Speaking about the importance of Aramex’s corporate outreach efforts, Fadi Rayes stated: “This strategic alliance between QRCS and Aramex is in recognition of our shared common goals, and stems from our mutual conviction that we can accomplish a lot more through sustained engagement.” He added: “Over the years, Aramex has built strong and successful relationships with many global and regional relief agencies and NGO’s, and our alliance with QRCS will expand our ability to utilise our existing resources to facilitate the transportation of aid and donations to disaster and war-stricken areas.” As a member of the International Movement of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, QRCS staff and volunteers are expected to be one of the first disaster relief organisations on the ground after disaster strikes. It currently works in 26 countries worldwide and has a permanent office in 10 disaster-affected countries. By launching this strategic collaboration with Aramex, QRCS hopes to continue its ability to respond rapidly to natural and man-made disasters that affect the region. Given its expertise as a global logistics and transportation solutions provider, and the importance it places on corporate activism, Aramex has utilised its logistical expertise and transportation network to facilitate the movement of aid and donations to disaster and war-stricken areas. Aramex’s global logistics network has been extensively involved in providing relief aid to many disaster-afflicted areas around the world over the years, including Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan, and its “Deliver Hope to Gaza” relief campaign in 2008 and 2009.