Agility has worked closely with the Kuwait Red Crescent on humanitarian relief initiatives. Starting mid-March, it moved 32 truckloads of personal belongings for individuals who had completed quarantine in designated areas of the country and were returning home. In addition, eight Agility refrigerated trucks were used to move food to the quarantine area of Khiran.
Agility provided free warehousing and local transportation services for two months to a GCC nation as part of its COVID-19 response. Over 5,500 pallet positions of PPE, pharmaceuticals and surgical equipment were stored at the company’s facility. In addition, Agility completed over 320 deliveries of these supplies to quarantine sites and hospitals. On average, Agility managed a throughput of 100 pallets in and out of our warehouse per day over 60 days.
When a GCC country detected its first COVID-19 cases, the government moved quickly to prioritize food security and bolster the supply chain. Agility’s logistics expertise was used to set up a strategic supply chain for the country, which imports the majority of its food, including key essentials such as rice, flour, oil, lentils, frozen meats, dairy products, tea and coffee.
Fifteen Agility logistics experts worked closely with the government to set up a control tower. Agility created digital tools, including an online tool for the government to use to receive bids and requests from external parties wanting to participate in the government plan, as well as a digital dashboard to monitor inventory levels. Agility also conducted a demand planning assessment, optimized the supply chain, and did a study on managing warehouse requirements to fulfill the food security needs. Agility also donated nearly 11,000 square meters of temperature-controlled warehousing to the government.
From September 2019 until February 2020, Australia battled the biggest bushfire crisis in its history. The bushfires had a devastating effect on Australia, burning through an estimated 13 million hectares of land, killed hundreds of millions of animals, and displaced thousands of people. Agility ran a global fundraising drive, raising money for the Australian Red Cross. Agility’s donation helped the Australian Red Cross support recovery through practical and emotional support services. Agility collected and matched donations from employees through the Australian Red Cross to support people in need of assistance.
Agility has been a long-time supporter of humanitarian logistics and food assistance programs for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Global Logistics Cluster during humanitarian crises around the world.
Since 2006, Agility has supported WFP in several ways:
· During humanitarian emergencies, including sudden onset, protracted and complex emergencies, Agility has provided the WFP and the Logistics Cluster with in-kind supply chain services, including warehousing/storage and transportation of humanitarian cargo, as well as in deploying trained supply chain experts that help the Cluster and WFP to plan and execute emergency supply chain operations on the ground.
· Agility also provides assistance for planning and preparedness projects, with local operations teams providing supply chain market and capacities information for geographies that are at risk for humanitarian crises, or that may be used as staging areas for humanitarian responses to crisis impacted areas.
· In addition to supply chain support and assistance, Agility has also frequently raised money for WFP through employee donation campaigns for food assistance to disaster impacted people.
Since 2006, Agility has helped WFP and the Logistics Cluster provide some sort of humanitarian assistance around the world to well over a million people.
Since 2022, Agility has supported the Children of War Foundation (COWF) and its humanitarian and refugee programs in Europe and the Middle East:
- Ukraine: Agility’s assistance allowed COWF to provide life support and medical assistance to infants, children and families displaced by the conflict.
- Jordan:
- With Agility’s assistance, COWF was also able to provide free health screening, examinations and surgeries to refugee children in Jordan. Agility supports COWF’s education program, Abwaab Remote Education Program, which provides remote learning opportunities for students, regardless of age, gender or citizenship status. The program provides interactive online classes, comprehensive study materials, placement testing, mentorship and personalized support, to allow students to complete high school-level education.
- Agility also supports COWF’s “School of Dreams” program, which offers education and support services to families residing on the Jordanian/Syrian border, with some students walking miles to attend. The school targets primary-aged students, with a dedicated on-site teacher. COWF provides on-site weekly visits and the financial support needed to maintain the facility and provide supplies. With Agility’s support, COWF purchased tablets/Chromebooks for students to use, and provided internet access, allowing students to participate in exercises that expose them to the outside world. This exposure serves as a mechanism for inspiration and knowledge that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
Since 2006, our contributions and support of COWF have directly benefitted 2,700 people in Jordan and Ukraine.
Five Years Supporting UNHCR from Agility on Vimeo.
With Agility’s support over the past five years, UNHCR was able to help people in Malaysia, Jordan, Lebanon and Uganda with basic needs, from livelihoods, education to health interventions.
Logistics company donations will fund refugee outreach center and job matching
KUWAIT – July 7, 2021 – Agility, a leading global logistics provider, has renewed its partnership agreement with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to help fund programmes supporting vulnerable refugees in Jordan and Malaysia.
The partnership renewal will support UNHCR’s outreach center activities in Johor, Malaysia, where refugees receive shelter, healthcare, education, skills training and other critical services. The center, which has been supported by Agility since 2020, will assist an estimated 12,000+ refugees, most of whom are Rohingya. Over 50 Malaysian community organizations operate out of the center, which Agility helps fund. The centers provide health, education and other services, in addition to registering and documenting refugees and teaching community leadership and other skills.
In Jordan, Agility’s donation will help UNHCR’s Job Matching programme, linking 180+ refugees with potential employers. Through this programme, UNHCR arranges interviews and places refugees in agriculture and construction jobs or other livelihood opportunities. UNHCR also provides mentorship and career advisory sessions as part of the programme.
Henadi Al-Saleh, Agility Chairperson, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has made an already challenging refugee situation worse. UNHCR has been active throughout the pandemic, working to help millions of refugees around the world, and we’re proud to help populations that are in need in Malaysia and Jordan. Agility has been a long-time supporter of UNHCR’s activities and programmes.”
Dr. Samer Haddadin, Representative of UNHCR Kuwait Office, said, “What was difficult before the pandemic has now worsened; refugees struggle to find steady employment, have limited access to health services and lack access to education. With Agility’s generous support, we will be able to help refugees in Jordan find jobs to support their families, and continue outreach activities in Malaysia, and strengthen community-based protection works by expanding community outreach services in carrying out extensive works on community development, comprehensive case management and strengthening peaceful co-existence.”
Globally, Agility helps those affected by natural disasters and other crises by providing supply chain expertise and resources in collaboration with commercial partners, relief groups and international institutions. In the past, Agility has supported UNHCR’s work in the Middle East, by assisting more than 490 Syrian refugee families (close to 2,500 individuals) through fundraising and donations. To find out more about Agility’s sustainability activities, visit http://sustainability.agility.com.
About Agility
Agility is a global logistics company with $5.3 billion in annual revenue and 26,000+ employees in more than 100 countries. It is one of the world’s top freight forwarding and contract logistics providers, and a leader and investor in technology to enhance supply chain efficiency. Agility is a pioneer in emerging markets and one of the largest private owners and developers of warehousing and light industrial parks in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Agility’s subsidiary companies offer fuel logistics, airport services, commercial real estate and facilities management, customs digitization, and remote infrastructure services.
For more information about Agility, visit Agility.com Twitter: twitter.com/agility LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agility YouTube: youtube.com/user/agilitycorp
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
For more information: Raefah Makki Head of Campaign and Advocacy Team, UNHCR [email protected]