ATLANTA, March 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The UPS
Foundation, the philanthropic arm of UPS (NYSE: UPS), today
announced the launch of the UPS Relief Link program to help improve
the lives of displaced refugees around the world through optimized
distribution and tracking of critical supplies in crisis-affected
areas.
UPS Relief Link combines the use of a hand-held scanning tool
and durable identification cards to deliver superior efficiency by
eliminating paper records in the refugee camps. Using this
solution, UNHCR and UPS have been able to speed distribution time,
provide verifiable receipt of vital provisions ensuring equitable
distribution, and minimize theft through their pilot program in
Ethiopia (Dollo Ado) and Mauritania (Mbera).
Introduced at the 2015 Dubai International Humanitarian Aid
& Development Conference (DIHAD), the program was developed in
collaboration with UNHCR, which delivers food and other relief
items to millions of refugees worldwide.
Also at DIHAD, UPS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with Dubai's International Humanitarian City (IHC). The agreement
allows the IHC access to UPS's global capabilities including
developing solutions to logistics challenges UN agencies and NGOs
face distributing aid in the region.
The UPS Relief Link program was developed leveraging UPS's
proprietary Trackpad® technology, which was first
implemented to assist The Salvation Army with relief efforts
following the devastating earthquakes in Haiti in 2010. The
technology provides full visibility into the supply chain journey
of urgently-needed items through the critical "last mile" of
delivery to refugees, where human tracking and data input errors
often lead to inconsistent delivery and distribution.
"We are honored to partner with UNHCR and apply our
expertise in logistics and supply chain management to help solve
the global challenge of ensuring accurate and equitable
distribution of nutrition and other life-saving supplies to
refugees," said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation.
"Humanitarian relief and resilience is a core focus of The UPS
Foundation, and we look forward to working with UNHCR to extend the
UPS Relief Link program to additional camps in the near
future."
Compatible with handheld barcode readers as well as Android
tablets, UPS Relief Link has driven improved operational efficiency
for UNHCR. At the Mbera camp alone, UNHCR was able to streamline
technology needs from 25 laptops to 5 tracking devices while
eliminating concerns around shortened battery life. Additionally,
UPS Relief Link can now produce previously unavailable automated
inventory and data reports within seconds.
For more information about the UPS Relief Link program, please
view our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK47G3LCGao.
For more on other The UPS Foundation initiatives, please visit
UPS.com/Foundation.
About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a
broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages
and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the
deployment of 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 is responsible for facilitating
community involvement to local, national, and global communities.
In 2014, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more
than $104 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS
Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To get
UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
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A photo accompanying this release is available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=31690
CONTACT: Kristen Petrella
404-828-4182
kpetrella@ups.com
