SDV Philippines rescue teams are still hard at work weeks after Supertyphoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) made landfall in central Philippines and caused widespread destruction.
The company supports the typhoon relief efforts via two organizations: HK Logistics, a company accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the UN World Food Program. A team comprising six SDV experts in crisis management support all logistics activities and onsite staff in Tacloban and Cebu.
HK Logistics’ first priority was to set up a field hospital with a surgery room in Tacloban, aiming to welcome 60 doctors and nurses and accommodate 250 victims a day. Staff and equipment are transferred by planes doing rotations from Cebu to Tacloban, as well as by an aircraft bringing in supplies directly from Australia.
The first surgery was successfully conducted five days after the typhoon slammed the Philippines.
To assist field hospital operations, the SDV team provides ground-handling services to unload and overhaul planes arriving in the Philippines, aside from customs clearance. In addition, ground transportation of air crew and staff are conducted 24/7 to ensure flawless operations.
Fifteen trucks and one barge are in rotation from Cebu to Tacloban to transport water, fuel, food, medicines and all type of equipment for the field hospital.
Meanwhile, SDV has engaged 30 trucks to support the World Food Program to pick up food from various ports and airports and distribute them to Tacloban and surrounding areas.
“We also provide logistical support onsite, in Tacloban, the most affected area, by re-filling water and fuel tanks to empower the communities and facilitate the relief,” said Basile Ricard, General Manager, Operations at SDV Philippines.
