From crisis to clean water: Partners unite to bring relief to Kenya

Severe flooding in Kenya’s Tana River County in 2024 left entire communities vulnerable to waterborne diseases. Many families had no alternative to the contaminated river water for drinking, cooking, and daily needs. The health risks were immense, with outbreaks of diarrhea, cholera, and other waterborne illnesses posing a direct threat to the displaced populations.

The remote locations, impassible roads, and extreme weather conditions presented enormous logistical challenges that further complicated relief efforts.

Humanitarian relief experts know only too well that rapid responses save lives. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, three organizations with unique expertise in humanitarian relief efforts joined forces in an extraordinary cross-continental collaboration.

DHL GoHelp, Wine to Water (WTW), and the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kenya, with support from USA for IOM, mobilized to distribute 1,000 high-quality water filters to help affected families access safe drinking water.

Here’s how they did it:

• Production & packaging (USA): WTW, a global non-profit preserving life and dignity through the power of water, donated and packaged 1,000 hollow-fiber membrane water filters for shipment from the US.
• Initial coordination (USA): USA for IOM facilitated the connection between stakeholders, ensuring smooth coordination for transportation.
• Customs clearance (USA): DHL GoHelp worked with our global customs experts to manage clearance processes, ensuring that shipments met all requirements for import into Kenya.
• Global logistics: DHL GoHelp’s regional MEA team leveraged our global logistics network and expertise to facilitate the journey of the filters from the US to Nairobi, Kenya.
• Arrival & local handling (Kenya): Once in Nairobi, DHL’s GoHelp Disaster Response Team (DRT) and IOM Kenya received the filters and ensured smooth processing.
• Preparation for deployment (Kenya): DHL’s GoHelp DRT in Nairobi assembled 1,000 buckets and filters, preparing them for immediate use.
• Last-mile distribution (Tana River County): DHL Kenya and IOM Kenya coordinated delivery to distribution points in Garson, one of the most flood-affected areas in Tana River County.
• Community distribution & training (Garen): On-site, IOM Kenya distributed the filters to families in flood-affected communities, training them in proper use and maintenance to ensure longer-term benefits.

The entire operation was a volunteer effort, with WTW donating the filters, DHL providing pro-bono logistics expertise, and IOM Kenya providing the local life-saving assistance it is known for. It was also a great example of our ability to seamlessly collaborate across borders.

Not pictured below but a big part of this project: Greg Pellinkgton, Head of Global Customs at DHL Express, who helped facilitate the customs processes; Paul Dowling, Head of GoHelp and Customer Operations MENA at DHL Express, who provided response operations expertise; and George Wood, Head of GoHelp and Customer Operations SSA, along with several other dedicated DHL volunteers who all helped us make a bigger impact.

With 1,000 filters in use across Tana River County, some 25,000 people can now filter clean drinking water. The impact on community health and well-being has been profound. Families now have a lasting solution for filtering river water, reducing waterborne illnesses. The additional training to properly use and maintain the filters ensures that families will continue to benefit for months and even years to come. Appreciation and gratitude were written all over their faces.

Our cross-continental collaboration with Wine to Water and IOM demonstrates how strategic partnerships can address urgent crises and create sustainable change. By uniting logistics expertise with humanitarian aid, we provided life-saving support that continues to improve lives today – long after we delivered the filters.

The success of this response reinforces our commitment to humanitarian logistics. Join us in making a difference – share this story, support global relief efforts, and explore ways to contribute to clean water initiatives.

Learn more about Wine to Water, IOM, and DHL’s GoHelp program – and get involved where you can!