DHL VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY WAR IN UKRAINE

Employees of all  Polish divisions of  Deutsche Post DHL Group are actively engaged in different types of humanitarian aid efforts to help people affected by the war in Ukraine. Since the first day, colleagues from DHL have provided support in various areas, starting from donations to Polish Humanitarian Action, collecting most essential items, organizing a fundraising campaign in the company, preparing parcels with goods, providing comprehensive logistics support for the donated goods to local and central relief organizations, including the PAH, UNICEF, SOS Children's Villages  and the Happy Kids Foundation.

– The way the people of Poland have engaged in helping those affected by the war in Ukraine has earned universal admiration. This is also true for our DHL colleagues who, for more than a month now, have been helping refugees and those left behind in Ukraine with their hard work and tireless support.  As a company, we leverage our logistics capabilities to support various aid campaigns while also supporting our employees in their individual humanitarian initiatives.  Making a difference in the midst of a crisis, makes us very proud and highlights our commitment to our purpose Connecting People and Improving Lives  – says Andries Retief, CEO, Central and Eastern Europe DHL Supply Chain.  - The immediate reaction of our employees, their dedication and willingness to help deserve the highest words of appreciation – says Monika Duda, Managing Director DHL Supply Chain in Poland.

DHL conducts collections for charity in its facilities across Poland. The gifted items are packed and sent directly to local aid organizations, meeting the most urgent needs in a given destination. The companies of the Group establish cooperation with local authorities to better coordinate the activities. Since 24 February, the Polish employees of DHL handled over 60, 000 parcels with the most necessary items which were transported to the Polish Humanitarian Action for distribution. In cooperation with PAH, DHL can process over 500 parcels a day on average with items that will help the refugees.

– DHL helps us provide aid in a thoughtful and fully professional manner. This is what is most important now. In addition, the huge financial support we received from DHL early on in the crisis enabled us to respond immediately and organize help. – says Rafał Grzelewski, Spokesperson at Polish Humanitarian Action.

As a company, we help using what we are best at - we have already transported several dozen tons of the most necessary products such as clothes, medicines, personal hygiene products and food. Our transports reach hospitals, borders and aid centers. In each of our branches, a special Task Force has been established, in which employees engage in local initiatives and respond to emerging needs. Psychological, transport and financial support are only a small part of our activities. We try to look at support in the long term and in addition to providing what is needed here and now, we also want to support by offering stable employment to people who have entered our country and are currently looking for a job – says Agnieszka Świerszcz, Managing Director DHL Parcel Poland

The Polish divisions of DHL also support the Happy Kids Foundation from Łódź which collects essential cosmetics and hygiene products. In addition, the Foundation, which has been involved in the evacuation of children from Ukrainian orphanages and foster care homes from the start of the war, will receive financial support from the global logistics company.

– Our company's mission is to connect people improving their lives, and it is in this spirit that our employees and our company have contributed their help and knowledge over the past few weeks. In all this common reflex of willingness to help and commitment, we care not to help blindly. That is why, we at DHL have made available over a thousand positions for storing pallets of aid.  - says –Tomasz Buraś, Managing director DHL Express in Poland.

In order to help our neighbors affected by the war, DHL employees volunteered to prepare more than 1000 cardboard boxes containing basic necessities bought or collected from donors, including medicines, blankets and sleeping bags, thermal blankets, food, cosmetics, as well as power banks, torches and mobile phones. Those items were sent directly to Ukraine. Another 1000 cardboard boxes full of cosmetics, medicines, cleaning supplies and toys for children will be prepared and donated by the Polish branches of the different DHL divisions to our Ukrainian staff. In addition, they will be able to use counselling offered by psychologists and therapists employed by the company.

A fundraising campaign was organized among colleagues in our organization. The money will be used to help employees through the We Help Each Other program.

A few days after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, our DHL Disaster Response Team (DRT) supported the Katowice-Pyrzowice airport in order to establish logistic processes to handle the n- and outbound of aid and relief goods. In cooperation with all DHL divisions in Poland, we ensure the efficient coordination of the handling of air shipments with humanitarian aid, including their customs clearance, storage and further distribution. I am also touched that so many of our employees privately support refugees by offering them accommodation in their apartments and transport from the border to their destinations in Poland – says Krzysztof Bielica, Managing Director DHL Global Forwarding Poland.

DHL demonstrates also solidarity with its affected business partners, such as employment agencies which brought the families of their Ukrainian staff to Poland.