Qatar Airways Cargo has shipped 5.3 tonnes of aid from the UK to Nepal for earthquake victims, with the help of UK actress and philanthropist, Joanna Lumley.
The aid was collected through UK based Gurkha charities Lumley supports and included baby milk, high protein rice meals, toys, saucepans, sleeping bags, blankets and duvets. It was sent to Kathmandu via Qatar Airways’ hub at Hamad International Airport. The Gurkha’s are Nepalese soldiers who fight in the UK armed forces.
Qatar Airways chief cargo officer, Ulrich Ogiermann says: “We were delighted when Mrs Lumley made contact with us to ask for assistance with the transportation of aid collected by the Gurkha charities she supports in the UK to Kathmandu.”
Since the earthquake struck Nepal in April, Qatar Airways has operated 22 aid flights to Kathmandu, with the first one landing at the city’s Tribhuvan International Airport within 24 hours of the disaster.
Qatar Airways was one of a number of companies involved in the aid effort. Among others, Deutsche Post DHL sent its disaster response team to Kathmandu within 48 hours of the earthquake striking. UPS committed $500,000 towards aid and response efforts through the UPS Foundation. Volga-Dnepr Airlines transported 45 tonnes of cargo on behalf of the Norwegian Red Cross in May using an Ilyushin IL-76-TD-90VD freighter. Charter brokers including Air Charter Service and Air Partner operated a number of aid flights to Nepal and had teams in the country to coordinate efforts.
