When disaster strikes, hours and minutes matter, at least when it comes to humanitarian aid groups. But in order to coordinate a rapid response, these agencies first need to know what relief supplies are available in the area and where to store those supplies so they can arrange their delivery. This information was not always easy to obtain.
This need for greater transparency in this regard prompted the German humanitarian organization Welthungerhilfe (WHH) to launch a collaborative effort known as the Emergency Supplies Pre-Stocking Strategy (ESUPS) in 2016. At the heart of the project, which has been running since 2019, is a digital platform that enables logistics experts around the world to record and analyze stockpiles of supplies. Various relief and provide precise recommendations on which items to keep and in what quantities locations.
These achievements have now earned the group a major industry award. At a ceremony in December, WHH will receive the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics. The medal, which has been awarded by the Logistics Hall of Fame since 2023, is sponsored by the US-based Fritz Institute, a non-profit organization focused on innovation and best practices in disaster relief.
“Influence [of ESUPS] “It is tangible,” the award committee said in a statement announcing WHH’s selection. “ESUPS ensures greater visibility and easier cooperation between governments, humanitarian organizations and UN agencies to shorten response times, make operations more efficient, and reduce storage and disposal costs of surplus goods.”
Founded in 1962, Welthungerhilfe is a non-governmental organization based in Bonn, committed to the fight against hunger and poverty. The group, whose motto is “Zero Hunger,” has 3,300 employees around the world who have supported 12,777 projects abroad to date.
