MIS ships humanitarian aid from Russia to Palestine
Maxx Intermodal Systems and its daughter company, SNG Trans, have been awarded a contract by Emercom, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, to ship almost 9,850 metric tons of wheat flour as humanitarian aid from Russia to Palestine. The shipments are part of the humanitarian food aid programme between Emercom and the United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP). They will be delivered to meet Palestinian needs on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
“The shipments run from November this year till February 2010,” says Christoph Dullaert, Managing Director of Maxx Intermodal Systems in St. Petersburg. “In total, we will be shipping 545x20’ containers via the port of St.Petersburg to Ashdod over the next few months.”
Maxx Intermodal Systems has been distributing food commodities under various programme activities all over the world. In Russia itself, the company began to cooperate with WFP in 2001 when humanitarian aid was shipped from the US, Europe and Turkey to Ingushetia. Two years later, in 2003, Russia emerged as a WFP donor state and the company became involved in export shipments of humanitarian aid from Russia to Central Asia and Africa.
In cooperation with Emercom, the company sent consignments of wheat flour and other commodities to Somalia (2007), Ethiopia (2008), Kenya (2008), Guinea (2009) and Sudan (2009). A further delivery of 3,400 metric tons of split peas from the Ukraine to Sudan, Morocco, Liberia, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Kenya is expected for later this year.
“With our expertise and knowledge we are ready to assist WFP in delivering food supplies to the most vulnerable people, wherever and whenever they need it,” explains Mr Dullaert. “This is a vital part of our activities as a logistics service provider. By offering our support, we can help those people in the world who struggle to feed themselves and their families.”
The World Food Programme is the Food and Aid Branch of the United Nations. It is considered to be the largest humanitarian organization in the world. In 2008, the organization reportedly reached around 102 million people with food assistance in 78 countries. So far this year, Russia has contributed US$24,300,000 to the WFP activities.
Maxx Intermodal Systems is an established and well-known freight forwarding company. As part of the Rhenus Group, it employs more than 100 people in different parts of Europe and Asia. The company combines all modes of transport (road, rail and sea) and is committed to offering optimal logistical solutions.