Future Requirements and Needs for Humanitarian Air Services

Natural disasters, epidemics and humanitarian crisis around the world arise  suddenly and unexpectedly. Since the year 2000 we have seen more than 120 major earthquakes resulting in about 800.000 casualties, leading to the question: do we need a provider for humanitarian air services in Europe?

After natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, initial support and humanitarian aid to people in dire need is time-critical in order to save lives. Air transport - promising a global fast response - becomes crucial to such humanitarian missions.

Despite all efforts of the different relief organisations we recognize major deficits in logistics. On the one hand, the different public and non-public organizations are not able to acquire the needed air transport assets in time on the private market; on the other hand civil charter jets are not able to transport the aid directly to the catastrophic regions, losing too much valuable time.

Against the background of today´s globalisation and the increasing national acceptance of political global responsibility the panel shall discuss the future requirements and needs for humanitarian air services, being capable to react globally and to support locally. In this context the question shall be raised, to what extent the humanitarian aid can be improved by combining adequate organisational structures, appropriate air transport means, simplified practice and cooperation of the different organisations involved. A structural pooling of national resources for crisis response and a European provider for humanitarian air services can lead the way towards a faster and more sustainable humanitarian aid in the future.

Chair

Darren Lake, Publishing Director Shephard Media

Speakers

• Albrecht Broemme, President Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk
• Dr. Tim Stuchtey, Director Brandenburgisches Institut für Gesellschaft und Sicherheit
• Birgitte Olsen, Head, Global Logistics Service, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

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