Iberia, a strategic ally of UNICEF Spain for more than a decade, has made three new shipments of UNICEF humanitarian supplies, with the support of IAG Cargo as logistics facilitator.
In these latest shipments, more than six tons of healthcare materials and medicines have been transported to improve the health and well-being of children and their families, in anticipation of possible future humanitarian emergencies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Most of these materials have been destined and prepositioned in the UNICEF operations centre in Panama, the hub from which the organisation distributes humanitarian materials to the entire region. In this way, in the event of new emergency situations, such as natural disasters, UNICEF will respond in record time, reaching the boys and girls who need it most.
For more than two years, the alliance between Iberia and UNICEF Spain has taken advantage of the airline's airplane’s holds to transport humanitarian aid. This collaboration highlights the different ways of involving the business sector with UNICEF to support the most vulnerable, in this case with Iberia putting its knowledge and logistical experience at the service of children.
“It is inspiring to see how our alliance with Iberia transforms people’s lives every day, also through the airline's own activity and work teams. In humanitarian emergencies, a rapid response is essential, and that is why these shipments of supplies to operations centres are so important. Thus, if an emergency situation occurs, having this help already available allows us to be prepared to support the survival of children in an agile and effective way. It is an example of how at UNICEF we work with the private sector to save, protect, and encourage all children,” highlighted Marta López Fesser, the Head of Corporate Alliances at UNICEF Spain.
“This alliance with UNICEF is part of Iberia's social impact strategy and responds to our purpose, which is 'to generate prosperity by connecting people with the world.' At Iberia we believe that there is a new way of flying with purpose by collaborating with organisations like UNICEF, which help improve society; in this case, it is about the lives of children. Thanks to these humanitarian supplies that we carry in our holds we achieve what is known as prepositioning, which is the most efficient and sustainable way to respond to an emergency,” said Teresa Parejo, the Director of Sustainability at Iberia.
To date, through these shipments, Iberia has supported UNICEF, among others, in the humanitarian emergency in Haiti and the drought emergency in the Argentine region of Salta.
“At IAG Cargo we are very proud to be able to continue supporting the work of UNICEF by transporting essential items in times of crisis for those who need them most. Our teams of specialists are trained to transport life-saving medicines, aid, and food around the world, guaranteeing their arrival at the destination quickly and safely,” said Idoia Martínez, Commercial Manager of IAG Cargo for Spain and Portugal.
More Than 1.3 Million Boys and Girls Have Been Vaccinated
In addition to sending humanitarian material, since the beginning of the alliance between UNICEF Spain and Iberia in 2013, the airline has supported the organisation's child immunisation programmes, managing to ensure the routine vaccination of more than 1.3 million children thanks to the funds raised among its passengers and employees.
Over the past ten years, the airline has supported UNICEF in the national child immunisation programs of Afghanistan, Angola, Chad, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Yemen.
Iberia was the first airline globally to activate the micro-donation system to support UNICEF when purchasing plane tickets online. In this way, Iberia customers who buy a ticket through iberia.com have the possibility of supporting UNICEF's work on childhood vaccination of vulnerable boys and girls.
Donations (between €3 and €20) can be made through the ticket reservation and payment platform developed by Amadeus within the framework of its global alliance with UNICEF.
