DHL GoHelp Celebrates Two Decades of Transforming Humanitarian Logistics and Molding Its Future Under Government Leadership
DHL Group's GoHelp: A Decade-Long Commitment to Humanitarian Aid
In the realm of humanitarian logistics, DHL Group's GoHelp program has established itself as a leading force, responding to 77 global disasters over the past 20 years. Founded in 2005, GoHelp was created with the mission to elevate humanitarian logistics to commercial standards, facilitating swift and effective disaster response [1].
At the heart of GoHelp's operations are the Disaster Response Teams (DRT) and the Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) initiative. The DRT provides crucial logistics expertise at airports and disaster sites, helping partners like the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) manage aid movements efficiently during emergencies [1][2]. The GARD program, on the other hand, has prepared 60 airports in 30 countries for emergencies, enhancing disaster readiness [1].
GoHelp's impact is further amplified by its extensive network of over 1,000 trained volunteers, ready to deploy within 72 hours, across four regional units in Singapore, Panama, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Bonn [1][4]. This rapid response capability has been instrumental in handling over 70,000 tons of life-saving aid worldwide [1].
In 2025, DHL launched the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics, aimed at enhancing local humanitarian logistics capacities through training and digital learning modules. This initiative further strengthens disaster preparedness and response at the community level [1][5].
Guided by DHL's corporate purpose of "connecting people, improving lives," GoHelp focuses on delivering logistics solutions in the most effective and sustainable way during crises [1]. This commitment to sustainability is evident in GoHelp's operations, which have significantly shaped humanitarian logistics by integrating commercial logistics expertise with emergency humanitarian responses, improving the coordination and speed of relief aid delivery globally over two decades [1][3].
During the COVID-19 pandemic, GoHelp played a crucial role in delivering 2 billion vaccine doses to over 175 countries [6]. In Costa Rica, GoHelp provided early support in 2020 by training local personnel, assisting in the setup of a distribution center for COVID-19 relief supplies, and ensuring the efficient distribution of critical aid [7].
GoHelp's partnerships with leading humanitarian organizations such as UN OCHA, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), among others, have been instrumental in its success [1]. The program's reliability, speed, and innovation in humanitarian logistics have earned it a reputation as the longest-standing private sector partner of UN OCHA [8].
In conclusion, DHL Group's GoHelp program has proven to be a vital asset in the global humanitarian response landscape. With its commitment to rapid response, capacity building, and sustainability, GoHelp continues to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by disasters.
References: [1] DHL Group. (n.d.). GoHelp. Retrieved from https://www.dhl.com/en/about_us/responsibility/humanitarian_logistics/gohelp.html [2] UN OCHA. (n.d.). DHL. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/partners/dhl [3] DHL Group. (2021). DHL delivers 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines. Retrieved from https://www.dhl.com/en/press/news/dhl_delivers_2_billion_covid_19_vaccines.html [4] DHL Group. (2021). DHL GoHelp marks 15 years of humanitarian logistics. Retrieved from https://www.dhl.com/en/press/news/dhl_gohelp_marks_15_years_of_humanitarian_logistics.html [5] DHL Group. (2021). DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics. Retrieved from https://www.dhl.com/en/about_us/responsibility/humanitarian_logistics/dhl_academy_of_humanitarian_logistics.html [6] DHL Group. (2021). DHL delivers 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines. Retrieved from https://www.dhl.com/en/press/news/dhl_delivers_2_billion_covid_19_vaccines.html [7] DHL Group. (2021). DHL supports Costa Rica in COVID-19 response. Retrieved from https://www.dhl.com/en/press/news/dhl_supports_costa_rica_in_covid_19_response.html [8] DHL Group. (n.d.). GoHelp. Retrieved from https://www.dhl.com/en/about_us/responsibility/humanitarian_logistics/gohelp.html
