When a major disaster strikes, one of the most critical resources to rescue and recovery is fuel. But fuel supply and access are often cut off during such life-threatening emergencies. Fuel Relief Fund (FRF) fills the crucial gap in the first phase of a disaster—fueling first responders and providing power to hospitals and emergency services to save lives and alleviate human suffering.

 

FRF is the only non-governmental organization (NGO) that exists for the purposes of procuring and delivering fuel to vulnerable communities throughout the world.

 

Earlier this month, at the request of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), the Founder and CEO of FRF, Ted Honcharik, traveled to Ghana. The African country is home to one of the United Nations’ six strategically placed Humanitarian Response Depots designed to procure, store and transport emergency supplies.

 

It’s the second time Honcharik and FRF have been asked by the WFP to provide expertise on what it takes to transport, store and secure fuel around the globe—having done similar work on a “lessons learned” mission on the Yemen civil war.

 

Ted Honcharik explained, “We gave technical assistance on fuel inventory control, security, management and fuel automation. They saw that our team and board have the experience and skills, so they reached out to FRF. In Ghana, we hope to make their jobs a bit easier by improving internal fuel supply and control.”

 

A stable and safe fuel supply is life-critical after a disaster, because it’s needed to power search and rescue to locate victims and transport them to life-saving care; transport food, medicine and pump and deliver clean water; provide light wherever and whenever it is needed; and provide emergency power supply to relief camps and hospitals where critical operations can be performed.

 

Through coordination between the FRF and the United Nations, improved fuel arrangements during times of disaster around the world can result in a more efficient and effective humanitarian response that will save lives in communities hurt by a natural disaster.