Three Finnish logistics experts to help rescue effort in aftermath of US hurricane
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The United States has asked for the assistance of 55 logistics experts from around the world to help in the rescue effort in the aftermath of the hurricane that devastated parts of Mississippi and Louisiana. The group, which includes three Finns, are to help coordinate operations to help people dispersed over a wide area in the affected region.
The Finns left Finland on Sunday morning.
The Finnish experts include Juha Sipinen, a harbour transport specialist from Kotka, who has worked with the Finnish Red Cross in Sudan, Timo Holopainen, an expert in road transport, who has experience with UN operations, and with the Red Cross in Georgia. The third is logistics trainer Ari Mäntyvaara, who recently came back from a four-month Red Cross mission in Sri Lanka.
The request came the International Red Cross on Friday, and the decision to send the three came on Saturday.
"The transport system in the United States is largely based on cars. Now that they cannot be used, rescue efforts need to be arranged in other ways", said Kalle Löövi, the head of international aid at the Finnish Red Cross, at the general meeting of the organisation in Pori on Saturday.
Löövi says that the United States has not asked for material aid, because the US has plenty of supplies. "However, if help is needed, we have a hospital for 160 patients with the equipment needed for water purification. It is also self-sufficient with respect to the electric supply, which is very important in unstable conditions."
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 5.9.2005 - TODAY |
 Three Finnish logistics experts to help rescue effort in aftermath of US hurricane |
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