When a natural disaster occurs, airports and seaports play a crucial role in ensuring that essential medical supplies, food, and emergency aid reach affected populations without delay. Through its long-term partnership with Outreach Aid to the Americas (OAA) and its Community and Port Resiliency Program (C-PReP), FedEx supports transportation hubs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean by providing resilience training, operational resources, and emergency coordination strategies.

In the Dominican Republic, OAA recently organized practical disaster simulations and resilience workshops that brought together airport officials, emergency response agencies, humanitarian groups, and community representatives.

The video highlights how FedEx and local partners are collaborating to strengthen preparedness, improve coordination, and help communities respond more effectively when the next major storm or disaster occurs.

Click here  to know more.

The tabletop exercise sparked a flurry of activity among the participants, as they prepared for an impending disaster at an airport in Suriname. Involved were representatives from government agencies, relief organizations, and businesses from across Latin America and the Caribbean. They worked rapidly, learning how to fortify the airport to ensure it could withstand the emergency.
 
Ultimately, they succeeded in safeguarding the airport, a critical hub for disaster relief efforts. Keeping airports operational enables relief agencies to deliver essential supplies such as medicine, equipment, and other materials. Additionally, resilient airports support the continuation of trade and commerce.
 
The exercise was part of the Community and Port Resiliency Program (C-PReP), developed and facilitated by Outreach Aid to the Americas (OAA), a nonprofit focused on international aid. C-PReP has gained significant recognition across the region, becoming a leader in resiliency training. This success has helped OAA solidify its position in the field and has contributed to the creation of a new training center dedicated to advancing resiliency efforts.
 
Recently, OAA, Florida International University, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), officially affiliating the three organizations and establishing CIFAL Miami. CIFAL (Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders) is part of a global network overseen by UNITAR.
 
Looking ahead, OAA, in collaboration with Florida International University, will offer C-PReP training as part of the United Nations' global network of training centers.
 
The establishment of CIFAL Miami was celebrated at Florida International University, where key officials signed the MOU. The signatories included Dr. Kenneth Jessell, President of FIU; Mr. Alex Mejia, Director of UNITAR’s Division for People and Social Inclusion; and Mr. Teo Babun, Executive Director of OAA. Maricarmen Estrada, OAA's Senior Program Director, will serve as Director of CIFAL Miami.
 
FedEx, a longtime sponsor of C-PReP, also participated in the event. The program aligns with FedEx’s philanthropic focus on resilience, as maintaining operational airports is crucial for sustaining commerce and trade.