Months of preparation have resulted in the choice of DSV as logistics partner for this extraordinary project, initiated by Better Shelter in collaboration with The Ikea Foundation and The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

5-22-2015 This year, 36,000 ready to assemble, flat-packed temporary shelters for refugees will leave DSV's picking lines. Months of preparation have resulted in the choice of DSV as logistics partner for this extraordinary project, initiated by Better Shelter in collaboration with The Ikea Foundation and The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Better Shelter is a unique initiative involving preparation of kits to build temporary shelters for refugees; kits that will subsequently be sent to the most remote corners of the world. To date, 10,000 housing units have been sold and Better Shelter has already received many additional inquiries. Regular production will start in May 2015 with a monthly production capacity of 2,500 shelters.

The role of DSV will include completion of components from suppliers in different countries and the creation of flat-packed kits that can be assembled on site and without additional tools or equipment.

Through our ability to coordinate our efforts on a global scale, DSV can provide the support needed for the most demanding shipments to destinations all over the world. Our services will include deliveries, often in collaboration with governmental organizations, to areas affected by war or natural disasters.- says Mads Olsen, Branch Manager, DSV Projects.

The Ikea Foundation has been involved in the project from the very beginning by creating a simple and easy to assemble shelter design true to the Ikea design model. The IKEA Foundation donated EUR 3 million in grants to Better Shelter to be used for product development from 2012 to 2014. The flat-packed solution was a central part of the design from the beginning and essential to the project in terms of easy shipment and distribution.
Selecting a provider of comprehensive logistics services to handle the complex project was preceded by a very meticulous tender process. Global reach and vast experience, especially in the area of complex co-manufacturing processes, were key factors in the choice of DSV as our partner in the Refugee Housing Unit project.- says Anders Karlund, Global Projects Manager, Better Shelter.

As a logistics provider, we are extremely proud to support this project. It will benefit people whose difficult situation is purely a result of politics, armed conflicts and other local conditions. For us, the project is characterized by an unprecedented amount of responsibility, and by that I don't mean the necessity of achieving quality objectives. The delivery of a shelter kit to a family who has spent the last months in dramatically difficult conditions makes a world of difference. For them, such a shelter restores normal function to family life. DSV's role is to ensure that at the time of delivery, the flat-packed shelter kit is complete, that the package isn't missing any bolts or any other structural elements crucial to the success of the entire project.

- says Maciej Walenda, CEO DSV Solutions Poland.

Read more about the Better Shelter project

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