August 6, 2020
Up to 300,000 people were left homeless and more than 200 people were killed after the massive explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday 4 August.
Thousands of others were injured and hundreds of thousands of people were left without habitable housing. The material damage is also enormous, not only was a part of the harbor destroyed, but an adjacent part of the city was also seriously affected and even miles away there is damage to buildings.
The Lebanese people were unfortunately already dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and the deep economic downturn, then the blast hit Beirut.
Given the urgency, this shipment had top priority for our Maurice Ward team in Poland so they organized and dispatched it on the 5th of August, a day after the explosion. Our team has supported our customer FUNDACJE POLSKIE CENTRUM POMOCY MIEDZYNARODOWEJ to prepare, handle, screen, clear and coordinate with airline in shipping humanitarian aid load. At the same time, the departure of rescue team from WAW to Beirut was also coordinated on board of Polish government dispatched aircraft with aid.
The Polish Centre for International Aid (PCPM), the largest Polish secular non-governmental organization providing foreign humanitarian and development assistance, has also been doing great work to support those affected in Lebanon. Find out more via these links pcpm.org.pl/en and pcpm.org.pl/medyczny-zespol-ratunkowy-z-pomoca-w-bejrucie.html
In these difficult times, all we can do is stand with each other and support one another.
(© Fundacja PCPM)
The first ever ‘cargo only’ flight was recorded in November 1910 in the USA, using a Wright Model B aeroplane that flew 65 miles carrying a package of silk. The business owner used the pioneering transport more as a PR stunt to celebrate the opening of his store, with the bundle of silk cut into individual pieces and glued onto souvenir postcards.
At Maurice Ward Group, we believe that reliable road transport requires continuous investment. By regularly modernising our European road fleet, we can maintain the performance our customers depend on while supporting more sustainable road transport.
Recently, Maurice Ward Budapest took part in PharmaLog 2026, organised by NavigátorVilág. Pharma Account Manager Gábor Flórián represented Maurice Ward & Co. in an expert panel on pharmaceutical air freight, sharing practical experience and highlighting our expertise in this specialised sector.
On 15 July 2026, the UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement came into force. Trade between the two countries was worth approximately £48 billion in 2025.
