The CMA CGM Foundation and the Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs: extending their partnership to support France’s provision of emergency aid

On February 27, Tanya Saadé Zeenny, President of the CMA CGM Foundation, and Philippe Lalliot, Director of the CDCS, renewed the framework agreement under which the CMA CGM Foundation supports France's efforts to respond to humanitarian crises abroad, coordinated by the CDCS.

Since 2020, the CMA CGM Foundation has been a strategic partner of the CDCS. Thanks to the CMA CGM Group’s extensive resources and the commitment of the Foundation, the CDCS has been able to transport nearly 4,300 tons of humanitarian aid, free of charge, by sea and air to Gaza, Lebanon, Haiti, Tunisia, India, Tanzania, and the French overseas territories.

The Foundation has also contributed to several large-scale operations alongside the French state:

• It has twice provided exclusive use of a roll-on roll-off ship, once after the explosion in the port of Beirut in 2020, and once to transport aid to Ukrainian civilians in 2022.
• It has provided exclusive use of an aircraft on three occasions: to deliver aid to India during the Covid-19 crisis in 2021, to Poland to help Ukrainian civilians in 2022, and to Turkey after the earthquake in 2023.

Created in 2008 to ensure the safety of French citizens abroad, the CDCS, part of the French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs, also coordinates France's response to humanitarian crises abroad and participates in stabilization programs to help countries in the post-crisis phase.

In 2022, the CDCS supported 245 humanitarian projects and coordinated 71 logistical programs to help deliver emergency aid around the world.

In the event of conflicts or natural disasters, the Foundation draws on the expertise of the CMA CGM Group and its transport and logistics solutions (containers, ships, aircraft, trucks, etc.) to act quickly and effectively on behalf of the people affected by the resulting crises. Through its Containers of Hope program, the Foundation has developed true expertise in humanitarian logistics and has formed transformative partnerships with public and private humanitarian organizations. Since 2012, it has notably arranged the transport of over 35,000 tons of emergency supplies (medical, food, educational, etc.) by sea, free of charge, to 70 countries to help those affected by humanitarian crises.

The Foundation also works with local nonprofit organizations to improve the lives of vulnerable people.