Uber powers emergency food deliveries in Ukraine

Image source, Uber/WFP

The United Nations is in need of food and water in war-torn areas of Ukraine.

The firm is working with the UN.

Structural damage and the threat of attack make it hard for delivery trucks to get to some parts of Ukraine.

The WFP is able to co-ordinate a fleet of smaller vehicles with the help of the platform of the ride-sharing company.

The WFP has its own drivers and vehicles, but some of them were formerly employed by the ride-sharing service.

The WFP had their own private-labelUber, according to the boss of the ride-sharing firm.

Big name customers include Apple and Tesco. Businesses usually pay a commission for the service, but the WFP is not being charged

The software can be used to co-ordinate distribution and track deliveries.

In Dnipro, the scheme is being tested. It is hoped that it will be rolled out in other cities later.

Image source, Uber/WFP

The Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children are some of the organizations that provide emergency supplies.

Within a few weeks of first contact with the World Food programme, the platform was up and running.

The executive director of the World Food Program said people have to get food immediately.

It is a great success story because you can't go a few weeks without food.

A few years ago, the company had a difficult time. During the Pandemic, its ride-sharing service was hit hard, and the firm has had to change its driver policies to give them better rights.

When Mr Khosrowshahi first became CEO, the delivery arm was in its infancy, but is now poised to become the firm's largest service.

Most of the delivery orders were for restaurants. The firm made a profit for the first time in its 13-year history.

Delivery can be bigger because it is not just about food. "It's groceries and also empowering any local merchant to try to out-Amazon Amazon."

If Amazon can deliver next day, your local merchant can deliver within an hour or two hours.