Whether delivering PPE to care and medical staff, testing kits or even home-schooling material to kids, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is highlighting examples of how important postal services are during the pandemic.

The 192 countries that are members of the UPU are delivering essential social and financial services to those in lockdown and self-isolating or shielding during the global virus crisis.

Bishar Hussein, UPU director general, said, “We have known for many years that posts are a valuable partner to help governments provide social and financial services to their citizens. This is truer today than ever, with governments and citizens beginning to recognize posts as a lifeline to essential services as they remain home to stop the virus’s spread.”

The UPU has set up an online resource centre on its website that collects stories of successes and shares examples of where postal operators have had impacts on the wellbeing of the societies they serve. It shows where policymakers can use posts as a valuable resource.