Bulletin 27 Indian Ocean Tsunami- Logistics update - 8 March 2005

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Bulletin 27 Indian Ocean Tsunami- Logistics update - 8 March 2005

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• INDONESIA
• SECURITY
• GENERAL
• TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN OPERATIONS
• VISAS
• CUSTOMS
• AIR OPERATIONS
• SEA
• LAND
• WAREHOUSING
• SRI LANKA
• AIRPORT AND PORT STATUS
• CUSTOMS
• TRANSPORT
• Recommendations

 

INDONESIA

SECURITY

UN personnel movements out of Calang to the surrounding areas have been suspended again as of Saturday 5th March due to two incidents: some gun fire reported in the vicinity of the UN compound; and, the evacuation of Medecins du Monde's doctors following rumoured threats of abductions by GAM.

GENERAL

• Total Number of WFP Beneficiaries: 510,000 (does not include the consolidated data from agencies such as the Red Cross and Save the Children Alliance).
• Total Cumulative Dispatch (MT):15,236
• Details for Save the Children and Red Cross are pending
• The UN has formally requested to meet with government officials regarding 'regularizing' the agency support equipment that is currently in the country (communications and vehicles).
• To further facilitate coordination, UNJLC Medan has been provided a desk with an internet connection at the POSKO. The desk will be staffed by a national UNJLC staffer from the Medan office.
• The governor of Aceh province formally opened the public consultation process on the master plan for the reconstruction of Aceh, soliciting input from Acehnese civil society, academics and others who wish to participate.
• The consultations are being conducted by BAPPEDA (the provincial planning board).  Key themes/areas include: land/spatial planning, finance, the economy & labor, the environment, infrastructure, law, security and reconciliation, institutional systems, accountability and governance, religion social, culture and human resources.
• The Network of Regional Government for Sustainable Development (NRG4SD) will hold its summit in Lake Toba, North Sumatra from 10-12 March 2005. The theme for the summit will be Global Partnership on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Post - Disaster Settlement. UNJLC Medan has been invited to attend. For further information please visit the website at: www.dambaintra.org or http://www.nrg4sd.net. Contact person for registration is Ms. Rita - Mob: 081263 930 88.
• HIC Sumatra (Medan) commenced operations on Monday 7 March 2005, from 08.30 - 18.00 located in a new office on Jl. Panglima Nya' Makam No. 88. Contact: Ale, the Database Management Assistant on 0815 331 55450.
• UNJLC recently convened a meeting of donor countries/agencies regarding the consolidated bridging requirements for the road and bridge repairs between Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. While UNJLC is not directly involved in the projects, the GoI requested assistance with facilitating the meeting.

TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN OPERATIONS

• The French C160 remains at Polonia airport in Medan awaiting a spare part for repairs.
• The two Mexican navy ships remain of the Sumatra coast following unloading relief supplies at Belawan port in Medan and Lhokseumawe.
• The two ships departed for Lhokseumawe on 5 March. They will remain there for 5 days to conduct water treatment operations, and then move to the area off Banda Aceh where they will remain for several weeks. One of the ships, the Arm Zapoteco, carries a medical facility with 44 doctors.
• The US hospital ship USNS Mercy is currently operating in the same area and has not announced any redeployment plans.
• The Japanese Self Defense Forces left Indonesia on 6th March.
•  Australian troops will completely withdraw from Banda Aceh as of 8th March 2005.

VISAS

• It has been announced that pre-Tsunami visa and travel regulations are to be reinstated, thus any traveler who will be entering Indonesia and traveling to, or staying in, Aceh beyond March 26th should apply for a 422 visa before entering Indonesia. All foreigners currently in Indonesia/Aceh who are staying here on a "visa on arrival", and are planning to be in Aceh beyond March 26, should, when their "visa on arrival" expires, exit Indonesia and secure a 422 visa in Singapore."
• Further to this announcement, UN agencies, donors and embassies are trying to resolve this issue directly with the government before such a plan is formalized in writing. Discussions regarding the visa situation are expected to take place this week. Again, it has been stressed that agencies and organizations need to coordinate and develop MOU type agreements with their respective line ministries or the Coordinating Ministry for Peoples' Welfare (Menkokesra).
• As reported last week, the Governor of North Sumatra T. Rizal Nurdin, has sent a letter to the Director General of Immigration in Jakarta requesting a 6 month Social Visa for all humanitarians working in Aceh, without having to leave Indonesia. While awaiting a reply of the letter OCHA and POSKO can facilitate all requests for Visa extension. (Source: POSKO). For further information regarding visa extensions in Medan, contact Andre P. Therik at 811 644 910, or e-mail ocha.medan@gmail.com or andretherik@yahoo.com. 

 

 

CUSTOMS

• POSKO Medan has requested UNJLC to assist in conducting a training session to explain the GoI's 'humanitarian relief customs procedures and documentation process' to all UN Agencies, and NGOs in Medan.
• The GoI requires a document system which will permit tracking of goods from arrival to warehouse to delivery point. The GoI requires all humanitarian goods to be escorted by TNI, with the exception of the Red Cross. WFP are in discussions with the GoI authorities regarding this issue. Escorts are intended to provide security and avoid convoys being illegally "taxed" en-route.
• The Banda Aceh POSKO (a.k.a. Pendopo) seminar on customs procedures, held in collaboration with Indonesian customs officials, will take place at the UN complex on Tuesday 15 March 2005 at 9am, immediately following the weekly logistics coordination meeting. The purpose of this seminar is to clarify current import procedures for relief goods, and to address future customs procedures in the reconstruction phase. Interested parties are invited to attend. Contact adek_yuyu@yahoo.com for more info.

AIR OPERATIONS

• Air and general Information on Nias Island (off the west coast of Sumatra) is available at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32035.
• Due to the large number of no-shows for UNHAS flights, penalties have now been imposed for those who book flights but do not show up. No-shows will be placed at the bottom of the priority list for future flights.
• Subang Joint Operations has been approached on 7th March for a MAF C-130 operation - Subang/Medan/Banda Aceh/Subang. Cargo for this has been identified.
• Full details of UNHAS flights and UNJLC booking procedures, schedules and prioritization are available at the UNJLC website.
• UNHAS pax and cargo movement requests should now be channelled through Heads of Agencies in Banda Aceh, so that the system is centralised and agencies have more visibility over staff movement. Organisations without an office in Banda Aceh have been requested to approach OCHA directly in order to place their requests.
• In order to fly on UNHAS flights NGOs must be accredited with OCHA. All international pax must be registered with the Indonesian police and be carrying a police-issued ID card.
• The humanitarian aid community has been warned that if they do not complete monthly projection sheets for movement of pax and cargo, UNHAS air assets may be reduced. The form is available on http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/29256, and queries should be directed to Harm Koens: 0812 1055  373 or michael.whiting@wfp.org.
• Oxfam (in Banda Aceh) have renewed their contract for one Heavy Lift Helicopter for one month. Other NGOs may use the service on a cost-share basis.
• For more information on air operations see http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28253

SEA

• In line with the move towards multi-modal transportation of personnel and material, UNJLC are investigating the possibility of establishing 1 x passenger shuttle and 1 x cargo shuttle down the West coast. There appears to be an urgent need for a regular sea-based cargo movement service. For further information or queries, contact Mike Whiting:  michael.whiting@wfp.org or 0811987365.
• Updated information on landing sites on the West coast according to WFP sea ops specialist, Mr. Morten Chrisenson:
  Lamno:
• Minimum 3m draft. Access to 400 MT landing craft.
• Landing craft can move up river approx. 1 km. Good landing facilities. Smaller craft (20MT) can go alongside and off load.
• As the bridge from the North to South shore of the river is out, distribution can only be done on the North shore.
  Calang:
• 375 MT landing craft can beach and discharge.
• Trucks can be loaded on the 120m wide beach. However, repeated loadings will soften the sand, making it increasingly difficult for trucks to back onto the beach.
  Teunom:
• Draft less than 1.6m.
• Travel up river is deemed not possible, although PMI (Indonesian Red Cross) and local staff have reportedly done it.
• Possible to beach a craft 600m North of the river mouth.
  Meulaboh:
• 250 MT landing craft can beach at what used to be the port. 2.65m draft.
•  Beaching site is rapidly deteriorating. No readily available alternative sites.
• Singaporean military planned to rebuild the pier at this site but ran into low draft problems and had to abandon the project.
  Blang Pidie:
• No tsunami damage.
• 2½ hrs. south of Meulaboh by road.
• Port under construction.
  Labuan Tarok:
• Minor infrastructural damage.
• Port for ferry connection to Simeulue Island.
• Good docking facility for ferry/landing craft.
• Central logistics point for distributing food North to Blang Pidie and South to Tapak Tuan.
  Tapak Tuan:
• No tsunami damage.
• Pier ok. Draft approx. 6m
  NOTE: All coastal locations south of Meulaboh have road connections to Medan.

LAND

• Banda Aceh - Lamno: TNI reports that the road between Banda Aceh and Lamno is open to vehicles up to 20MT, but advises that security clearance be sought from the TNI before travelling on this route.
• Calang: Recent reconnaissance missions South to Panga and North to Lageun have yielded information as to the status of the routes from Calang. The routes North and South can handle two-lane traffic on most of the coastal road from E 04°43'53.8" N 95°30'27.4" to E 04°32'32.4" N 95°43'02.0" with areas that are reduced to single-lane traffic, which in most cases are small timber bridges that have been recently replaced by the TNI. These bridges are Load Class Maximum 15MT. Bailey bridges are being constructed on the Coastal highway in Panga (E 04°32'32.4" N 95°43'02.0") and at E 04°41'25.8" N 95°31'45.5", but no completion date is known. Although the load class of the Bailey Bridges may be slightly higher, the route restriction will still be 15MT due to the by-passes, and some improvised timber bridges on the route. Details of current route logistics on the roads to the North and South of Calang as well as maps can be found at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/31930.
• Calang - Teunom: Work is proceeding on damaged sections of the road between Teunom and Calang, which is carrying traffic on some sections. Several bridges have been by-passed on this section and replaced with Bailey Bridges.
• Teunom - Meulaboh: The old single-lane coastal road between Meulaboh and Teunom is open to 6x6 vehicles up to 5MT, but not suitable for 4x4 vehicles without a winch. The section between Meulaboh and Suak Timah is the existing Main Coastal Road and is open to heavy traffic. TNI is discouraging heavy traffic on this route, due to rapid deterioration of the road. Broken-down and stuck vehicles are the most common cause of delays. IFRC has made the trip from Meulaboh to Teunom in 12 hours and back from Teunom to Meulaboh in 7 hours. TNI is cutting a new road in areas where the road is too badly damaged to repair. Meulaboh_teunom road assessment http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32039.
• Atlas Logistique has established a logistics base in Sigli, including trucks and warehousing, as of 1/3/05. Contact Sebastien: 0813 6023 2050 atlasindonesia@hotmail.fr.
• Please be informed that WFP Lhokseumawe sub-office phone is now operational. The number is:  064 565 3218.
• An IOM form for requesting overland cargo movement has been placed on the UNJLC website.

WAREHOUSING

• WFP has identified storage spaces in the area of Lhokseumawe. Among available options, space in Krueng Geukueh port is being reviewed as it offers about 400 square meters with plenty of open space available for rubbhalls to meet additional storage requirement. Storage space in Lhokseumawe city is also being considered as it offers substantial open space with good access.
• WFP Port warehousing in Malahayati (Aceh Besar) is being improved.  An area for 6 wiikhalls has been cleared and 3 wiikhalls have been erected and filled so far.
• 10 additional WFP wiikhalls arrived in Banda Aceh in support of warehousing in Banda Aceh and the west coast.
• WFP has held meetings with the SATLAK (Implementing Units under the government's disaster management centre and POSKO). Positive discussions ensued. WFP's transparent and open coordination was praised. Measures are being established to monitor warehousing and distribution of relief supplies.
• COMPAS, Commodity Processing Analysis System, has been up and running to track the movements of commodities in Medan, Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Jakarta. Further installment of COMPAS is planned in Lamno and Calang.
• Full details of the recent UNJLC survey of available warehouse space are available at the UNJLC website.

SRI LANKA

AIRPORT AND PORT STATUS

• The rate at which relief commodities at the Bandaranaike International Airport are cleared has accelerated considerably during the past week. Currently, approximately 460 tons of cargo is stored in the airport warehouse for humanitarian relief goods in contrast to 2800 tons at the beginning of last week.
• Relief commodity containers are moving at a slow pace out of the Colombo Port. According to the Customs Director there are currently 250 containers at the port limiting the space for customs inspectors to examine the shipments. The lack of space has prompted the customs authorities at the port to look for a new examination location and an additional warehouse.

CUSTOMS

• The Government of Sri Lanka has issued a series of measures meant to accelerate the customs clearance of tsunami relief commodities. In the last few weeks there have been some serious delays in clearing relief goods entering the country. The new measures stipulate which goods can be allowed duty concessions and under what conditions. According to the new measures, rice will not be allowed duty free access to protect domestic rice producers. Tents, building materials, communication equipment, medicine and other important relief items will be allowed conditional duty free access.
• Concessions of duties and taxes on relief supplies received by UN agencies will be granted by the Treasury in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with them. The duty concessions will be valid only for goods cleared by 26 April 2005. NGOs consignments can only be granted concessions of duties and taxes on the condition they are handed over to over to the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, the Director/Secretary of Social Services or to the relevant government authority.
• In light of the new measures, UNJLC will soon publish updated customs clearance guidelines.

TRANSPORT

UNJLC has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the transport capacity in Sri Lanka. The following includes the summary of the assessment as well as recommendations: 

• The main task of the assessment team was to analyze the capacity of the national transport fleet to cater for the three phases of recovery and the normal national transport requirements. The initial concept was to utilize the top down approach in the collection of data in order to produce a comprehensive assessment of the transport capabilities in Sri Lanka.
• Three critical factors will determine the requirement for transport in the rebuilding of Sri Lanka. They are timescale, materials and labor. In order to conduct a statistical assessment it is essential to know the tonnage to be moved and the timescale for repair and reconstruction. These two crucial factors are still not available. It is now generally accepted that the relief and reconstruction will take place over a minimum of three years.
• Individuals or very small companies with less than five trucks own the vast majority of the cargo transport fleet in this country. Without centralized records, it is almost impossible to quantify the national transport fleet. The present cost of transport is acceptable, however it is anticipated that prices will increase as demand for transport increases.
• The total vehicle population figures received from the Dept. of Transport are deemed to be unreliable. A government spokesman confirmed this fact.
• The damage to the road network caused by the recent tsunami was concentrated on the East, South and Northern coasts. Much of this damage has been repaired to allow traffic to flow again. Many of the repairs are of a temporary nature and require upgrading on a permanent basis.
• The general rail infrastructure is in serious need of rehabilitation. The problems faced by Sri Lanka Rail are many, including an insufficient number and poor performance of the rolling stock, decaying and weak rail track, an out-dated centralized traffic control and communications system and poor worker productivity.
• It is essential that maximum use be made of regional ports for the importation of building materials to cater for phases two and three of the National Rebuilding Plan. The concentration of all these goods into Colombo would possibly create a critical situation for the road and rail network due to the limited capacity of both networks. Road congestion and pollution are already at a critical level in Colombo.
• There is also no major problem with storage capacity. In the coastal regions where warehouses were not available rubbhalls and wiikhalls have or are being erected.
• The present road conditions and especially the temporary bridges in particular restrict the use of heavy lift vehicles. Serious consideration should be given to upgrading the roads and bridges prior to utilizing heavy vehicles during the reconstruction phase.
• Detailed analysis and planning is required by a Government Task Force to ensure adequate transport is available to support their Rebuilding Plan. Any shortfall of transport assets must be identified in time. The extended use of sea and rail to distribute cargo must also be considered.
• The age, mechanical condition and configuration of the national commercial transport fleet are matters for concern. The condition of these vehicles would not be acceptable in most European countries. However these vehicles are still operational. Direct donations of vehicles to the government should be considered to increase and modernize the transport fleet. Soft loans, tax incentives and other mechanisms could be introduced to encourage the private transport sector to update their vehicles and increase their fleet size.
• Generally, no shortage of transport was noted in the country. Approximately 50% of the cargo transport fleet was fully utilized prior to the tsunami. Since then the usage has only increased by a small percentage and there is still excess capacity. In conclusion, the slow response from Government and the absence of urgency to deal with the Tsunami damage may result in a prolonged recovery phase. It is generally accepted that the current transport fleet, with minor adjustments and natural replacements will be capable of supporting the National Rebuilding Plan.

Recommendations

• The Government of Sri Lanka should establish a Transport Task Force to study the transport implications of the Government Action Plan for Rebuilding consisting of senior representatives of the following organizations: TAFOR, TAFREN, Ministry of Transport, Commissioner of Motor Traffic, RDA, UDC, CILT, ACT, CASA, Military and other involved parties.
• The Transport Task Force should conduct a detailed analysis and planning on the effects of cumulative demands of the various transport programmes on the national fleet. Repair and reconstruction, agricultural requirements and the normal commercial activities have to be facilitated from national resources.
• Maximize the use of regional ports for the importation of building materials to cater for phases two and three of the National Rebuilding Plan. The concentration of these goods into Colombo would be a disaster for the road and rail network due to the limited capacity of both networks. Road congestion and pollution are already at a critical level in Colombo.
• The Transport Task Force should examine the use of rail in Sri Lanka to carry cargo. At present very little cargo is carried by rail. This situation will have to be rectified to allow cargo to be transported throughout the country utilizing off peak capacity (night, weekend and holidays, etc). The track and rolling stock have been neglected for years and need to be updated urgently. Mechanical handling equipment including container-lifting equipment needs to be provided. Storage capacity should be increased at all major rail logistical hubs. 
• Initiate the modernization of the national cargo fleet. The age, mechanical condition and configuration of the nation commercial fleet are a matter of concern when considering the major task ahead. If this fleet comes under pressure it may not be sufficiently reliable to provide the service that will be demanded of it. The average age of the cargo fleet appears to be 15-20 years old and many of the vehicles are 8-10 ton rigid covered trucks. In essence the configuration of these vehicles do NOT facilitate the use of mechanical handling equipment for loading and offloading construction materials such as cement, timber and metal sheeting. The modernization of the national fleet through natural replacement should attempt to increase the load carrying capacity of the individual trucks by articulation and use of four axle rigid open trucks on routes where there are NO bridge restrictions.
• The Transport Task Force should identify any deficiency of transport assets in time to initiate remedial action. The motor trade has reported that at present, it is taking two months to import modern trucks into this country from the UK. Many of these trucks although they are used vehicles are in excellent mechanical condition. New trucks are readily available from Japan, India and many other sources. Early analysis and planning is therefore essential to ensure the timely arrival of these extra vehicles if required. The emergency phase one and two will overlap and run concurrently. In addition the tea and paddy (rice) harvest has to be facilitated with transport to avoid a national disaster. Running concurrently will be the normal commercial demands on transport and the requirements of the many national and international NGOs.
• Initiate government intervention if a shortfall is identified in the national fleet. Soft loans, tax incentives and other mechanisms could be introduced to encourage the private transport sector to update their vehicles and increase their fleet size. This could be a crucial part of the plan and may require immediate action.
• Arrange direct donations of vehicles to the government, RDA, UDC, UN and NGOs. This may be an easy way to increase and modernize the transport fleet as requirements could be directly linked to donors. Many countries prefer to donate physical assets rather than cash in their aid programmes.
• Consider the use of military transport during the second phase. In many countries military assets are used in the national interest in times of emergency. This is known as the military working 'in aid of the civil power'. This could have the effect of improving the public image of the military in the LTTE areas and assist the government in the advancement of the peace process.
• Initiate an immediate road rehabilitation programme. The present road conditions and the temporary bridges are a matter of major concern. For the reconstruction phase, large heavy-duty trucks would be the most suitable transport to move the huge tonnage required. However some of the present temporary bridges have weight restrictions as low as 7 tons. These must be replaced prior to rebuilding. The road surface in many areas is unsuitable for heavy loads thus affecting vehicle speeds.
• The Transport Task Force should integrate the road repair and transportation plans. If the roads and bridges as mentioned in the previous paragraph are not repaired prior to the commencement of phase two, the use of the present fleet should be encouraged. The use of heavy-duty trucks could both damage the roads and be incapable of crossing the temporary bridges.
• Include the provision of tracto

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ABOUT UNJLC
UNJLC is an inter-agency facility reporting during an emergency to the Humanitarian Coordinator and overall to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Its mandate is to coordinate and optimize the logistics capabilities of humanitarian organizations in large-scale emergencies. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP who is responsible for the administrative and financial management of the Centre. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions channeled through WFP. More information on UNJLC in general and on the South Asia operation can be viewed on the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org).