Summary
Content
Bulletin 29 Indian Ocean Tsunami- Logistics update - 23 March 2005
INDONESIA
SECURITY
- During the night of 20 March, a hotel in Medan was evacuated following a bomb threat.
- Sabang Island (aka Pulau Weh) is currently in Phase 3. UNDSS Banda Aceh will soon conduct an assessment mission to determine if Sabang should remain Phase 3 or be lowered, following which recommendations will be made to the UN in New York.
- An incident occurred at approx 18:00 hrs 17th March at a small village called Sapik approximately 6 km north of Lamno. TNI-GAM exchanged gunfire for 30 minutes.
GENERAL
- WFP Essential Information:
- Total Assessed Caseload: 790,000
- Total Number of WFP Beneficiaries: 590,570
- Total Cumulative Dispatch (MT):21,665 mt
- Total Dispatch over Reporting Period (MT): 2,036 mt
- In Lamno, the WFP reports that current stock indicates a shortfall of 93 MT of food commodities for the next planned distribution that is scheduled to begin 8 April for the currently planned number of beneficiaries (approximately 18,000). Action is underway to address this shortfall.
- Total WFP (and partners) food distribution to 18 districts in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces is estimated at 9,413 MT (comprised of rice, fortified noodles and biscuits, canned fish and vegetable oil).
- The Aceh Provincial POLICE has asked organizations to register their imported vehicles with Traffic Directorate in Aceh to get a temporary number plate.
- In order to register an imported vehicle please apply to the head of Provincial Police (KAPOLDA); attach the Vehicle Certificate; Insurance Certificate; and, your letter explaining the Organization/Agency's intended use for the vehicle. See http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32648 for the letter format.
- A range of UNJLC maps are now available form UNJLC Offices in Banda Aceh and Jakarta, include: a general logistics map for Aceh and North Sumatra; a Meulaboh town plan; a road atlas with detailed information on the road condition between Meulaboh and Banda Aceh; a port map, detailing landing sites, depth, available facilities etc; and, a reference map with corresponding photos.
- Coordinating Ministry of People's Welfare on 17 March issued a statement regarding the status of foreign humanitarian workers (ergo visa requirements for individuals and longer term presence of humanitarian actors) in Aceh province. Key points:
- The extension of the transition period to reconstruction beyond the 26 March for an initial period of 30-60 days.
- During this period the GoI will carefully study if the activities of each organization are relevant for the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.
CUSTOMS
- UNJLC Banda Aceh has produced new flow charts for the importation of goods through customs. There are four separate flow charts depending on the type of importation. Please see the website. http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32672. Similar procedures have been in place at Medan, which are currently under review. These can also be found on the website.
- UNJLC Medan reminded humanitarian actors that while procedures are under review, the "old forms for sending relief goods are still to be used".
- JLC together with POSKO, Medan are trying to simplify the systems/procedures for sending relief goods from North Sumatra to NAD.
- Additional procedures for custom clearances for containers entering via Belawan port require a letter from the Ministry of Trade following endorsement by POSKO Medan. Affected commodities are: sugar, rice, garments, and vehicles. Many containers with these commodities are stuck at the port until the clearance letter is issued, hence efforts are currently being made to have a Representative from this Ministry "embedded" at POSKO.
- In the meantime: Letters requesting approval to import goods mentioned above must be sent to the Minister of Trade: Jl. M.I Ridwan Rais no.5 Jakarta 10110 telp: 62 021. 384 86 67 - 345 63 18 Fax .62 021.384 61 06, and to BAKORNAS (National Coordination Office for Disaster): Jl.Dr.H.Juanda 36 Jakarta Pusat 10110 Telp:+6221.345 8400.
- For further information or assistance at the sea port of Belawan (Medan) with customs matters, call: Cerah Bangun (Head Section of Customs-Belawan) on 0811 617 66 or Frans Tambunan on 081 530 553 58.
WAREHOUSING
WFP warehouse capacity continues to be increased at field-offices. During the reporting period 2 Wijkhalls have been constructed in Malahayati Port, Aceh Besar, and another 2 have been constructed at the Port of Tapaktuan, Aceh Selatan. A list of available warehousing is available at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/31341.
LAND
- The GoI and TNI's collective aim is to open the Banda Aceh - Meulaboh land route by March 26. According to the GoI Coordination Meeting, 90% of repairs on this route are complete.
- The road from Banda Aceh to Lamno has been opened. However around Lamno there is a big river without bridge. To cross this river a pontoon has been provided. TNI are shortly to construct a bridge over this river.
- The road from Lamno to Teunom has been opened. However around Krueng Pudeng(sic) there is a bridge that has not yet been repaired. A raft-pontoon is being used to ferry vehicles. Clarification is being sought.
- The greatest challenge is to open the road between Teunom and Meulaboh: the area is forested and swampy. Landfill along the route is expected to start in the next few days.
- The latest UNJLC-updated land route maps of the West coast, with details of newly opened roads between Meulaboh and Banda Aceh, are available at the HIC and on http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28438.
AIR
- For a complete view of air operations please sea the Air operations Update.
- The UNJLC Special Feature this week is: Air Ops/UNHAS/UNJLC. http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32664 Hard copies will be available at the Medan, Banda Aceh and Meulaboh offices this week.
- In order to meet the additional airlift capacity requirement recently identified in Banda Aceh, one Twin Otter has already arrived and 2 more helicopters are due to arrive later this week.
- UNJLC at Banda Aceh have adopted an automated, more user friendly passenger booking system.
- There was one MEDEVAC flight over the weekend 19/20 Mar.
- The almost free service most generously donated by Garuda for the movement of humanitarian air cargo between Jakarta and Banda Aceh continues to deliver small consignments. This service is due to end on 31 March but we are looking to provide continuity of this facility.
- The so called "pouch" service to carry small, valuable documents between Jakarta and Banda Aceh made a trial run Northbound on 9 Mar 05 but, due to lack of demand, did not make the return journey until 21 Mar.
- The flight schedules from Banda Aceh to the West coast will remain in place until 31 March 2005 when they will be reviewed to ensure they continue to meet customer requirements.
- Information regarding private air transportation in Medan (is available at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/30492 (in the on-line Information Sheets, http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/30492). UNJLC includes this information to assist the humanitarian community, BUT, inclusion on this list should not imply endorsement of the provider.
AIRFIELDS
Medan
- An additional Twin Otter, has arrived and (subject to confirmation of demand) will begin serving Lhokseumawe and Simeulue and Nias Islands.
- The provisional schedule for these flights is due to be published shortly and is subject to fine tuning to ensure the correct fit with user requirements.
Banda Aceh
- The Users Group for all modes of transport ex Banda Aceh maintains its active role. Although efforts to obtain user forecasts of requirements have only been partially successful, the procurement of additional airlift capacity and the introduction of flights to the 3 new destinations mentioned above are in response to the User Group request.
- To date UNHAS have flown 4452 passengers and 544 tonnes of cargo.
- No show passengers on UNHAS flights are still at an unacceptably high level of 30%. While some of this is no fault of the individual, it is still far too high. The automated passenger booking system mentioned above will automatically place no-shows at the bottom of the list for the next flight.
SEA
- The Special Feature - Sea Routes from the March 15 Bulletin also contains information relevant to humanitarian actors utilising sea routes. http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32479
- UNJLC Banda Aceh has just completed a map of the ports, infrastructure, access around Aceh, the west coast of Sumatra and North Sumatra: The high resolution version is available at the UN office in Banda Aceh and UNJLC Medan. A low resolution soft copy of the map is available at the website also.
- UNJLC Banda Aceh has provided a list of the local shipping suppliers and costs. Full details can be found on http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32680
- Contact Jafar Siddik 0813 60029281, jafar_siddik@yahoo.com.
- In Banda Aceh, UNJLC reports strong support for its proposal for movement of passengers and cargo by sea. This cost effective and safe alternative for transporting both cargo and passengers is under development. It is intended that UNJLC will coordinate and then handover the service to local partners within 3 months: a full version of the proposal will be available on www.unjlc.org shortly.
- As part of this proposal, UNJLC is currently assessing sea transport cargo requirements for non-food items.
- Public Works welcomes this service and hopes that it can be used to transport building materials to west coast area.
- UNJLC has negotiated permission for humanitarian actors to have free container storage in Belawan port. The sample request letter is being prepared by UNJLC Medan.
- The Quarantine Dept. from Belawan Sea Port will prepare a procedural chart to facilitate cargo movements from the sea port.
- WFP vessel movements are reported as follows:
- The L/C Labitra Reulina received spare parts and commenced voyage on 19 March. Mechanical problems have left her in Malahayati, Aceh Besar, since 11 March. She discharged 215MT of food in Lamno on 20 March and sailed for Calang along with 25MT of operational support equipment and supplies.
- The L/C Labitra Hanny discharged 55 MT of various food items in Lamno, and 120 MT of rice in Meulaboh, on 19-20 March respectively. She loaded in Meulaboh cargo for UNICEF Calang. At present she is in Calang for off-loading.
- The M/V Kimtrans is currently in Malahayati, to discharge 1,800 MT of rice and 400 MT of canned fish.
- A new landing craft, Sukese 3, has been chartered and is currently in Belawan to load cargo destined for the west coast.
- Atlas Logistique are operating four (4) 20 MT vessels on full charter, the vessels travel twice a week to the west coast.
- The Red Cross has chartered one (1) LST 150 MT, which conducts regular trips to Calang, Lamno, Suak Seumaseh.
SRI LANKA
AIRPORT STATUS
All relief cargo, approximately 250 tons has been moved to a warehouse at BIA Terminal 3 while the warehouse for relief cargo is under construction. Some of the commodities have been cleared by customs but not collected. These include communication equipment and vehicles belonging to UNICEF and World Vision. Most of the relief cargo now arrives with commercial flights and is dispatched directly to the Sri Lankan cargo warehouse which currently has 50 tons of relief cargo in store most of which is building material for transitional accommodations. Since current rules governing the clearance of relief commodity apply until 26 of April the rate of incoming flights has been on the rise. IOM, which has managed the registration of relief cargo at the airport, will withdraw by the end of the week. Handling of cargo is now dealt with by AASL.
COLOMBO PORT
The Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) grants demurrage waiver for consignments which are handed over to the Government for distribution. Whilst UN agencies distribute their own consignments they have to pay the accumulating demurrage charges at the airport and Port of Colombo. UNICEF has been granted waiver on demurrage after sending a request enlisting details of all consignments stored at the port to the Ministry of Finance. The process of acquiring a waiver from the authorities can take up to a week as experienced by UNICEF.
WAREHOUSING
- UNICEF still lacks some storage capacity in the field.
- UNHCR has completed the process of installing Wijkhalls in the districts of Ampara and Batticaloa.
TRANSPORT/TRUCKING
- To meet increased demand for transport assistance IOM leased an additional 20 lorries. At present IOM has a vehicle fleet of 72 lorries each with a cargo capacity of 10 metric tons.
- UNHCR trucking capacity on a space-available basis to any of its eight out-stations: Vavuniya, Mannar (rarely), Jaffna, Kili, Trinco, Batti, Ampara and Matara.
AIR OPERATIONS
- Whilst the UNHAS Bell helicopter remains grounded, UNHAS has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an operational permit for the helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft. No official response has been received as of yet.
- The Italian Civil Protection team, which has offered a limited aircraft service to UN agencies and NGOs, will leave the country by the end of March.
- Local airlines are, reportedly, offering efficient services to most destinations including the district of Jaffna. Regular flights are operated between Katunayake Airport and Trincomalee.
GENERAL
- UNJLC opened a new office in Batticaloa on 18 March staffed with a logistics coordinator, Mr Sylvain Provost. The office will be temporarily based within the OCHA Batticaloa office. UNJLC´s coordinates in Batticaloa are as follows: Tel: 00 94 773 178319, email: provost2005@yahoo.fr.
- A meeting between the new LTTE leader of Batticaloa/Ampara districts, Mr Ilanthirayan and UN agencies took place on 21 March. The objectives of the meeting were to introduce the LTTE leader to UN representatives in the district.
- Lack of wood for construction activities constitutes the main logistics hurdle in Batticaloa and Ampara at the moment.
- Oxfam has 12 thousand wool blankets available for donation.
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).