Bulletin 34 - Logistics update / February 9th – 15th 2006

Content

Summary and Highlights
Days since October 8th Earthquake:130

• The security situation in Pakistan remains tense due to the holy month of Muharram and mass demonstrations throughout the country over the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed in certain European newspapers.
• As of now, cargo movement will be prioritised in favour of those agencies and NGOs who have provided UNJLC with their up-to-date pipeline information for LSS planning purposes.
• Due to a serious funding shortfall, drastic and immediate cuts will be made to the UNHAS cargo movement and passenger services.

Contents

1.   Security
2.   Logistic Support System (LSS)
3.   Prioritisation of Air Cargo
4.   NGO Import Procedure for Motor Vehicles
5.   Visa Applications
6.   Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

1. Security

The security situation in the affected areas remains tense due to the holy month of Muharram, which has a history of sectarian violence, combined with demonstrations throughout Pakistan over cartoons of the prophet Mohammed published in certain European newspapers. Yesterday parts of Islamabad were closed off for rallies and protestors tried to enter the diplomatic enclave to reach the Danish and Norwegian embassies. Today a no-movement curfew has been established in and around Mansehra. Staff posted in Bagh may move within the town but only in pairs and no travel is allowed outside the town limits.  Muzaffarabad and Batagram have also been under frequent lockdown over the last week and a half. UNHAS flights were cancelled today due to the security warnings.

Though crowds in some places have attacked western targets including fast food outlets and banks, so far demonstrations in Islamabad and the affected area hubs have been relatively small and peaceful, there have been no specific threats against UN agencies or NGOs, and the security measures taken to date have been precautionary. However the campaign appears to be intensifying ahead of President Bush’s visit, which is planned for the beginning of March, and relief workers are requested to pay close attention to their personal security during this period of unrest.

These constraints have considerably slowed the operation over the last week and a half, affecting both cargo movement and general logistics coordination, since the staff of UN and major international organisations have been largely confined to their duty stations.

2. Logistic Support System (LSS)

UNJLC is continuing with its efforts to establish LSS as a useful management tool for responders, managers and donors alike. (see bulletins 27 and 31, items 4 and 2 respectively) However, to be effective, the system relies upon agencies and NGOs to provide data on their stock and deliveries of non-food items (NFIs), as well as on their on-order incoming stocks. Unfortunately the response to requests for such pipeline information remains poor. To date less than 25% of those requested to provide data for January 2006 have responded. Late returns of on-order, in-stock and distributed data should be sent to tania.regan@wfp.org. This provides the body of evidence for seeking donor funding for air operations, road transport and other services.

3. Prioritisation of Air Cargo

To date there has been sufficient helicopter transport available to move all the NFI cargo requested. Recently, however, there has been an increase in requests to move NFIs and, as reported below, the number of helicopters available is decreasing. There is therefore an urgent need to establish a means of prioritizing cargo for movement by air.

At their meeting on February 13th, the Heads of Clusters agreed that unless and until a more sophisticated system could be devised, UNJLC will now begin prioritizing air cargo based upon agency’s and NGO’s LSS input. Those who had forecast their need to move NFIs by supplying pipeline data will be considered priority one. Those who only submitted partial or inaccurate data will be priority two and the remainder will be priority three.

4. NGO Import Procedure for Motor Vehicles

The Government of Pakistan has announced that vehicles imported by UN agencies for the relief effort will be processed under the system that existed prior to 8th October. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, upon application in writing, will certify the exemption certificate that is used for tax free entry. There is no need to lodge an NOC with the ERC. However, after multiple requests to Pakistani officials, UNJLC is still waiting for clarification on the procedure for International NGO's to obtain the equivalent tax free entry of motor vehicles. There appears to be confusion within the government as to who is responsible for overseeing this and until the situation is clarified we suggest that the International NGO community hold off any vehicle importations.

5. Visa Applications

After a period directly following the earthquake when relief workers were allowed to enter the country on a three-month landing permit, standard visa requirements were re-instigated on January 1st for all those participating in the humanitarian mission. However UNJLC has yet to receive a response from the Ministry of the Interior to its request for a formal policy on the issuance of visas at overseas missions and a position on the requested fee waiver. Until this is obtained, it is advised that any humanitarian applications meet the requirements set out by the individual missions.

6. Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

On February 11th UNHAS set a record for the Pakistan operation to date, moving a total of 415 tonnes of goods in one day. However, due to a shortfall in funding, UNHAS will now be making a drastic and immediate reduction to its helicopter fleet. A revised passenger schedule will come into effect as of February 18th with multiple changes including the cancellation of all weekend passenger flights. The new schedule can be found at www.unjlc.org/pakistan/air/unhas. Meanwhile the contracts of two Mi-8Ts have been ended, bringing the current number of UNHAS Mi-8Ts down to 14. Further cuts will be announced shortly and a substantial drop in UNHAS activity can be expected over the next month. An active review of the situation is underway and more information will be available in the coming days.