Bulletin 5 UNJLC Sudan

OCHA has released in draft the "United Nations Inter-agency Contingency and Emergency Response Plan, Darfur Region Sudan". The UNJLC contributed the shelter/NFI and logistics management sections. This includes basic NFI and shelter supply requirements. The plan is scheduled to be released next week by OCHA and include a revised appeal.

Stocks of shelter and basic NFI minimal in all locations. No significant shipments are known to be en-route. With the rainy season starting in mid-May the lack of shelter and other basic NFI is a critical concern.

WFP resumed limited air cargo operations of food to the Darfur region. This was necessary because of security related road transport delays. WFP can expand air cargo capacity quickly if needed. WFP has allocated on AN-12 for these flights to Al Fasher and El Geneina. WFP may also airlift some food from Nyala to Al Fasher and Geneina.

WFP reports adequate food stocks until end-May at current distribution levels. They have a vessel arriving to Port Sudan in July (ETA field late July early August). They are meeting with USAID and other donors to ensure adequate supplies for June and July.

Field reports indicate the supply of food is generally not the most pressing concern for some of the IDPs right now. This seems to be because last season was a good one in the area and IDPs were able to salvage some of their crops, count on the assistance of host families, and of course many are already receiving food assistance from WFP. It is expected that the local food supply situation will deteriorate in the coming months and in to 2005. Food assistance needs will likely increase substantially. WFP is now using 1.18 million people in need of food assistance, this may increase to 1.5 to 2.0 million later this year.

OCHA reports there are 21 UN international officers in Darfur now. No UNJLC staff is in Darfur.

The UNLC Air Operations consultant completed his mission to Khartoum and returned to Nairobi 14 April. He was able to meet with major donors, NGOs, UN agencies, and GoS CAA officials during his three-day mission.

In anticipation of increased supply of NFI, the UNJLC completed an assessment of storage and cargo handling facilities in El Obeid. The assessment concluded that El Obeid is a suitable logistics hub for humanitarian relief operations for the Darfur region. It is well connected by road, rail, and air; has adequate warehouse space, transport capacity, office space and staff accommodation. El Obeid is also the primary WFP hub for support to southern Sudan and Darfur. The full report is available from the UNJLC web site.

Weekly Logistics Meetings are held at the UNDP Meeting Room Thursdays at 13:00. These meetings cover all general logistics issues in northern Sudan with a current focus on the Darfur Region.

Mr. Nicolas Daher, a UNJLC Logistics Officer seconded from WHO, arrived in Khartoum 10 April.

SOUTH SUDAN

UNICEF/OLS is considering a goods movement road service between Nairobi and Lokichoggio. The service will operate twice a week service with a 7 or 15 tons truck. All partners in the OLS consortium can use this service. UNICEF would appreciate feedback from partners on the usefulness of said

services. Rates, schedule and mode of operation will be communicated after feedback has been received.

Requests and comments on this should be addressed to rbohlin@unicef.org.

The UNHCR assessment mission to South Sudan returned to Nairobi and will brief the Humanitarian community on their findings early next week. The information relevant for logistics will be published in the next bulletin. The focus of the mission was the movement of returning refugees.

Mr Oddbjorn Larsen has arrived in Rumbek to set up a UNJLC office in that location. He has introduced the UNJLC concept to all agencies and NGOs present at the weekly Security meeting. He also commenced with the collection of logistics information from the various actors in the region, which will, once compiled and analysed be published on the UNJLC website. A meeting with the acting governor in Bahr el-Ghazal took place during which he gave a briefing on the UNJLC tasks and activities. The Governor agreed to assign a counterpart to the UNJLC.

Mr. Larsen also visited the Joint Operation Center" (JOC) at the SRRC compound and will assist the Sustainable Returns Team (SRT) in the start up of its office and activities. The JOC will be headed by a staff seconded by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and will primarily receive and compile IDP movement tracking data.

UNJLC is establishing its office within the UNICEF compound and should be operational by Friday, 16 April 2004. Whilst the communication of the office is still being worked on, Mr Larsen can be reached by e-mail under oddblarsen@hotmail.com.

On 15 April 2004, UNJLC is inviting agencies to another Joint Logistics Coordination meeting at the IRIN / Regional Ocha compound at 10 am. The main agenda items include a brief by UNMAS on the mine and UXO situation in South Sudan and its impact on operations. Another major item will be the continuation of a discussion commenced at the previous meeting on coordination in mapping and data processing. The DHC had asked the UNJLC to take the lead in coordinating issues related to mapping.

ABOUT UNJLC
UNJLC is an inter-agency facility reporting, in the current emergency, to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, and overall to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Its mandate is to coordinate and optimise the logistics capabilities of humanitarian organisations in large-scale emergencies. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP who are responsible for the administrative and financial management of the Centre. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions channelled through WFP. The UNJLC project document for Sudan can be viewed on the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org).