Summary
Content
Dear Logistics Cluster participants,
In this update:
- NEW Global Logistics Cluster/UNJLC/UNHAS meeting date
- Logistics Response Team training held in May - interview video and yahoo group
- Humanitarian Reform workshop in Chad
- Timor
- DRC
- Upcoming missions and events
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The new date that we would like to propose for the Global Logistics Cluster/UNJLC/UNHAS meeting is: 6-7 September 2007 in Copenhagen. this is due to conflicting calendars and the summer holiday period. Please let us know should you have any problems with this date. A representative from L&T will make a presentation during the meeting.
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The first video from the Logistics Response Team (LRT) training held in May with LRT participant interviews right after the training is downloadable now at http://www.logscluster.org/about/training/lrttraining. (Please be aware that we are currently building up this website. It is work in progress and we will come back to you shortly for comments and feedback.)
LRT training attendees and facilitators are invited to join the Logistics Response Team web-based group: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Logistics_Response_Team/
This forum should serve to exchange information, ideas, keep in contact, check out pictures from the training and discuss informally. Please contribute and feel free to comment.
Last but not least here is the consolidated general feedback split into two documents; training itself and content. Please note that the documents are also posted on the above forum.
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Two Cluster Approach workshop sessions took place in Chad in N'Djamena (May 22nd) and Abeche (May 24th) organised by OCHA. Chad is one of the 11 countries included in the HRSU proposal for a Cluster roll-out this year. The sessions were co-facilitated by Cluster Leads representatives from UNICEF, UNHCR and WFP. This kind of workshop (Chad was the first of the proposed roll-out countries) aims at presenting and demystifying the Cluster Approach. Such dissemination is the first step of a process enabling the humanitarian community at country level to implement the Cluster Approach in on-going emergencies. This should be followed, through a consultative country process, by a gap and response capacity assessment and analysis as well as support/augmentation required and determining priority sectors. Eventually this may lead to the introduction of the Cluster Approach and the activation of the required Clusters through the normal process (HC/ERC/IASC). Please see attached the latest operational guidance endorsed by IASC with regards to Cluster introduction in on-going as well as new onset emergencies.
Following this, The Global Logistics Support Cell started a series of consultations with organisations' country offices in Chad to make a preliminary assessment of logistics gaps. The initial feedback received (form organisations such as COOPI, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, CARE International, FISCR, GTZ) does not highlight significant gaps in available logistics capacity (for cargo movement or warehousing). Some delays linked to internal organisations processes or security have an impact on timely pre-positioning of supplies prior to the rainy season. The need for better logistics information sharing and coordination beyond UN implementing partners was highlighted.
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The UN Country Team in East Timor holds weekly meeting as a means to keep each other informed about activities in the country. Within these meetings there has been discussion on the introduction of the Cluster Approach. At present, the County Team has agreed to wait on the introduction of the Cluster Approach. If the up coming parliamentary election set for September start to turn towards confrontation, the Cluster Approach will be looked at again. In the mean time the Sector Approach will fill in for the next few months. So far the election have been peaceful.
OCHA has prepared a Diagnostic Tool for East Timor and plans to role out the Cluster Approach within the year.
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The D.R. Congo was one of the first countries with Logistics Cluster activation; 18 months into its activation the following services are provided through the Logistics Cluster:
- Fleet and storage services
- Logistics transport platform (Ferroviaire Fluvial Lacustre Operations Aeriennes Taskforce, FFLOAT)
- Rail support activities
- Road and infrastructure rehabilitation
- Barge and Ferry support services.
Details of the activities can be found in attachment
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Missions and events:
1. Global support cell mission planned to Ethiopia in June
2. Global support cell mission planned to Dakar planned for 11 June 2007 to meet with regional offices of all organisations
3. IASC Middle East Regional Humanitarian Reform Workshop to be held in Amman, Jordan from 11-12 June 2007
4. Global Logistics Cluster/UNJLC/UNHAS meeting planned for 6-7 September, 2007 in Copenhagen
One additional point - Tim Smith will travel to Lebanon tomorrow. Clusters have not been activated and we are not aware that the in-country humanitarian team is considering cluster activation. We are responding to a request from UNRWA for assistance from WFP but will at the same time be trying to establish if any assistance might be required outside of the UNRWA/WFP relationship.
We expect to have an preliminary assessment within a few days and will report back to the logistics cluster participants as soon as possible.