Summary
Content
In this update:
- Reminder to Cluster Participants for comments on the SupportCell's work plan
- Chad/North Cameroon aviation update
- Central African Republic update
- LRT mission to Tajikistan
- Mozambique Logistics Cluster update
- Kenya Logistics Cluster update
- Support Cell mission to Zambia
- USA Logs Cluster NGO meetings planned in April'08
- Interesting logistics articles and web links
- Missions and Events
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Reminder to Global Logistics cluster participants:
we are still expecting comments on Global Logistics Cluster Support Cell Work Plan until close of business 25.02.08. (Attached below)
All comments which we had received so fare were taken into consideration and reflected in the Global Logistics Cluster Support Cell Annual Work plan.
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Chad/North Cameroon aviation update:
Civil unrest in Chad had an impact on humanitarian community's work: 53 UN staff were evacuated from Ndjamena to Yaounde by 3 aircrafts (E 120, B 1900, B 200) on 01 Feb. To date, over 200 humanitarian workers have been flown from Yaounde to Garoua/Maroua to commence emergency operations for Chadian refugees in Northern Cameroun. 42 humanitarian staff (all NGOs) were evacuated from Abeche to Yaounde on 06 and 08 Feb.
Several relocation flights were performed from the field to transport about 180 humanitarian workers into Abeche from 30 Jan to 09 Feb.
Current Status of Operations: Regular scheduled flights between N'djamena and Abeche have resumed.
Regular flights between Yaounde and Garoua/Maroua to support emergency operations in Northern Cameroun are operating 5 times a week. Regular flights take place between Yaounde and Abeche for relocations and resumptions to post of humanitarian staff. Regular schedule between N'djamena and Southern Chad (Moundou / Sarh) resumed (for UNHCR).
Future Perspective: It is planned to maintain current fleet in Chad. One medium aircraft will be positioned in Yaounde in order to connect the capital to Garoua / Maroua. One STOL aircraft will be positioned in Garoua / Maroua to serve Waza (nearest airfield to Kousseri).
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Central African Republic updates:
The Logistics Cluster Participants in CAR agreed on the following priority activities;
Logistics Capacity Assessment, including a focus on Customs as new procedures related to tax exemption are about to be issued by the Government
Transport coordination (planning and load sharing)
Coordination of fuel management
Coordination in road/bridges rehabilitation programmes and initiatives (including with road management authorities, EU, WB and AFD)
Local market survey for most frequently used supplies
CAR Logistics Cluster is also participating in the current inter-agency contingency planning exercise.
Contact:
CAR, Bangui Logistics Cluster : Diane Duffour, diane.duffour@wfp.org; Tel: + 236 75 52 07 76
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LRT mission to Tajikistan:
The United Nations appealed on behalf of the Government of Tajikistan, for nearly $25.2 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs arising from the most severe winter in 25 years and to avoid foreseeable life-threatening situations during spring and early summer.
As a result of urgent meeting where representatives of donor, UN and NGO communities were present, a review of logistics situation in Tajikistan has been conducted and following designs made:
Logistics Cluster should be reopened
Anna Marie van den Berg, Deputy Country Director of WFP had been appointed as Logistics Cluster Focal point
LRT is requested to be deployed with the task to establish full requirements and needed resources for the disaster response
Following the request from the Resident Coordinator, the Global Logistics Cluster Support Cell is deploying an LRT which will consist of Laurent Blanc, Care secondee to the Support Cell, WFP Logistics Officer Vladimir Jovcev, and WFP Logistics Officer John Myraunet.
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Mozambique Cluster operation update – No. 7
Due to the early arrival of the annual rains this year and the resulting flooding in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, a joint Special Operation (SO) was approved to provide augmented humanitarian air and logistics support including river and land transport, storage facilities and coordination to WFP, UN and NGOs assisting the displaced and flood-affected populations in central and northern Mozambique as well as the neighbouring areas of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Specifically for the air component of the SO, 2 Mi-8 helicopters were contracted to transport personnel and relief supplies on behalf of the humanitarian community. It has been reported that additional rains are expected, which would further exacerbate the situation in Mozambique. Funding for WFP air operations in the country is estimated to last for two more weeks. To date, no new contributions have been pledged and efforts have been made to engage more donors into the operation.
In the week of 11 Feb - 17 Feb, the Logistics Cluster dispatched from Caia 305 MT of food and an additional 91 MT of non-food items. Already this week another 250 MT of food and 20 MT of non-food items have been dispatched.
The Cluster in Mozambique continues operations and provides various components of service: coordination, storage facilities, air, river and land transport. Situation reports can be found on the http://www.logcluster.org/mz08a
Contacts
Maputo, Logistics cluster: Pedro Figueiredo, pedro.figueiredo@wfp.org, +258 82 314 7210
Maputo, Logistics/reports: Ellen Hynes, ellen.hynes@wfp.org, +258 82 711 5961
Caia, Logistics Cluster: Robert Sanchez, Robert.sanchez@wfp.org, +258 82 515 4752,
Caia, UNHAS CATO, Stig Larsson, stig.larsson@wfp.org, +258 82 678 3535
Caia, SRSA seconded GIS Officer, Elisabeth Lipscey, Elisabeth.lipscey@wfp.org; +258 82 8255071
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Kenya Cluster operation update:
Information on Kenya cluster operations can be found on the website: www.logcluster.org/kenya
Next Meeting:
Nairobi: Thursday 28th February at 14:00 hrs, OCHA Regional Office, Gigiri.
Contact: Jurgen Hulst --- Logistics Cluster Coordinator, WFP B107, Gigiri, Nairobi, Tel: +254 733 333 326 - jhulst@unicef.org
Eldoret: Tuesday 26th February at 10:00am, WFP Office at Elgon View Estate, Eldoret
Contact: Sune Kent --- Tel: 0735 702 169, sune.kent@wfp.org
Nakuru: Wednesday 27th February 16:30 hrs, UNICEF Offices, Rhino Guesthouse, Milimani, Nakuru
Contact: Oddbjorn Larsen – UNICEF --- Tel: 0728 961 849, olarsen@unicef.org
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Support Cell mission to Zambia:
A Logistics/ICT Cluster meeting was held on 22.02.08 with participation from 11 different organizations. Minutes will be made available soon. In brief, current operational plans of organizations were discussed. Next meeting will take place in two weeks.
Earlier in the week the Logistics Cluster met with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) who is in charge of customs. On behalf of the humanitarian community we inquired about the possibility of the introduction of a Fast Track procedure for the clearance of humanitarian goods destined for flood response. By Fast Track procedure we are referring to the humanitarian cargo receiving priority for clearance. The feedback we received from ZRA was positive. In order to proceed, we have been asked to submit a letter to the Disaster Management and Mitigation (DMMU) requesting the introduction of a Fast Track procedure.
Within the week significant information related to road access and water levels was obtained from the Roads Development Agencies (RDA) and the Zambia power supplier (ZESCO) respectively. This information as well as maps and meetings' minutes, and contact list can be found on the following website. http://www.logcluster.org/zmb08a
The Logistics Cluster in Zambia has been able to hire two staff to assist in the Logistics Cluster in its activities.
Mr. Aggrey Mulemba is a Logistics Assistant for Logistics Cluster activities and can be reached on lusaka.guest1@wfp,org; +260 (0) 977-602170
Mr. Gerald Mwale is Logistics Assistant IM. He can be reached on gerald.mwale@wfp.org ; +260 (0) 977-786776
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USA Logs Cluster NGO meeting - April 2008
The next NGO meeting is currently being organised and will mainly be addressing US based NGOs. Meeting will be held in Washington mid April. Date and location still to be confirmed.
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Interesting logistics articles and web links:
sea ports World Bank website on port concessions, privatisation and financing. This is an interesting reading on measuring port performance. http://www.worldbank.org/transport/ports/con_priv.htm
Assessment of a seaport / land interface (including measurements and monitoring indicators of port's land interface efficiency) http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/sdtetlbmisc20043_en.pdf
From the following web link you can navigate to many ports web sites/portals around the world (e.g. 23 ports in Africa)
http://www.informare.it/harbs/otheriuk.asp
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Missions and Events
- Kevin Howley on mission in Zambia. (contact number: +39 340 560 5725),
- Julia Bacher on mission in DRC (contact number: +243 (0) 817006709)
- Laurent Blanc on LRT mission to Tajikistan
- Third Logistics Response Team (LRT) training, 9 - 16 March, Brindisi, Italy
- Next Global Logs Cluster meeting planned for 23-24 April, Geneva, Switzerland
- USA NGO & Logistics Cluster meeting planned for mid April in Washington DC, dates and venue to be confirmed