Summary
Content
Highlights:
- Main caseload of IDPs is present now in Tbilisi (75%) and the other 25% scattered in towns and villages in western Georgia (biggest caseload in Kutaisi)
- Provision of logistics services amounts to 1 USD million and has been incorporated into the Flash Appeal
- Vladimir Jovcev (Logistics Coordination) arrived in Tbilisi 15 August 2008.
- Staffing will be reviewed as the situation develops, meanwhile inter-agency warehousing and transport staff, as well as information management staff are currently being identified.
- A website for posting relevant sectoral information on the web has been established by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). Logistics information will be accessible from http://www.logcluster.org/countries/geo , and also as a link from the DRC site.
Operational Update and Challenges:
Road status:
- Road checkpoints and visible military presence reported at Sinaki (near Poti - Russian Army checkpoint), Arkuti (Russian), Djvari (Russian), Zugdidi (Russian), Zestaponi (Georgian police checkpoint near Kutaisi), Khasuri (Russian checkpoint near Gori), Gori (Russian) and Igoeti (Russian and Georgian checkpoints).
- Secondary roads in southern Georgia are currently passable at the moment.
- 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles may move from Batumi to Tbilisi. Heavy trucks (25mt), empty, have been cited on the road heading from Tbilisi to Turkey.
- Challenges: Possible rainfall (currently predicted for Tuesday) will make passage for loaded trucks dangerous. 4x4 may be more manageable.
- Some banditry reported on the secondary roads and movement of personal and cargo will need security clearance and preferably police escort.
Aviation:
- An Antonov (24 passenger plane) of UNMOGIP flies daily from Tbilisi to Batumi. Transport of passengers as well as small cargo may be arranged. Regular flights are free of charge while the cost of specialized flights would have to be covered by the agency.
- UNOMIG also has one helicopter MI8 (up to 2mt of cargo). This aircraft is presently grounded at Batumi awaiting clearance from Russian military.
- On 15 August a CD 10 plane carrying 61.5 mt of HEBs was dispatched by WFP from Brinsidi, Italy to Tbilisi, Georgia. An additional 60 mt of HEBs will be sent on 19 August.
- On 12 and 14 August, UNHCR did dispatch 2 B707 charter flights from Dubai to Tbilisi, carrying respectively 33.3 and 31.8 mt of emergency shelter equipment. - On 15 August, UNHCR did dispatch 1 DC8 charter flight from Copenhagen to Tbilisi, carrying 38.8 mt of emergency shelter supplies.
- UNHCR is planning to further dispatch on 19 and 20 August, 3 additional flights carrying emergency shelter items. 1 B707 from Copenhagen to Batumi, 2 AN12 from Belgrade to Vladikavkaz.
- ICRC did dispatch several charter flights, and UNICEF was planning one to Tbilisi on 18 August.
Rail status:
- Challenges: Rail bridge damaged at Teklati (near Poti) and Kaspi (near Tbilisi).
- The Georgian ministry of transport is mobilised to repair them and cranes have been seen in the area. It is estimated that the railway will be operational within 10 days.
Transport availability:
- There are around 600 distribution points in Tbilisi and mini-vans and pickups are much more convenient transport means for the beneficiaries located in Tbilisi. WFP is looking to establish a new distribution model that would include setting up around 70 distribution centers.
- A mini convoy of WFP and UNHCR trucks led by a WFP field security officer delivered humanitarian aid to Gori yesterday. Although the cars were searched and cargo inspected the situation was generally calm with no signs of hostility. A second convoy comprising a WFP truck with food and a UNICEF truck with water travelled to Gori today.
- Challenges: Trucks and railcars are easily available however due to uncertainty and insecurity, commercial transporters are not willing to transport goods from Poti to Tbilisi or from Tbilisi to Gori.
- A convoy of 10x24mt trucks from Poti is being organised by WFP in order to ascertain whether the road is passable. This is in coordination with the Georgian police. A police escort has been requested and travel will be undertaken during daylight hours. It is hoped that dispatching daily convoys from Poti would eventually facilitate use of this route by commercial transporters.
- USAID is looking for NGO partners to support distribution of relief items.
Temporary storage:
- Warehouses are available in all locations (Poti, Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi)
- It is expected that storage facilities can be found in Gori. #
- Prices have not increased. Present range of 3-5 USD/m2.
- World vision has 1900m2 warehouse in Tbilisi (and 1x10mt truck); WFP has 1500m2 warehouse in Tbilisi, 2000m2 warehouse in Poti (and 1x10mt truck);
- CARE has requested temporary storage space from WFP and is willing to recover the cost for it; NRC requested potentially assistance with transport to Gori and storage in Tbilisi.
- Challenges: South Ossetia seems to be badly damaged and mobile storage units might be required for operations there. This is to be confirmed (if access is approved by the Russian military).
- EMERCOM is providing assistance to IDPs in South Ossetia and North Ossetia. No agencies currently have access in these locations.
Procurement:
- Organisations are purchasing their cargoes in Turkey for west Georgia and Azerbaijan for the supplies to Tbilisi.
- Both borders are open and no problem has been experienced to date.
Please see website for details of next meeting.
Contact: Vladimir Jovcev - vladimir.jovcev@wfp.org