Summary
Regional Middle East Crisis Coordination Meeting - 16 April 2026
Content
| LOCATION | Online | |
| DATE | 16 April 2026 | |
| CHAIR | Katherine Ely, Middle East Regional Logistics Coordinator | |
| PARTICIPANTS | Americares, Concern Worldwide, Irish Emergency Logistics Team (ELT), Humanitarian Logistics Cooperative (Hulo), Humedica International Aid (Humedica e.V.), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFCR), International Rescue Committee (IRC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium (MSF-Belgium), Médecins Sans Frontières France (MSF-France), Oxfam GB, Première Urgence Internationale, Save the Children, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Food Programme (WFP) | |
| AGENDA |
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| ACTION POINTS |
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1. Situation Update
The two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran that was announced on 8 April 2026 is ongoing, however the situation in Lebanon remains tense characterized by multiple security incidences and displacement. The first humanitarian aid deliveries into Iran since the beginning of the regional crisis were reported by public media; the cargo is reported to have traveled overland route from Jordan through Turkey then into Iran. Ocean freight through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted as carriers maintain a cautious approach with no service changes at this time.
AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS
| Open | Syria, Jordan |
| Restricted | Israel, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Afghanistan |
| Restricted | Iran, Kuwait |
- Charter flights are available for cargo movements on some routes from the UAE and across the region.
- Partners are encouraged to follow the latest NOTAM updates as the situation is evolving rapidly.
- Partners are requested to reach out in the event that they are unable to find commercial charter flight availability or need alternate routing. Dubai Humanitarian and UNHRD are actively seeking opportunities and clearances to ensure the dispatch of humanitarian cargo from Dubai.
PORT ACCESS
- Ports in Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are operational.
- Qatar: Hamad Port, Doha Port, and Al Ruwais Port are open though operating at lower capacity compared to normal operations. Al Ruwais Port is restricted to small vessels only.
- Bahrain: Operations remain limited.
- The “Green Corridor” between the UAE and Oman remains open as a multi-modal shipping lane for import of cargo into UAE through Oman - partners have reported that the Green Corridor, which includes expedited customs clearance for the cross border shipping operation (Oman-UAE) is two- way; the Logistics Cluster team will verify this information from commercial providers and report back.
FUEL
Brent crude oil rose to 96.30 USD/barrel on 16 April, which is a 1.44% increase from 15 April. Over the past month, the price has fallen by approximately 7%, but it is still nearly 42% higher than a year ago. Fuel rationing and shortages have been reported in the region and East Africa.
UNHRD
- Shipping rates and lead times continue to be unpredictable with increases in both areas significantly higher than pre-crisis levels, however transportation solutions in the region are available but require rapid contracting.
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UNHRD noted that shipments routed via Jebel Ali (UAE) into Bandar Abbas Port (Iran) have been identified as technically feasible; however, costs remain high and service availability unpredictable. Overland transport is also possible, consistent with previously reported routings from the UAE through Saudi Arabia and onward via the Lapis Lazuli corridor. In addition, air charter operations from Dubai continue to be used as required, subject to enhanced security clearances and confirmation of cargo readiness to meet short‑notice uplift timelines.
2. Regional Supply Route Snapshot & LogIE Updates
Regional Supply Route Snapshot
The first Supply Routes Snapshot for the Regional Middle East Crisis was shared on 15 April 2026. The document contains consolidated information on shipping and port access, airspace status, fuel price and importation analyses, secondary impacts of the crisis, and detailed information on transport corridors into Afghanistan, Syria, and Lebanon. This resource will be released on a weekly basis and enhanced with more precise data as reports are received from partners.
LogIE Update
- The Supply Route module of the regional LogIE map is being refined to enable the visualization of precise supply routing and to allow users to filter by destination.
- An online meeting invitation to a live tutorial/demo will be shared with the mailing list. Partners are encouraged to share the invitation widely within their organisations.
- Partners can contact middleeastcrisis.logscoord@wfp.org for more information or guidance on using LogIE.
3. Country Clusters Updates
Updates were shared from the Logistics Cluster operations and working groups in the region.
AFGHANISTAN
- Fuel prices have increased by 60% since the crisis began, particularly diesel, significantly affecting transport.
- Railway transport initiatives include the following:
- China → Kazakhstan → Uzbekistan → Termez: shipment launched w/ containers. Lead time = 3.5 weeks
- China → Kyrgyzstan → Uzbekistan (Termez) → Tajikistan (Dushanbe): Lead time = 18-20 days
- Alternate routing through the following two corridors have been successful:
- Multi-modal "Lapis Lazuli" route via Mersin, Turkey with onward overland transport via Georgia–Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan and/or Uzbekistan into Afghanistan (via Torghundi, Termez, or other northern entry points). Lead time = 15-20 days.
- Northern Corridor: Overland road route from UAE→Saudi Arabia→Jordan→Syria→Turkey and onwards via the Lapis Lazuli route. Lead time = >42 days).
- WFP is currently trialing several additional routes, and will provide more information on lead times once the trials are completed:
- UAE → Saudi Arabia → Jordan → Syria → Turkey → Lapis Lazuli corridor → Afghanistan.Initial consignments have arrived in Mersin; they are expected to arrive in Afghanistan in early May.
- Mersin → Iran → Afghanistan. The trial is schedule to begin next week. The estimated lead time is 4 weeks.
- Belgium → Poti, Georgia → Lapis Lazuli corridor → Torghundi, Afghanistan.
- Turkey → Lapis Lazuli corridor → Afghanistan.
LEBANON
- Regional coordination: The Lebanon Logistics and Teleommunications Cluster (LTC) continues to monitor supply routes, fuel availability, and physical access, to assess risks, and to prepare contingency plans for potential pipeline or route disruptions across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.
- Current status of corridor planning: No formal decisions have been announced regarding humanitarian corridors into Lebanon. The LTC is mapping possible operational steps, transshipment processes, and estimated timelines should these corridors become available or alternative entry points are required. Corridors under consideration include:
- Türkiye – Syria – Lebanon
- Jordan – Syria – Lebanon
- Directly from Syria to Lebanon
- To enable contingency planning, the LTC is collecting pipeline data from partners to map where and what type of cargo is currently being stored for onward transport to Lebanon. The consolidated data will provide an overview of the amounts and types of cargo in Türkiye, Jordan, and Syria to support planning decisions and corridor readiness. The link to the survey will be shared via the mailing list in the coming days.
- Beirut Airport: Middle East Airlines (MEA) continues to operate with a limited schedule.
- Key border crossing points with truck‑handling capacity include:
- Masnaa/Jdeideh: Fully operational
- Al Aarida and Abboudieh: Not operational for trucks
3. Sudan Importation Ex Dubai
Partners participating in the Sudan Logistics Cluster reported obstacles exporting from Dubai due to rapidly changing conditions, short supplier quotation vailidity periods, and high prices.
Potential delivery routes into Port Sudan include:
- Overland transport from the UAE to Muscat, Oman, followed by air freight to Port Sudan.
- Overland transport to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, followed by ocean freight to Port Sudan, though this route is reported as highly congested.
- Ocean freight from Salalah Port, Oman to Port Sudan.
- Air cargo from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Port Sudan.
- Air cargo from Nairobi Kenya to Port Sudan; however, partners report inconsistent guidance from authorities on import clearance, particularly for cargo routed via Kenya.
4. IMPACCT
The IMPACCT Working Group conducted a survey to gather information on customs and importation constraints from partners operating in the region. Sufficient data was collected to provide the following consolidated information on the customs and importation environment in Syria and Lebanon. IMPACCT will continue to collect responses to the survey to provide similar information on other countries in the region.
According to the survey, partners are experiencing increasing importation and customs constraints in Lebanon and Syria, including closures, congestion, unpredictable timelines, and a general lack of systematic humanitarian exemptions.
LEBANON
In Lebanon, the importation systems are not functioning efficiently for humanitarian actors because there are no systematic exceptions for humanitarian goods; exemptions are only attainable through cabinet‑level special permits; INGOs cannot import under their own names, causing a reliance on the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH); procedures are often delayed, nondigitized, and unpredictable; and organizations incur high costs from customs fees, storage, war risk surcharges.
Reoccurring obstacles resulting in delivery delays include a lack of coordination between authorities and shipping lines; lost documentation; a lack of fast-track processes for humanitarian cargo; long customs clearance times (2 weeks – 26 days); and a lack of official arrangements for demurrage-free periods for humanitarian cargo.
Organisations have reported that Scan Global, Kuehne + Nagel, Gezairi, Ceva Logistics are reliable logistics actors in Lebanon.
SYRIA
In Syria, organisations have reported facing several challenges, including a highly compartmentalized customs and importation system with fragmented procedures among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and customs and border authorities. Partners have noted beaureaucratic impediments to cargo clearance including the closure of operations at Damascus and Aleppo airports, congestion in Lattakia Port, and frequent land border closures.
Organisations in Syria have reported customs clearance procedures typically pending for 5 – 15 days, and extending to 3 – 4 weeks when MoFA approval is required. Common reocurring obstacles include lost documentation, unpredictable documentation requests, and limited traceability due to a lack of reference numbers on documentation submissions. Partners also reported baureaucratic impediments at the Cilvegözü/Bab elHawa border crossing point (BCP), and repeated delivery delays for shipments transported via the corridor from Jebel Ali Port(UAE) to Syria via the Nasib/Jaber BCP between Jordan and Syria.
In Syria, humanitarian imports are formally eligible for customs and duty exemptions, however, approvals for the exemptions have experienced delays. Pharmaceuticals, medical items, and ICT equipment typically benefit from more rapid clearance processes, while other categories of humanitarian goods do not consistently benefit from a standardised exemption procedure.
IMPACCT has proposed the following regional advocacy messages:
- Establish clear, predictable humanitarian exemption policies with defined criteria, timelines, and documentation.
- Reduce dependency on third parties.
- Allow INGOs to import under their own name in Lebanon.
- Simplify or automate MoFA exemption processes in Syria.
- Create a regional “Humanitarian Green Channel,” including digital pre‑arrival processing, priority inspection, reduced storage, and demurrage costs.
- Introduce a minimum 7‑day demurrage‑free period for humanitarian cargo.
- Publish an official list of required documents by item category and point of entry.
- Establish an emergency customs–humanitarian coordination mechanism with dedicated focal points and accelerated procedures.
Based on the analysis of the survey results, IMPACCT recommends the following for partners’ operations:
- Prepare documentation well in advance.
- Do not ship before receiving all approvals.
- Work with experienced customs brokers.
- Engage early with authorities (MoFA, MoH, MoPH).
- Anticipate delays and budget for high costs.
- Use regional sourcing and LTAs to reduce lead times.
- Coordinate with the Logistics Cluster for updates.
For regular information sharing on customs and importation procedures, partners can join the existing WhatsApp groups for Lebanon and Syria by sending an email to impacct.2021@gmail.com to join either or both groups.
As next steps, the IMPACCT Working Group will:
- Continue data collection by compiling importation and customs information for Lebanon, Syria, and other countries in the region. The survey remains open: Customs & Importation Challenges – Partner Questionnaire: Regional Crisis in the Middle East and beyond
- Conduct dedicated follow‑up meetings.
- Prepare collective advocacy points and actions.
5. Any Other Business
- Irish Emergency Logistics Team presented their suite of services offered in Iran (Kurdistan Iraq), Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. Partners can contact info@emergencylogisticsteam.com Website: www.emergencylogisticsteam.com or +9647517414055 (whatsapp) for more information.
- Partners were asked to notify the Logistics Cluster if they are unable to dispatch cargo currently positioned in the Gulf to enable a consolidated update on the impact of the crisis. A new survey link has been shared: https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/c2qO3DaR
- The upstream pipeline survey is still available for partners to share their operational plans: https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/kXmev4sC.
- All the documents and links related to the regional crisis can be found on the dedicated Logistics Cluster page which can be accessed from the home page of the website.
The next Middle East Regional Coordination Meeting will be held on 23 April 2026.
Contacts
| Katherine Ely | Logistics Regional Coordinator | katherine.ely@wfp.org |
| Andrea Cecchi | Field Support Desk Officer | andrea.cecchi@wfp.org |
| Kendall Naylor | Regional Information Management Officer | kendall.naylor@wfp.org |