Summary
Content
The Flash Appeal issued in July 2006 created a logistics cluster to facilitate the transport of food and NFIs on behalf of the UN and the humanitarian community at large.
Considering the evolving security/humanitarian situation in the country and the relative improvement in traffic conditions since the cease-fire became effective on 14 August 2006, the following modus operandi is considered for the logistics cluster from 24 August 2006 (i.e. one month into the operation).
For air transport.
It can be considered that most of the rapid response items that required air transport have by now reached the country. However, OCHA has requested and obtained support form the German Airforce for airlift capability from Amman and Larnaca to Beirut. This will be available until 4 September 2006. For items shipped using this mode of transport, the cluster can perform Customs clearance and deliver the goods to Quarantina or the consignee’s W/H, depending on the size of the shipment.
When the German air force planes will no longer be available, the cluster will cease using air transport means. With the reopening of Beirut international airport for regular civilian traffic, eventual air shipments will be small and should be organized outside of the cluster. However, the goods can be received at the Quarantina depot for onforwarding to other destinations by the cluster.
For sea transport.
Considering that the pipeline for commodities is low, the time charter of WFP’s RORO that can provide transport between (Mersin), Cyprus, Beirut and Tyre will cease on 4 September 2006. It is hoped that by then commercial traffic will have resumed and that parcels can be shipped either in FCL or LCL to Beirut. Provided the documentation is made available to the cluster, it will Customs clear the shipment and deliver it either to Quarantina or the consignee’s W/H, depending on the size of the shipment.
Note: For cargoes transiting through Cyprus, the UNJLC cell will remain active and it will receive goods for on-forwarding. Should commercial shipping not be possible, WFP will charter an appropriate vessel once sufficient cargo has accumulated in Cyprus.
For international land transport.
The CLP at Arida border point will no longer be staffed on permanent basis. UNRWA has advised that it is expecting 750 MT of various cargoes to reach Latakkia in the coming weeks. The cluster will deal with these shipments in Al Arida if sufficient notice is provided regarding the ETA of the carrying vessels.
In addition to what was originally considered, the cluster will however arrange and pay for transport of full truck loads from Damascus to Beirut. The cluster will provide Customs clearance at the Lebanese side of the border.
For land transport within country.
Up to 80 trucks will be contracted on the local market. Considering that in the current security/infrastructure environment a trip to any destination within country (including loading and offloading time lasts about two days) and that cargo should be limited to 12 MT/ truck, an approximate average of 400 MT can be moved on daily basis between Beirut and all destinations in the country.
While direct delivery to final destination is preferred, a hub with a storage capacity of 600 MT in Tyre is being finalized. This will be used to store a limited amount of food and NFIs in Tyre that are awaiting their final destination. These deliveries will be organized by a fleet of SRSA trucks, until further notice escorted by convoy vehicles.
Taking into account the limited availability of storage facilities up country, WFP will install mobile storage units that will tentatively be placed under the management of Atlas Logistique in Marjayoun, Nabatyeh, Bent Jbail, Hasbaya. Final consignees will be able to pick up their consignments to be distributed at village level from these locations. The decision on the location will be made by the Tyre hub
Needless to say that a worsening of the security situation will negatively impact the turnaround of the trucks, while a possible removal of the convoy requirement would improve the response time. If the security conditions in the country do not substantially worsen, the cluster will be disbanded on 23 October 2006.