Logistics Working Group Meeting, Tbilisi, 08 October 2008
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Subject: / LOGISTICS WORKING GROUP MEETING
Date/
Location: / Wednesday, 08 October, 14:00h-15:00h
WFP, Tbilisi, Georgia
Present: / Chair: WFP
Attendees: ACF, Salvation Army, UNHCR, WFP

1 HIGHLIGHTS

·  WFP is offering coordination and logistics services to all agencies free of charge. This was enabled by a US$ 1 Million donation from USAID in August 2008. These logistics common services are now confirmed to be extended. Free warehousing is secured and will be available until the end of March 2009; free transport can be provided until the end of the year.

·  Introduction of Mr. Ivo Santi, Logistics Officer from WFP Brindisi/Italy. He is replacing Vladimir Jovcev as WFP’s inter-agency logistics focal point in Georgia. These are his contact details: e-mail , mobile phone 8 91 60 10 44.

2 SECURITY

·  Phase II is in effect for the ‘buffer zone’ and phase I for the rest of Georgia;

·  On 01 October 2008 the EU observation mission (200 observers from 22 nations) has arrived in the bufferzone around South Ossetia, monitoring the ceasefire between Georgia and Russia.

·  One Russian checkpoint in Ali, northwest of Gori, has been dismantled last week.

3 AIR

·  Nothing new to report;

4 ROAD

·  Nothing new to report;

5 SEA / RIVER

·  Nothing new to report;

6 RAIL

·  Nothing new to report;

7 TRANSPORT & SUPPLY CHAIN

·  As of today, inter-agency transport services and assistance with the distribution has been provided to ADRA, CARE, IOCC, IOM, SC, UNHCR, UNICEF and WVI.

·  So far approx. 110 truck loads of various capacities have been made available;

·  WFP warehouses for inter-agency use are located in Tbilisi (2), Gori (1) and Poti (1). Organisations benefiting from the common services so far are NRC, Oxfam, Save the Children and UNICEF. WVI is running a warehouse in Tbilisi, which is also used by SC. UNHCR has a warehouse in Gori which is also used by MercyCorps.

·  This week, assistance with storage and transport of goods will be still given to UNHCR for the distribution of matrices in Tbilisi and Gori area.

·  The expected ship from Antwerp has arrived in Poti two days ago. WFP is currently waiting for the offloading of sugar (115 mt) and vegetable oil (56 mt), which is urgently required for the next distribution round next week;

·  More wheat flour (1000 mt) and beans (65 mt) are expected to arrive from Turkey next week.

·  Due to heavy congestions at the port in Istanbul, ships arriving in Georgia (Poti) are always delayed. Therefore WFP is planning to transport much more goods by road in the future.

8 BORDER CROSSING & CUSTOMS

·  Nothing to report;

9 FUEL

·  Nothing to report;

10  UPDATE FROM THE AGENCIES

ACF

·  Distributed 2000 hygiene kits in Tbilisi at the first stage;

·  Delivered food kits in Salki;

·  Is currently planning future distributions and might request again assistance with transport and storage soon;

Salvation Army

·  Started with distribution of medical itmes for a military hospital in Gori at August 8th, however, they have been evacuated after two days;

·  Focused then on the Refugee Social Centre and a number of kindergartens and provided dry meals as well as hot meals, blankets and bed sheets, whereas the Local Authority took care of shelter;

·  Is going to continue the work in Gori and surrounding villages;

·  Is expecting a shipment (clothes, shoes) from The Netherlands next week and another two shipments (medical supplies, wheel chairs, crutches, blankets, dry milk) from Sweden within the next 2-3 weeks;

·  Might request assistance with transport and storage soon;

UNHCR

·  Is continuing with the distribution of matrices in Tbilisi and Gori area; around 15.000 have been distributed within the past two weeks, another 5.000 are planned for this week; transport was organised jointly by WFP and UNHCR;

·  Is expecting kitchen sets and blankets from Turkey end this week; distribution is planned for about 5000 beneficiaries in Tbilisi beginning next week;

·  Is pointing out that the requirements for blankets are much higher than expected;

WFP

·  WFP has scheduled its next distribution round with another 10-day food ration for Tuesday, 14th October 2008; implementing partners are CARE, SC and WVI;

·  WFP continues to deliver wheat flour to bakeries in Tbilisi and Gori;

·  Conducted a transport capacity assessment in Gori yesterday, as the demand for trucks has increased for two reasons: a) the new housing project for IDPs and b) UNHCR’s distribution of fire wood; outcome of the survey is basically that there are no transport companies, but many individual truck driver who can be hired.

Reminder:

Relevant documents regarding logistics as well as previous LWG meeting minutes are published on the Logistics Cluster website http://www.logcluster.org/countries/geo

The local Georgia Crisis website http://relief.migration.ge/intranet/ covers information on all clusters/sectors. A password can be requested by sending an e-mail to

List of attendees:

NGO/Agency / Name / Function / E-mail / Phone
ACF / SARAPIN,
Victor / Ass. Coordlog / / 8 99 91 33 99
Salvation Army / DUSKIN,
Robert / Mission Resources Capt. / / 8 99 48 79 70
Salvation Army / KOTRIKADZE,
David / Reg. Ass. / / 8 55 40 31 10
UNHCR / SHVELIDZ, Teimucaz / Snr Supply Officer / / 8 99 19 18 17
WFP / Chair / JOVCEV, Vladimir / Logistics Officer / / 8 91 60 10 31
WFP / RATIANI,
David / Logistics Assistant / / 8 99 50 50 51
WFP / MACHAIDZE, Lasha / Logistics Assistant / / 8 99 55 55 82
WFP / SANTI,
Ivo / Logistics Officer / / 8 91 60 10 44
WFP / HILDEBRAND, Katja / Info Mgmt Officer / / 8 95 33 46 24

Next meeting:

To be confirmed.

End.

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