Minutes of Logistics Cluster in Kenya

Minutes of Logistics Cluster in Kenya

Meeting Minutes of Somalia Logistics Cluster
Nairobi, Kenya
27 September 2007 – 15:00 hours /
Somalia
Logistics Cluster

Venue: Somalia Support Secretariat, Conference Room, Kalson Tower

Participants: NRC, CARE, Horn Relief, Oxfam UK, World Concern, UNFPA, OCHA, Islamic Relief, COSV, ACTED, WFP (see attached attendance record)

I. Issues Discussed:

  1. Security Update by participants
  • Reported fighting in Kismayo due to assassination of prominent businessman.
  • Meeting between elders in Merka resolved the tension related to the assassination of a businessman two weeks back.
  • WFP transporters are forced to employ TFG security causing security concerns at distribution sites in M Shabelle.
  • NRC car was reported high-jacked in Mogadishu
  • ICRC driver was killed in Mogadishu.
  • It was recommended by agencies that UNDSS should alternate with NGO Security on providing security updates in logistics cluster meetings.
  1. Review of Last Meeting Minutes, 16 Aug 2007

a. UNHAS Security Screening in Somalia

Agencies were reminded about the security screening procedures in Wajid and requested to show patience and cooperation with UNHAS field staff. Unless new screening procedures are put in place, UNHAS aircrafts may be forced to divert to Wajir for security screening on a permanent basis. Currently, clearance to operate directly between Somalia and JKIA is renewed on a monthly basis.

  1. Weather forecasts – scenarios/implications2007/8

SWALIM gave brief update on expected rainfall and flooding in Somalia for the coming months.

Currently, the observed river levels in Beletweyen, Bulo Burti, Luuq and Bardhere remain stable and indicate that there is no risk of flooding in Juba and Shabelle areas in the immediate future. Rains in the Ethiopian highlands are also subsiding which further reduces the risk for flooding over the next few months. However, they emphasized that monitoring the situation is advisable.

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4. Sea freight/availability of vessels

WFP have recently been experiencing difficulties in chartering vessels ex. Mombasa to carry food cargo to Mogadishu. Presently vessels appear to favour commercial cargo such as sugar, which is fetching higher rates.

It was also suggested that that increasing oil/fuel prices have made it commercially unviable to carry humanitarian cargo for humanitarian agencies that are offering lower rates locked in by long-term contracts.

Other impeding factors may be that the monsoon season is about to end with expected surge in piracy attacks.

The possibility of French navy ships escorting vessels carrying humanitarian cargo to Somali ports was welcomed, but complexities related to liability aspects may prevent this from taking place.

5. Round-The-Table Logistics Issues

  • CARE reported that their trucks have been denied crossing at the El Wak Somlia/Kenya border crossing point. A meeting with Kenyan MFA had been scheduled with hope to resolve this issue. Despite El Wak having received district status in July, there is no indication that Kenya will make EL Wak a gazetted (official) border crossing point as earlier suggested.
  • Agencies requested for improved information sharing of suppliers/contractors/transporters including min-max rates. Presently WFP is the only agency that has provided information on the logistics web site.
  1. AOB

The new Logistics Cluster Chair Francesco Nicolo Cornaro will take over and chair the next Logistics Cluster Meeting on the 11 October

The next Somalia Logistics Cluster meeting will take place on Thursday, 11 October 2007, at 15:00hrs, at Kalson Towers, Somalia Support Secretariat.

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IS / Somalia Log Cluster/ 04-Nov-18