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Afghanistan Logistics Working Group Meeting Minutes

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Afghanistan Logistics Working Group Meeting Minutes Afghanistan Logistics Working Group Meeting Minutes LOCATION: Remote meeting DATE: 24 August 2021 CHAIR: World Food Programme (WFP) and Première Urgence - Aide Médicale Internationale (PU-AMI) ACTION POINTS • The Logistics Working Group (LWG) to share the updates with LWG partners on possible extension of WFP’s Guarantee Letter protocol to all humanitarian partners, once WFP receives a formal confirmation from the Taliban. • PU-AMI to provide update on the letter to the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority to advocate for easing of pharmaceutical procurement restrictions • New invite will be sent out. Next meeting will be on the 7 September at 11am. AGENDA 1. Review of the Previous Action Points 2. UNHAS Updates 3. Border Status and Customs issues 4. Access Issues Updates 5. AOB 1. Previous action points • LWG to consolidate information on customs concerns and delays for further follow up (refer to section 3 – border / customs issues, for further details) • DHL operational changes to be confirmed DHL has suspended service in Afghanistan for now until things settle down. According to DHL, they will reassess the situation and confirm their services (or continued suspension thereof) in early – mid September. • LWG partners to share feedback with PU-AMI on the draft letter to the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority (AFDA) to advocate for easing of pharmaceutical procurement restrictions Feedback from LWG partners incorporated to the letter by PU-AMI. Currently on hold to send a letter, due to the change of government. To be further updated the status by PU-AMI at next meeting. 2. UNHAS updates UNHAS • A representative from UNHAS provided an update on the latest UNHAS activities. • As of 24 August, there is no UNHAS flight operating as part of regular schedule or any additional ad-hoc flights such as international routes, but it is planned to start a flight (Beechcraft 15 passengers) between Islamabad and Kabul as early as from 25 August. A formal confirmation, including flight details (e.g. flight schedule, booking procedure, meeting point) will be included in a circular to be issued by UNHAS. • Alternative flight options from Islamabad (e.g. Kandahar, Mazar, Jalalabad) are currently investigated by UNHAS, while ensuring the security assessment and insurance coverage etc. Afghanistan Logistics Working Group Meeting Minutes • For any further information or requests, partners can reach out to the UNHAS focal points: [email protected] or [email protected]. 3. Border Status and Custom Issues Border Status Update The following is the border status as of 23 August: • Chaman Border (Spinboldak) – Pakistan/Afghanistan: Open for truck and passenger movement. • Torkham Border (Jalalabad) – Pakistan/Afghanistan: Open for truck movements. No passenger movement. • Hairaton Border (Mazar) – Uzbekistan/Afghanistan: Open for truck and passenger movement. No incoming railway from Uzbekistan. • Torghundi Border (Hirat) – Turkmenistan/Afghanistan: Open for truck movements. No passenger movement. • Islam Qala (Hirat) – Iran/Afghanistan Open for truck and passenger movement. • Sher Khan Bandar – Tajikistan/Afghanistan: Open for truck and passenger movement. Customs and Taxation • While all the borders are reportedly open for truck movement as above, the major issue is no customs formalities in place across any border. • WFP is currently engaging the Taliban to agree on extending WFP’s Guarantee Letter (GL) protocol to all humanitarian actors. The purpose of this GL is to assure unencumbered, toll free passage of humanitarian cargo bringing into the country with customs formalities. • LWG to share the updates with partners on possible extension of WFP’s Guarantee Letter protocol to all humanitarian partners, once WFP receives a formal confirmation from the Taliban. • According to one LWG partner, while there is reportedly levy imposed by the Taliban at border on any cargo being transported commercially into the country, it appears there is no levy imposed by the Taliban on the commercial transportation on the main road network, after the shift of power. If any partner has a different information on levy on the internal road network, please contact [email protected] and [email protected]. 4. Access Issues Updates Access • A representative from the Humanitarian Access Group (HAG) led by OCHA joined the meeting to provide update on the access related issues. • If partners have concerns in relation to access, please contact HAG focal point, Nadja Patrizia Leuenberger ([email protected]) or Yurii Khomchenko ([email protected]). 5. AOB • New LWG Coordinator: Brian LANGDON ([email protected]) Afghanistan Logistics Working Group Meeting Minutes Brian will take over the LWG coordinator in coming days. Please direct future correspondences related to LWG to both [email protected] and [email protected]. • Market pricing information has been shared with LWG partners: WFP Countrywide Special Market Price Bulletin, covering 1-22 August 2021 WFP Countrywide Weekly Market Price Bulletin (2nd week August) REACH Joint Market Monitoring Initiative report • If any partner would like to contribute to providing a brief input to ECHO on what would happen mainly related to Supply chain and logistics issues – as they see it – if sanctions were put in place in Afghanistan, please contact Felicity ([email protected]) • Next LWG meeting will be on the 7 September at 11am. Contacts: Masafumi Irie LWG Coordinator [email protected] Daniel Ambaw LWG Coordinator [email protected] .
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