SYRIA – Meeting Minutes (Damascus, Syria)
LOCATION: Damascus, Syria DATE: 08 February 2016 CHAIR: Logistics Cluster Coordinator PARTICIPANTS: FAO, German Red Cross, GOPA, IMC, IOM, Oxfam, Premiere Urgence, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP • Organisations interested in a Shipping training to contact the Logistics Cluster ACTION POINTS: • A convoy-specific meeting for the logistics team will be held on Wednesday 10 February. The invitation will be sent to the UN organisations who are part of the on-going convoy operation. 1. Access Constraints AGENDA: 2. Logistics Cluster Common Services 3. Joint Humanitarian Convoys 4. AOB 1. Access Constraints
Turkey The Logistics Cluster operates at Bab Al Salam and Bab Al Hawa crossing-points.
o Bab Al Salam crossing point was temporarily closed following recent events in Aleppo and the subsequent movement of refugees towards Turkey. At the moment, the Turkish Government is focused on clearing the backlog of cargo at the crossing-point. This also includes humanitarian cargo. o Bab Al Hawa crossing point is currently only opened for trucks. People crossing is not permitted at the moment. o The Logistics Cluster team in Turkey can be contacted for further information. It is anticipated that operations will return to normal later this week. o Nusayabin – Qamishly crossing is difficult to access from the Turkish side due to security reasons. At the crossing point, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) approval from the Turkish Government is required. The Logistics Cluster is currently not using this crossing however, WFP is moving food through this crossing point as security permits.
Lebanon o All official crossing-points from Lebanon to Syria are operational.
Jordan o Ramtha crossing-point is being used by the UN for cross-border convoys.
Syria o Tartous and Lattakia ports are operational at the moment. Tartous port might be closed for a duration of approximately ten days every month. 2. Logistics Cluster Common Services
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SYRIA – Meeting Minutes (Damascus, Syria)
The Logistics Cluster common warehouse facility in Sahnaya (Rural Damascus) is now fully accessible and storage space is available.
Kisweh warehouse is currently full and new requests for storage should therefore be sent for Sahnaya warehouse until further notice. 3. Joint Humanitarian Convoys Several Inter-Agency convoys were approved: Al Waer (Homs), ‘Four Towns’ (Foua, Kafraya, Madaya and Zabadani) in the North and South of the country, and Al Tal (Damascus). Not all were completed due to last minute complications.
In order to make coordination smoother, OCHA has requested the sectors to provide a comprehensive list of supplies, instead of individual organisations’ submissions. Once received a full list, OCHA will send it to MoFA for approval and share it with the Logistics Cluster for planning. This will save time when the facilitation letters are requested. The UN organisations participating in Inter-Agency convoys will have a meeting this week to discuss how they can streamline the process.
A convoy proceeded to Al Waer-Homs on Thursday 4 February. As it was not possible to deliver the full requirement, a second mission has been requested by OCHA Homs in order to deliver the balance.
Al Tall o Written approval for this convoy was received through OCHA last week; priorities are Health, Nutrition and Education. However, after a load plan was prepared based on this, MoFA revised the approval and the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) is following up on this. The Logistics Cluster has released trucks held for this convoy on 08 February. o All organisations are requested to remain on standby should the convoy be approved.
Modamiyeh o The list of items to be dispatched has been collected, although the approval received from MoFA is for deliveries in the buffer zone. This has been rejected by the UN agencies due to various obstacles. Thus, further decision is awaited for this convoy. Four Towns o Approval was received last week for additional nutritional supplies. After being loaded, supplies had to be held as the plan was postponed and is currently under negotiation by the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC). o The list has been submitted for a third convoy as per original plan. However, approval has not yet been received for this operation. This is a very complex, sensitive convoy and updates will be sent only when there is a definite plan approved. Bloudan
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SYRIA – Meeting Minutes (Damascus, Syria)
o The list of supplies is currently being compiled by OCHA. As soon as approval is obtained and priorities are decided, the Logistics Cluster will prepare a loading plan. The convoy is expected to take place during the third week of February. Yalda, Babila, Betsahib (YBB) o Verbal approval to access YBB has been obtained.
Hilfaya o The LC will check with OCHA whether this location is included in the Homs convoy plans.
4. AOB
Fuel o Moving fuel continues to be difficult. So far the Logistics Cluster has succeeded in obtaining approval and is currently facilitating the movement of fuel for IMC and DRC. o Fuel requests are reviewed on a case by case basis. Organisations are reminded that a lead time of at least two weeks is required to move fuel inside Damascus. o The Logistics Cluster will distribute fuel for winterization on a cost-recovery basis until the end of March. There is flexibility and the Logistics Cluster will review the requests as the situation evolves. o Organisations are requested to inform the Logistics Cluster should they succeed in moving fuel around Damascus.
Trainings o WFP Port Captain will be available to provide a shipping training. The training will focus on break bulk cargo, transport, documentation and roles of different actors involved in the shipping process. The training will be provided in Damascus. Interested organisations will need to inform the Logistics Cluster. Each organisation will be responsible to cover travel and accommodation expenses for their employees. Agencies’ implementing partners and national NGOs are welcome to participate. The two-day training will be in English. If this proves valuable, more sessions will be arranged and an Arabic course will also be organized, if possible.
Medicine import o IMC inquired if the attendees had issues importing medicines through Latakia. The group responded that Latakia was a good entry port and worth trying. The road to Damascus is also currently safe. Other organisations import medicines and supplies through Latakia. The only exception is when vaccines are involved. UNICEF imports vaccines through Beirut airport as they require cold storage.
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SYRIA – Meeting Minutes (Damascus, Syria)
Contacts
Finne Lucey Logistics Cluster Coordinator (Damascus) [email protected] Samuel Terefe Deputy Logistics Cluster Coordinator (Damascus) [email protected] Najd Al Chaar Logistics Assistant (Damascus) [email protected] Hamza Mohmand Information Management Officer (Beirut) [email protected] Alessandra Piccolo Information Management Officer (Beirut) [email protected]
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