SYRIA – Meeting Minutes

LOCATION: Damascus, Syria DATE: 29 January 2014 CHAIR: Logistics Cluster Coordinator PARTICIPANTS: Angelic Association, IOM, OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP.

PARTICIPANTS: Organizations are advised to divide their cargo between the Safita and Sahnaya common storage facilities as this will provide greater flexibility in Convoy planning (in case of closure of any of the highways between Tartous and Damascus).

Introduction of Logistics Cluster to Humanitarian partners in Tartous  The Cluster Coordinator provided an introduction and overview of the concept of the Logistics Cluster, including services such as coordination, information management and when necessary, logistics service provision to ensure an effective and efficient response in every emergency where the Cluster system is utilized. A summary of the Syria Logistics Cluster’s activities in 2013 was also shared with participants.  The aim of the first Coordination Meeting in Tartous is to identify partners’ coordination needs in line with 2014 requirements.

SITUATION UPDATE Syria

 Inaccessible areas at present include Hassakeh, Deir Ezzour, Raqqa, Rural Aleppo and some areas in Rural Damascus (Douma, Arbin, Harasta, Adra, Zamalka, Moadamyeih, and Daraya).  The Damascus-Daraa highway is currently closed at Nahr Eisheh area.  The Damascus-Palmyra highway, which controls the access between Damascus and Al-Raqqa, Deir Ezzour and Hassakeh areas remains closed, an alternative route (Damascus-Hamah-Aleppo-Raqqa) has been identified, the only issue is that the route is longer than the original one by 160 kilometres. Neighbouring Countries

 The Jordan/Syria official border crossing point ‘Al-Naseeb’ is open. After completing customs clearance in Naseeb, trucks can proceed to onward destinations via Sweida.  The Lebanon/Syria border crossings of ‘Al-Masnaa’, ‘Al-Arida’, and ‘Abboudiyeh’ are operational. The international highway leading to the Al-Arida border crossing point is currently open.

COMMON SERVICES UPDATE Transport

 The Logistics Cluster continues to provide free transport of humanitarian relief items inside Syria, and plans to continue this service in 2014.  The Cluster continues to offer free overland transport (not inclusive of custom clearance) from Lebanon/Jordan to Syria. Storage

 The Logistics Cluster will continue to provide free temporary storage services to all humanitarian organisations responding to the Syrian crisis. The Cluster has allotted storage spaces to the humanitarian community inside Syria, specifically in Sahnaya (Rural Damascus), and Safita (close to Tartous).

www.logcluster.org/ops/syr12a

SYRIA – Meeting Minutes

 Rural Damascus: The Logistics Cluster’s warehouse in Sahnaya has a storage capacity of 6,300 m². In addition, the open area at the facility has been extended to store containers if required by partners.  Safita: The Logistics Cluster is augmenting storage space in Safita by an additional 1,200 m² which will bring the total storage capacity to 2,720 m². Expansion works are estimated to be completed by end-February 2014.  All participants were encouraged to pre-position their cargo for Joint Humanitarian Convoys in both the Damascus and Safita common warehouse facilities. Division of cargo at both warehouses will provide greater flexibility in Convoy planning in case of closure of any of the highways between Tartous and Damascus.

JOINT HUMANITARIAN CONVOYS  The Cluster Coordinator gave participants a briefing on the Joint Humanitarian Convoys, their functioning procedure, and roles/responsibilities of each agency including OCHA.  OCHA advised participants about upcoming convoys for Idleb starting on 01 February 2014.

AOB  As per the consensus of participants, the Cluster Coordination Meeting in Tartous will be held on a monthly basis.  OCHA along with other participants emphasised the need for dedicated focal points responsible for the coordination of Joint Humanitarian Convoys.

Contacts: Syria Abdullah Zaman Cluster Coordinator [email protected] Mira Baddour Logistics Assistant [email protected] Lebanon Matteo Perrone Logistics Officer [email protected] Hamza Mohmand Information Management Officer [email protected] Celine Bracq Cargo Tracking Officer [email protected] Jordan Jonas Herzog GIS Officer [email protected]