Meeting Minutes of Somalia Logistics Cluster

Transcription

1 Meeting Minutes of Somalia Logistics Cluster Nairobi, Kenya 10 May :00 hours Somalia Logistics Cluster Venue: Participants: Somalia Support Secretariat, Conference Room, Kalson Tower Horn Relief, Oxfam UK, USAID/OFDA, OCHA, UNFPA, UNHCR, WFP (see attached attendance record) I. ISSUES DISCUSSED: 1. Security Update by NGO-SPAS NGO-SPAS sent apologies for not being able to attend the meeting. Participants updated on security incidents over the past week: Two international CARE staff (Irish and Kenyan) had been kidnapped in Puntland earlier in the week. Participants discussed that also recent incidents of hijackings and attempts of hijackings are indications that relief organisations are now directly targeted. During the same week, a Horn Relief vehicle was carjacked in Sool but later recovered with the help of the mayor. Staff were unharmed. Two incidents of hijacking of commercial vessels off the coast of Mogadishu had been reported as well during the same week. Moreover, participants discussed this week s news reports that AU troops in Somalia may not be reinforced. Also, in order to calm down tension in Kismayo, the local authority there has imposed a curfew on 8 May. The curfew starts at 9pm every evening. With more field missions planned, a few participants inquired where they could obtain latest information on the situation on the ground. They were referred on to UNDSS and NGO-SPAS as well as local security focal point on the ground. When the Chair inquired whether everyone was aware of their organisation s evacuation plan, a significant number responded that they were not. In addition to everyone reviewing their own evacuation plans, the Chair will invite UN Security and NGO-SPAS to the next meeting to brief on general evacuation mechanisms for the UN and the NGO community. Chair to invite UN Security and NGO-SPAS to brief on evacuation mechanisms. 1

2 2. Review of Last Meeting Minutes, 26 April 07 a. Priority List of current Information Gaps The e-working group on Review of Logistics Baseline Information has identified the following three areas to top the list of information gaps that are of particular interest to logistics officers at the moment: (1) updated and consolidated information on airstrips, including landing capacity; (2) ports; and (3) consolidated information on constantly changing and newly established customs procedure for the import of humanitarian cargo into Somalia. With regard to airstrip information, the Chair is in the process of consolidating updated information on landing strips that is currently available from ICAO and UNCAS, most of which is however some years old and needs to be reviewed. Updated information will be circulated by the beginning of next week and will also be posted on the Logistics Cluster website. Consolidated information on ports will follow. New customs procedures will be compiled and related issues addressed through a new proposed customs agreement for the import and export of humanitarian goods. See agenda item 3 below. Chair to circulate updated, consolidated airstrip information. b. Response to HC on suggestion of a Humanitarian Customs Agreement for Somalia Following the last meeting and an initial discussion on the suggestion of a Humanitarian Customs Agreement for Somalia, MDM France, World Vision and the Chair drafted a response to the HC with the recommendation to: (1) initiate the implementation of such an agreement for Somalia; (2) initiate similar agreements with neighbouring countries through which cargo for Somalia transits; (3) draft substantive annexes to the Model Agreement that lay out procedures, documents require, processing channels etc., through a technical working group; and (4) eventually use the Somalia agreement as the basis for similar negotiations in neighbouring countries in order to ensure that all agreements constitute an integrated regional framework. Upon submission of these recommendations, the HC had responded immediately with some initial questions for clarification. His advice on the feasibility for the implementation of such an agreement is awaited. c. Invitation to Local Implementing Partners on Local Procurement in Somalia The Chair had invited Oxfam Novib and some of its Implementing Partners to attend the next meeting. However, most of them had no staff in Nairobi and could thus not participate in the meeting. Chair to continue to follow up on invitation to local Implementing Partners on local procurement in Somalia. 2

3 3. Humanitarian Logistics Framework for Somalia a. Procedural Access Border & Customs (Customs Model Agreement) Over the past reporting period old issues related to customs clearance through Kenya as well new procedures related to the import of humanitarian cargo have arisen that will require clarification. See agenda item 4 and AoB/3 below for examples of this week s issues. All of them will be compiled now in order to be addressed in a comprehensive and structural fashion through the proposed Customs Agreement Cluster Members to submit procedural challenges to be addressed through the Customs Agreement. b. Security for Humanitarian Transport inside Somalia With a deteriorating security environment and increased threats not only to the movement of humanitarian workers but also humanitarian cargo, the Chair suggested to look at examples of other humanitarian environments in high-security areas to investigate what measures could be taken to improve the security of convoys. 1. Group to investigate possible security mechanisms for humanitarian convoys. 2. OCHA to advise on mechanisms in other emergencies. c Funding for Inter-Agency Logistics (Passenger & Cargo) The Chair informed that WFP, on behalf of UNCAS, had submitted a project proposal for comprehensive air support. On the request of OCHA, the proposal had in the meantime been revised with the inter-agency air cargo component reduced from 2 to 3 months and the subsidized passenger flights from 8 to 6 months. OCHA inquired why the project had been reduced. The Chair responded that this was done on the request from OCHA Somalia. The Chair believed that the reasons for this may relate to increased chances for receiving CERF funding, although it did reduce the actual requirements by a third. OCHA informed that one of the reasons why funding may not be forthcoming for this is that CERF funds needed to be allocated proportionally to all sectors. The Chair responded that proportionality of allocating funds might not be helpful in an environment like Somalia where the entire context needed to be considered. The costs of transport for Somalia, particular when transport by air may be the only option, could not be compared to other sector projects that may be significantly less. 4. New Visa Application 3

4 The Chair circulated the new Somali visa application form which will need to be submitted to the Somali Consulate in Nairobi prior to travel into Somalia. Some questions, such as whether fees will still be charged on the Somali as well, are still open. 5. Round-The-Table Logistics Issues UNICEF sent their apologies for not being able to attend the meeting but submitted an issue for discussion. With the capacity for closed-bodied trucks limited in Kenya, UNICEF was facing problems of customs-bonded cargo from Mombasa on unsealed trucks. This issue had already been reported by WFP last year and various communications on this had taken place with the line ministries in order to find alternative solutions, such as sealed canvass-covered trucks. However, no conclusions had resulted from those discussions last year. No other organization present had experienced similar problems. The Chair suggested seeking further information from both UNICEF and WFP, and discussing whether this issue could be addressed under the proposed Customs Agreement. 6. Progress Report by E-Working Groups 1. Review of pooling needs Save the Children, UNFPA, WFP 2. Information on local suppliers World Vision, UNICEF, OCHA 3. Review of logistics baseline World Vision, WFP information See agenda items 2./a and 2./c above. II. AoB 1. Pipeline Tracking Latest pipeline tracking had been circulated earlier in the week. The Chair informed that suggestions made in the previous week of collecting pipeline information on a weekly basis was difficult to implement. Receiving pipeline updates was difficult, required significant follow-up by the Chair and often took a week to obtain. All were requested to kindly assist with the updating of the pipeline tracking. Some organizations were seeking pooling opportunities, particularly by sea, and the pipeline tracking was the only information available to know who was planning to send cargo by sea. All to help updating the pipeline tracking. 2. Preparations for Another Round of Inter-Agency Air Cargo The Chair suggested that, should funding come through for another round of inter-agency air cargo, the lessons learnt from the previous air operation should be reviewed carefully and acted upon accordingly. In particular, some time during the next meeting may be allocated for a mini 4

5 session on procedures to be followed, e.g. booking procedures, packing requirements etc. An announcement would take place once funding was received on whether such a session would take place at the next meeting. 3. Sea Access Customs Clearance Issues WFP informed that it was facing some delays with a new procedure introduced by the TFG for sea cargo. A customs exemption letter was now required for every shipment that had to be obtained by the organization and available with the arrival of a ship at the respective Somali port. However, there seemed to be unclarity on what ministry was in charge of issuing such an exemption letter. The official referred to was mostly not available. Also, despite a request for customs exemption for a large consignment over a specific period of time, such as a year or half a year as is the practice in other countries, no response has been received yet on the specific procedure for obtaining these customs exemption letters. The group suggested that all of these procedural issues experienced over this past week should be consolidated and brought to the attention of the Humanitarian Coordinator. Chair to draft another letter to the HC detailing procedural cargo transport issues through Kenya and Somalia. 4. Regular OCHA Updates on Coordination Developments Relevant to Logistics The Chair requested OCHA whether they would be in a position to update the group on developing coordination issues. While still waiting for a meeting to be organized between heads of clusters, it would be helpful if OCHA could give a brief overview on coordination issues relevant to logistics at every meeting. OCHA responded that they would have to consider the request. OCHA to consider request for updates on general coordination developments relevant to logistics. III. HANDOUTS Meeting Minutes, 26 April 2007 New Visa Application Form for Somalia News Paper Articles: No New AU Troops for Somalia: AU Chairman ; Somalia: Curfew Imposed on Kismayo The next Somalia Logistics Cluster will take place on Thursday, 24 May 2007, at 15:00hrs, at Kalson Towers, Somalia Support Secretariat. 5