The Logistics Cluster's objective is to provide a support platform for logistics coordination for all humanitarian actors in order to avoid duplication and to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention. World Food Programme (WFP) is the global Logistics Cluster lead. In Sri Lanka, it's referred to as Inter Agency Logistics.
Jaffna Peninsula and town
The Jaffna Peninsula is the northern tip of Sri Lanka. The total land area including inland water is 1,200 km². The north east monsoon (October to January) accounts for more than 90% of the annual rainfall. The town and peninsula have been under siege several times over the past twenty years. After the closure of the A9 access road in August 2006 due to increased fighting between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the peninsula has been relatively isolated. This is starting to change now that the A9 has opened for limited commercial transport and buses.
Supply chain
Humanitarian agencies are currently not allowed to bring supplies to Jaffna via the A9 using their own vehicles. There are limited opportunities for the use of commercial transport. Relief supplies are therefore mostly sourced locally or brought in by vessel. As local supplies are limited and transport by vessel is more expensive than by road, the humanitarian supply chain would benefit greatly from full opening of the A9. With the large numbers of IDPs expected to be resettled to this area (at least 30,000) over the coming months, the demand for relief supplies will increase. Price levels of commodities rose significantly after the A9 closed, but have recently come down as commercial trucking on the A9 is now allowed.
Airport
The Jaffna airport located near Kankasanturai, is located at the northern tip of the island in the Palaly area. The surrounding area is a High Security Zone (HSZ) meaning that permission is required for access. Flights are currently the only means of transport available to the humanitarian community to get international staff members up to Jaffna. Cargo operations are limited as no handling equipment is available.
Ports
The Jaffna Peninsula has four port facilities. The port of Kankasanturai (KKS) is located at the northern tip of the peninsula and is the largest. Vessels can be discharged directly at the pier. It is however also used as a navy base which reduces its capacity for receiving humanitarian loads. The second largest facility is located at Point Pedro at the north eastern tip. This port has not been in use by the humanitarian community since 2004 following several security incidents. The third port is named Milladdy, located between KKS and Point Pedro, which is also used for humanitarian operations. This port was originally a fishermen's port which started to be used by the military when traffic at KKS and Point Pedro was increasing. Vessels are discharged onto WFP-provided barges which bring the loads into the port. A fourth port is Kairainagar located at the north western tip of the peninsula. This port is used fully by the military. All ports are located in HSZs and permission needs to be obtained before entering these areas from the Ministry of Defence through the Northern Naval commander and the Jaffna Government Agent (GA). Shipping on government-chartered vessels can be arranged through the Commissioner General for Essential Services (CGES). The vessels set sail on a routine basis and have deadweight tonnages between 1,000 and 2,800. Assistance in shipping can be requested using the Transport Request Form on the Logistics Cluster website (www.logcluster.com/lk08a).
Storage
WFP has set up an Inter Agency Logistics hub at Kopai which is 5 kilometres north of Jaffna Town and on the way to the Palaly. At this hub, storage capacity can be made available to the humanitarian community, including INGO's, NGO's, UN agencies and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) for both food and non-food items. The facility is made up of a permanent structure and 9 Mobile Storage Units (MSUs) with concrete floors. Total capacity of the MSUs comes to 2280 square meters. Both UNHCR and UNICEF have one MSU in use permanently. Storage space can be requested using a Storage Request Form which can be downloaded from the Logistics Cluster website. The Government Authority also has a warehouse facility where food items are held in stock.
Transport in Jaffna
Transport within the Jaffna peninsula can be arranged via the association of private lorry owners who has a total of 730 trucks available. This association is allowed to pick up loads directly at the ports and move them outside of the HSZ without cross loading. Contact information is as follows: Jaffna District Pvt Lorry Owners Coop Society, Irupalai road, Kondavil, Phone: 021 222 5628.
IOM provides transport solutions for the Jaffna peninsula which can be requested via the form posted on the Logistics Cluster website. If needed, WFP can also assist in arranging transport. This can be requested using the Transport Request Form posted on the website.
Contact Information Inter Agency Logistics/WFP Jaffna:
Mr. Thavapiragasam Chelliah, Mobile: +94 (0)773623101, E-mail: thavapiragasam.chelliah@wfp.org
Website Logistics Cluster: http://www.logcluster.org/lk08a
Website Humanitarian Portal UNOCHA: http://www.hpsl.lk
Mailing List: to subscribe, please send an e-mail to sri-lanka.logs-subscribe@logcluster.org
