SUMMARY OF NEEDS
The capacity to bring humanitarian relief items into Sudan has been severely reduced, with the closure of air space, following the eruption of fighting in April. The operation of the only viable entry point, Port Sudan, has been limited due to the requirement of obtaining special permits for humanitarian and evacuation flights. This has impacted the movement and rotations of staff in and out of Sudan.
Scaling up cross-border operations from neighbouring countries faces significant challenges due to limitations in lead corridors capacity, the absence of dedicated customs offices and official procedures, bureaucratic hurdles, and a volatile security environment.
Widespread insecurity and the conflict dynamics have negatively affected the functioning of existing supply chains, leading to broken supply routes, growing administrative impediments, infrastructure damage, lack of visibility on the road network conditions, scarcity of access to fuel and severe disruptions of the banking system and cash availability. In areas that were not directly affected by the conflict, storage capacity remains limited.
RESPONSE STRATEGY
The Cluster seeks to support the humanitarian community to overcome common gaps of logistics capacity, by ensuring coordination, information management activities and providing access to common logistics services, based on identified needs, to facilitate relief operations. To expand the operational reach of humanitarian organizations and to assist people in need in hard-to-reach areas, the cluster support inter-agency crossline supplies movements and explores the operational capacity for alternative cross-border points to facilitate humanitarian convoys, including possibility of cargo consolidation.
WFP will maintain the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to facilitate the transport of humanitarian workers, ensuring they can reach, and address project needs effectively. UNHAS Sudan has 136 registered user organizations and targets to transport 2,000 passengers and 6 metric tons (MT) of light humanitarian cargo monthly.
The Logistics Cluster collaborates with all humanitarian entities based on the principles of partnership. Key services include information management and coordination platforms, offering logistics services at no cost to user to fill identified common gaps, and supporting Civil-Military coordination for humanitarian convoys.
TARGETING & PRIORITIZATION
The cluster's activities are aligned with HRP priorities, partner locations, common logistics needs, gaps, and security constraints. UNHAS flights will ensure reliable access to hubs and remote field sites and maintain close communication with authorities in support of access negotiations. It will collaborate with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), and work with key stakeholders to facilitate the safe resumption of domestic flights as soon as possible.
PROMOTING QUALITY & INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING
The cluster's response will be guided by partner requirements expressed through various platforms, including Cluster coordination meetings, the ICCG, HCT decisions, UNHAS Steering Committee, and User Group Committee. The Logistics Cluster will provide the services under the stewardship of WFP and according to its procedures. WFP provides community engagement materials outlining humanitarian response objectives and rights-based communications. This includes access to complaint and feedback mechanisms (CFMs). The cluster advocates for the integration of PSEA in the response in close coordination with relevant actors and the PSEA lead at the country level.
COST OF RESPONSE
The Logistics Cluster seeks $111 million in financial requirements for 2024. The cluster will prioritize coordination and information management activities, alongside the provision of various common logistics services.
UNHAS operational costs will depend on aircraft deployment timing and insurance premiums to include war risk coverage. The gradual deployment plan has an all-inclusive budget of $104.3 million, with 75 per cent estimated to cover aircraft insurance premiums.