KUPANG, NUSA TENGGARA TIMUR, INDONESIA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) are today presenting the findings of a joint logistics capacity assessment carried out in NTT, NTB and Bali Province, as part of efforts to further strengthen Indonesia’s emergency response mechanisms.
The assessment, conducted in May and June of this year, provides data supporting the location of a regional emergency response hub (Unit Pelaksana Teknis/UPT) in Kupang, as part of a network of such hubs across Indonesia. The hubs will be located in six strategic positions chosen for their proximity to disaster-prone areas, as well as the presence of vital logistics infrastructure, such as roads, gateways and warehouses.
The findings are being presented during a two-day seminar in Kupang that involves more than 40 stakeholders in emergency response and logistics, including specialists from government agencies as well as international organisations.
“The first hours after an emergency strikes are the most critical for emergency response. For disaster-prone countries such as Indonesia, a prompt humanitarian response is vital to saving lives – and for this, a strong logistics system is paramount. This seminar focuses on integrated logistics and supply chain management that will enable emergency responders in Indonesia to make sure that assistance gets to where it’s needed, fast,” said Peter Guest, WFP’s Acting Country Director in Indonesia.
“Preparation is the key to a country’s ability to manage and respond to disasters of any kind,” said R. Sugiharto Head of Law and Cooperation Bureau BNPB. “Indonesia is currently developing integrated Regional Logistics hubs (UPT) all across Indonesia, designed as preparedness tools that will enable the government to pre-position the right relief items and respond to disaster more effectively. The UPT comprehensive assessment will ensure those goals are achieved.”
WFP draws on nearly 50 years of experience of responding to emergencies in Indonesia, with interventions in the areas of emergency food distributions, nutrition activities, logistics, rehabilitation projects and community support.
WFP is committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia to prepare for and respond to natural disasters through an integrated system of early warning, contingency planning and finance and risk transfer tools.
WFP’s Disaster Risk Reduction programme in Indonesia is funded by United States Agency for International Development/Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA)
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WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Last year, WFP reached more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance.
For further information please contact:
WFP /Jakarta, Clara Lila Tel. +62 21 570 9004 ext. 2110;
Mobile + 62811-166-1657 Email: clara.damayanthi@wfp.org