Meeting Minutes of the EgyptLogistics Cluster
El-Arish
8 February, 19:00
Gaza Crisis Response /
Gaza
Logistics Cluster
  1. Introductions
  • Participants:Swiss Humanitarian Aid (SDC),OCHA, WHO, UNRWA, WFP, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Japanese Embassy in Cairo.
  1. Latest Updates and Border Crossing Developments
  • The situation in terms of the border crossing remains the same as at 08 January, namely that the Rafah border crossing is closed and the El-Aouga border crossing is open for 2.5 days a week. Unconfirmed reports have been received that the El-Aouga border crossing may open tomorrow, 09 January.
  • On 07 January, 9 UNRWA/Government of Japan trucks crossed from El-Aouga into Nitzana.
  • The situation remains the same with the backlog of unclaimed relief goods of nearly 12,000 MT in El Arish. The Logistics Cluster only assists with transportation of goods for whom a recipient / consignee within Gaza Strip has been identified.
  • Logistics Cluster:Has indicated that inasmuch as it is not the responsibility of the Logistics Cluster, the concerns over the status of the bilateral cargo have been relayed to the relevant authorities. Both WFP and UNRWA have approached the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) and the El-ArishMunicipality. The ERC has been requested to carry out a detailed inventory in order to find out owners against this bilateral cargo. If the cargo carries any documentation, the cargo could potentially be channelled via the UNRWA pipeline. Yet this remains a challenge since the relief item specifications do not necessarily match the requirements since thus far, the ERC has been acting as a consignee.
  1. Logistics Coordination
  • After noting the absence of new CMRs submitted by organizations (with the exception being a CMR submitted by UNRWA on 07/02/2009) and based on the awareness of current known pipelines,the El-Arish Logistics Cluster asked participants if its services were still deemed as needed. Only UNRWA stated that it could still benefit from the service if/when some bilateral cargo presently in El Arish meets the necessary requirements needed for registration against UNRWA’s projects.
  • Based on the above and realizing that service could eventually be required by one single organization,participants agreed that the El Arish Logistics Cluster could begin winding down. The El-Arish cell will, therefore, continue providing information sharing on the border situation and activities at the airport and WFP warehouse. In addition, Logistics Cluster cargo support assistance would be provided to UNRWA as and when required. The El-Arish Logistics Cluster reassured the present members that the cluster activities could be re-scaled up to meet future requirements if the situation evolves.
  • The new Logistics Cluster Coordinator and the Logistics Cluster Information Manager of the Logistics Cluster satellite cell were introduced.
  1. Round Table (Partners Issues/Bottlenecks)
  • UNRWA:Has confirmed that the temporary halt of UNRWA cargo importation into theGaza strip is still in place. This is a result of two recent diversions of relief items, apparently by Hamas agents. The second diversion was of 200 MT of flour and rice. No further importation will take place until assurances of safe passage are received. A solution does seem to be in the horizon, yet this is not confirmed.
  • WHO: Indicated that 2 two mobile storage facilities had in been placed in the Stadium and they were apparently provided by IFRC.
  • OCHA: Indicated that lobbying had been takingtaken place with the ERC for support of storage managed, detailed inventory and the development of templates. This is with the view that all information can be aggregated to provide as complete a picture as possible of the current stocks in El-Arish. The humanitarian relief items matrix as at of 07 January will be issued shortly, although this does not reflect the situation on the 12,000 MT of relief cargo. UNRWA: Indicated that a full picture was relatively ambitious. A better picture would be sufficient and could serve to present a case to the ERC to improve information gathering.
  • OCHA: Asked why the ERC had not been in the last 2 Cluster meetings. Logistics Cluster: Indicated that it was only these last 2 meetings in which the ERC was not present. In the remaining meetings, the ERC was fully present.
  • Logistics Cluster:Proposed a change of the meeting frequency to once a week. This was agreed by all users.

Next meeting: TUESDAY 17th February at 7.00 pm at EL-ARISHMUNICIPALITY

Logistics Cluster contacts:

  • Walid Ibrahim(), mobile +201 68 843759)
  • Ahmad Al Assad (, mobile +201 68 843752)
  • Noha Balboul (, mobile +201 68 843761)
  • Ekram El-Huni(, mobile: +201 68843760)
  • Logistics Cluster number: +201 89 510853

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