The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Tuesday opened a major logistics hub in Ghana as it expands its network of depots to ensure that it can respond rapidly to simultaneous humanitarian emergencies around the world.
The new hub, located within the grounds of the international airport in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, will stock supplies such as high-energy biscuits, drinking water, drugs, medical equipment, sanitation and hygiene systems, and radio and telecommunications equipment.
Accra is the third such hub, known as a UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD)
The existing bases are in Brindisi, Italy, and Dubai.
In 2007 depots are to open in Panama and at Malaysia’s Subang military airport.
Once the network of depots is fully in place, WFP expects to be capable of delivering emergency supplies within 48 hours to four major crises areas.
Until the construction of the Accra hub is finished, WFP’s corporate partner, TNT, has offered the use of its facilities at the airport to stock supplies. Irish Aid has donated up to $500,000 (2,8 mio. kr.) each year to cover the annual running costs of the base.
Kilde: www.un.org
