Logistics Cluster Global Support Cell – Ghana Floods Report – 26-Sep. to 05-Oct-2007
OVERVIEW:
• The three northern regions of Ghana were hit by the floods.
• It has been difficult to measure the magnitude. It is established anyway that affected population is
less than initially feared.
• Ghanean Authorities intend to have a lead role in relief implementation and coordination.
• It is slowly realized, at decentralized level, that relief items already dispatched to districts are not
always reaching affected communities fast enough. The Authorities are more receptive (at least in
Northern Region) for support.
• The regions are managed independently by the relevant regional authorities (RCC; Regional
Coordination Council and an operational arm, NADMO; National Disaster Management
Organisation). The overall coordination taking place in Accra.
• Regional coordination, food security, wash, health&Nutrition, education, shelter, logistics & supply
- all chaired by a national body
• The Humanitarian community is mainly based in Tamale (Northern region) overseeing the 3
regions, with little permanent presence in the Upper East and Upper West regions to date.
• Although there is also an overall coordination mechanism at Accra level for the Humanitarian
Community, the technical coordination for the 3 northern regions is in Tamale; not matching the
Government’s.
• Flash Appeal pending release. Note: Released since then
OCHA/HRSU/UNDAC:
• I did travel with Sune Gudnitz (HRSU) from Accra to Tamale on Thursday. We had a mini HR
workshop same day in Tamale.
. I may attend a similar meeting with regional authorities with UNDAC.
• Had a meeting with main NGOs on Saturday with Sune (CARE, OXFAM, CRS) UNDAC and
IFRC present. All actors have a presence in Tamale where coordination mechanisms are taking
place for the Northern region in more or less a cluster way;
• CARE, CRS and IFRC are using their usual channels for distribution (local NGOs, Communities,
Diocese/Parishes and National RC society+volunteers). They all do registration prior to delivering.
- IFRC FACT team did share their draft PlanOps and are targeting 60,000 people for now (half in
Northern, half in Upper East) for NFI. Team leader: Robert McEwan. IFRC wants --and is probably
getting there now-- to work independantly from the authorities, using their own channels local RC
and volunteers. But still coordinating/collaborating with them aw well as with other humanitarian
actors. Must say that collaboration/info sharing with Robert and his team is very good. IFRC plans
a team in Tamale(Northern) anf Bolgatanga(UpperEast) for a month relief ops.
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- 2 NGOs are really taking steps; CRS and CARE.
- CARE is buying 82 mtons of maize for 3 district in Upper Est (incl. Builsa, Bawku, GaruTampene?) and 1 in Northern (East Mamprussi).
. The vendor is delivering to district level
. From there, tractors+trailors managed by local BCO/NGO/community associations partners will
distribute
. Prior to distribution, CARE is holding training to partners and community representatives for
registration.
. They will pilot the system in Builsa district
- CRS is also doing food (Bongo, Upper East) and non food (NFI USAID funded) in one district.
They will use the Diocese and Parishes network to distribute to communities
• In a debriefing with HRSU, the conclusion was to strengthen sectors coordination in the 3 regions
(risks of duplication and use of different standards were mentioned). Implying more permanent
presence in all 3 regions (instead of lengthy commuting from Tamale). This may match
Government’s own mechanisms, but at the same time, become a very labour intensive activity vis
a vis the scale of operation. Reinforced presence may also speed-up delivery of goods still at
district level.
OPERATIONS:
• More and more locations, where people are located, are becoming accessible by road/track.
Pockets may need small boats for the last leg delivery. E.g. the so called “Overseas” area in Upper
East Region that get landlocked every year.
• Given the fact that most organizations are or are going to be self-sufficient for supplies delivery, I
do not see today a need for a “Logistics Cluster” like activity.
• Regional / District authorities may however need support on ad-hoc basis to deliver the goods
under their custody. Although, they may not be using available assets (e.g. Health, Agriculture,
Education Departments) as much as they could.
• Attached; a rough picture of supplies mobilized to date. The Flash Appeal and funding levels will
provide more information on what may be expected next.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT:
• Following discussions with UNDAC/OCHA, I have designed a simple tool (sample attached) to
improve the commodity tracking sheets used by UNDAC/NADMO. It was planned to be introduced
to NADMO Northern, Upper East and Upper West today and tomorrow. But it is on hold as I
understand that a green light from Accra is required…
• This tool would help regional RCC/NADMOs to record the information on goods
mobilization/movement/delivery collected or faxed by the different actors (District tasks forces, UN,
NGOs, RC…). Such simple information system (connectivity is lacking), would bring everybody on
the same page one pipeline / stocks / deliveries of supplies and gaps or duplication.
• I did spend the last days in support of the authorities and UNICEF for moving approx. 250 m.tons
of food/NFI that the Northern Region have in stock (mostly donations and few UNICEF suppplies last biscuits in regional stores were moved Tuesday 2nd).
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The process works the following way (a bit bureaucratic but it seems working;
- a committee design the distribution plan in the morning
- in the afternoon, another put together the dispatch plan for the day after and tasks the available
assets for the following day.
- a third committee, mobile, monitors the final distribution from the districts.
Wednesday 3rd the first trucks were loaded, using assets made available by WVI, UNICEF and the
districts themselves - they can mobilise trucks in fact-.
If it continues like that, all goods presently in government stores will be dispatched in 3 / 4 days.
A similar process should take place from 8th oct. in Upper East with support from
WFP/UNDAC/UNICEF/IFRC.
Note: this is to unclogg the regional/district warehouses under the custody of the national
authorities and get things moving. From now on, the organisations (UN, most NGOs, IFRC...) are
directly dispatching goods and informing the authorities.
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