WFP opens facility to store relief goods

The 9.1-acre structure can stock 13,000 metric tons of relief materials

HYDERABAD: The World Food Programme handed over a relief goods storage facility, worth $25 million, to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority at a ceremony on Wednesday.

Named the 'humanitarian response facility' (HRF), the 9.1-acre structure, comprises four warehouses and an open space, can stock 13,000 metric tons of food, medicines, clothes and other relief materials. It is located in Jamshoro district on the Super Highway.

"It is crucial that a fast, effective and reliable logistics response mechanism is in place," said Lola Castro, the WFP's country director while speaking at the ceremony attended by the Sindh chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, and other provincial ministers. "The HRF will help the government of Sindh protect and empower communities most at risk."

One of the four warehouses, which can store 3,000 metric tons of supplies, is equipped with a climate control system and can be used to store medicines. Up to 10,000 metric tons can be stocked in the uncovered space.



According to Castro, the project was initiated in July 2014 and completed within a span of eight months. The structure is earthquake resistant and steps for prevention against other environmental hazards have been taken as well. It is also equipped with an electricity generator.

The WFP, which is also providing training for the operation of the facility, plans to build a similar facility in Sukkur by 2016. "The WFP decided to build the storage centres in Sindh after the 2010 floods to help the provincial government expedite humanitarian response during disaster situation," said Castro. She said that the governments of Canada, Denmark, Australia, Japan and Netherland had collectively financed the project.

The chief minister praised the WFP and the donor countries, expressing hope that the centre would help in early response during disaster situations. He also thanked the WFP for its humanitarian assistance during the 2010 floods in Sindh and the 2011 torrential downpour which led to flash floods. The PDMA chairperson, Syed Salman Shah said they will store food, water, medicines and other material required in an emergency situation at the facility.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2015.