WFP Logistics - Central African Republic

Overview
WFP is responsible for transport of food from the end distribution points to cooperating partners’ warehouses and distributions sites, using services of the 18 available commercial transporters as much as possible.
Douala is the main entry port for food that is internationally purchased and Ngaundere is the main port for regional purchases.

Team
WFP CAR Logistics has 25 logistics staff.

Activities

Port Operations
CAR is a landlocked country but it has a river port on the Ubangi River. The river is only accessible from June to December. The level of water does not allow navigation of the barges during the dry season. This reduces the level of activities of that corridor.

The distance between Bangui and Brazzaville is 1,180 km. According to the Director of Socatraf, it is estimated that for a convoy of barges carrying about 1,500 mt a complete rotation would take about 21 days loading either to Kinshasa or Brazzaville and to come back to Bangui.

Storage
Storage capacity is highly limited, with most warehouses generally used solely by WFP. Mobile storage facilities have been installed in Paoua, Bambari, Sam Oundja and Kabo and two more will be installed in Birao and Paoua for NGOS to increase their storage capacity.
The total storage capacity within WFP premises is about 10, 430 mt . All the storage capacity used by WFP is provided on a free basis by SEGAL as a government contribution to WFP’s projects assistance.

Bouar: 1,500 mt
Bambari: 130 mt
Bangui: 4,000 mt
Kaga Bandoro: 4,800 mt
Total: 10, 430 mt

Surface Transport
The only corridor currently in use to supply CAR is the axe Douala to Bangui. Beside the use of the barge for the transport of fuel, this is the most strategic route for all international commercial trading activities of the country. That corridor is open all year through without major constraint.

The borders are closed with two of its neighbouring countries Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. Though, for humanitarian purposes it is possible to obtain a special clearance from the Ministry of Interior for the use of those corridors in order to import humanitarian commodities and goods from those countries.

There are some viable corridors that could be used to supply CAR. The most currently in use by WFP is the Douala – Bouar – Bangui corridor. Considering that CAR is a landlocked country, that corridor is the most convenient, practical and efficient is the Douala – Bouar – Bangui corridor.

Rail
No Rail Transport service availabe in CAR

Aviation
Air travel is crucial to the provision of an effective and timely humanitarian response to internally displaced persons, and host populations in the whole of the CAR, which has been on the increase. Given the lack of adequate medical facilities and the instability in CAR and in the region, the air service would also be used for medical and security evacuations.