WFP Logistics - Nicaragua

The WFP has been in Nicaragua since 1971, initially facing emergencies, and in the 90's started development projects, its presence strengthened during Hurricane Mitch (a regional operation of emergency was implemented) and currently, implements varied operations in Nicaragua: an emergency operation EMOP-10700, an aid and recovery operation PRRO-10444, and development activities CP-10597 with different modalities or components such as: Attention to Vulnerable Groups, School Feeding and Food for Asset Creation.

The region of influence of these operations is in the departments of Nueva Segovia: 12 municipalities, Madriz: 9 municipalities, Matagalpa: 6 municipalities, Jinotega: 8 municipalities and North Atlantic Region: 6 municipalities.

The most recent emergency was the one caused by Hurricane Felix in the North Atlantic Region (Sept 2007) and in which 90,000 people were attended, being WFP one of the first organizations serving the casualties in the first few hours after the disaster. Leading in the logistic department, counseling and supporting several of the organizations aiding the emergency, such as: PNUD, UNICEF, OPS, Civil Defense, Plan International, also coordinating activities as food transportation by sea, using chartered vessels between various organizations such as: CRS, Plan International and WFP, this to reduce costs and time, which resulted in a more efficient answer.

Special deliveries were done, working in coordination with the Regional Government in the North Atlantic Region, Nicaragua's Army, OFDA/South Commander of the USA, and Venezuela and Nicaragua Aviation, performing an average of 12 helicopter flights per day with an average load capacity of 2 TM, reaching the more distant populations with difficult access and further damage caused by the hurricane.

In the regular operations of the WFP like PRRO-10444, region of action located in the north central region and the North Atlantic Region, regions of difficult access that make the logistics operations complex and costly; performing multimode in precarious road, which in Winter time is inaccessible, having to use only 4x4 vehicles for food transportation. In another area of this territory the only access road is through rain and sea navigation, having to do the deliveries in boats of 2.5 to 3.5 TM of load capacity, which last from five to seven days to make the deliveries in a logical path.

The logistic group of the WFP constantly makes efforts to upgrade preparedness and capability of internal logistic with other actors in emergency care, as the country is in a vulnerable area of recurring incidents in weather such as: hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, and others as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, droughts, plagues and tsunamis.