WFP Logistics – we deliver

Copyright: WFP/Anibal Solimano

In Peru, WFP contributes the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7, through development and emergency operations (EMOP), as well as capacity-building activities. Development interventions are carried out through "The Promotion of Sustainable Development of Andean Micro Watersheds", Project PER6240, which includes food-for-work (FFW),food-for-training (FFT), adult literacy, nutrition education and HIV/AIDS activities in 32 small watersheds with 514 rural communities in the poorest departments the Andes of Peru, the Amazon and the Coast.

The project aims at protecting livelihoods in crisis situations, enhancing resilience to shocks and improving the nutrition and health of vulnerable groups of women and children, therefore contributing to offset the impact of climate change in the country's poorest regions. The project also includes a capacity-building component targeted at Government sectors on specific themes, such as nutrition and disaster prevention and response component, implemented in the area of Cusco and Puno in coordination with other four UN agencies, UNICEF, PAHO, UNDP and FAO.

Four emergency projects were carried out in 2007, in collaboration with the Government of Peru and NGOs partners:

1. Immediate Response Operation (IR-EMOP 10585.0) to assist people affected by floods.
2. Immediate Response Operation (IR-EMOP 10685.0) to support people affected by early frost in two Andean regions.
3. Two projects also addressed food insecurity problems of the most affected population by the earthquake in the Southern coast of Peru (IR-EMOP 10690.0 and EMOP 10691.0). A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 degrees on the Richter scale struck Peru on the evening of Wednesday 15 August 2007. More than five hundred aftershocks rocked the Pacific Coast during the following days. 596 casualties, 1,366 injured and around 48,208 destroyed houses were reported. Almost 300,000 people were considered homeless. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the Peruvian Government declared the state of emergency in the department of Ica and in the province of Cañete (department of Lima). Civil Defense (INDECI) and Armed Forces, in coordination with key government sectors, provided immediate health services to the victims and distributed coats, shelter, medicines and food to the most needed. Air transport was used to assist communities left isolated by the disaster. As a result of the earthquake, roads were damaged and markets destroyed, causing a shortage of supplies during the first weeks.
4. For IR-EMOP 10690.0, 370.8 MT of food was distributed, which included 14.8 MT of fortified biscuits, 207 MT of rice, 30 MT of vegetable oil, and 119 MT of canned fish. This operation assisted a total of 24,872 persons, covering the most affected people from the provinces of Ica (Ica, Pisco, Nazca, Chincha), and Cañete (Lima). It was directly implemented by WFP with the support of the National Programme of Food Assistance (PRONAA), current WFP logistic counterpart. This institution provided its warehouses and was in charge of the quality control process during the delivery of the products by the suppliers. Local purchase done by WFP and distribution was made as soon as the products were available.  WFP assumed the transport costs to ensure an immediate distribution. The rations were delivered at the health centers, local municipalities and in the distribution centers of PRONAA.
5. For IR-EMOP 10691.0, aprox. 6,200 MT of food were distributed to 93,000 people. WFP coordinated closely with the Peruvian Government (PRONAA, Civil Defense, Ministry of Health), UN agencies in Peru and NGOs (CARE, COOPI, Red Cross Federation, Samaritan's Purse, among others) to ensure the effective delivery of food supplies to affected populations. WFP provided technical logistics assistance to the government in food storage, handling and distribution, and also provided IT/T support and warehouse equipments.