WFP Logistics - Kyrgyzstan

In winter 2008-09 the food security level in the Kyrgyz Republic decreased dramatically compare to previous years. A steady and growing flow of labour migrants which held in previous years led to a significant flow of remittances into the Kyrgyz economy, mainly from Russia and Kazakhstan. But, in 2008 the labour migrants faced a redundancy, because of financial crisis. Large foreign debts still hinder the country's sustainable development, notwithstanding the substantial debt relief the country received from the Paris Club in 2002 and 2005. As a consequence, the Kyrgyz Republic maintains a tight budget, resulting in insufficient budget allocations for social welfare. Most GDP growth has been used to increase private consumption; state consumption has not grown significantly.

The WFP International team was deployed to Kyrgyzstan in December 2008 for six months to assist the UNCT in assessing emergency needs and increasing its capacity in addressing potential crisis. The dramatic poverty at the household level found in some areas. Household visits in the Osh & Jalalabad oblasts confirmed very poor food diversity with consequent high levels of micronutrient deficiencies and under-nutrition.

After specifying chronically poor and vulnerable areas, under the auspices of the EMOP project 625 thousand of beneficiaries are planned to be fed. More than 10 thousand metric tonnes of commodity (wheat flour and vegetable oil) are programmed for distribution during the period of 6 months.

Kyrgizstan is double land locked country, rail infrastructure is heavily relays on neighboring countries, because there is no direct rail connection between North and South of country , 80% of country roads are stretched over mountains areas and in winter some times are blocked due to heavy snow.

Logistics operation was started from November 2008 , and by the end of December CO LU nominated warehouses, forwarders, clearing and handling agent. Bothe warehouse one in North (Bishkek) and another in South ( Osh) can simultaneously receive and distribute food assistant.

Chronically poor and vulnerable areas, as a rule, are located in mountains, therefore food needing areas are posible to reach, only through high notches, so trucks are chosen to be able to deliver each villages regardless variety of obstacles like destruction of road by snowglides or floods. Logistics relies on contracted transporters for most of its deliveries. The trucks used with a capacity up to 30 metric tonnes.

Distribution activities are held by Implementing Partners - Nongovernmental Organizations. They are resposible for proper and fair distribution, and reporting of Daily Commodity Movement. Distribution is monitored by Programme Units.

For minimization of transit time and having cost effective arrangements local food market assessment was done.