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Ambassador Vasquez tours the UN Humanitarian Response Depot with Coordinator Giuseppe Saba
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29 June 2007
Strengthening the U.S.-WFP Partnership:
Ambassador visits UN Humanitarian Depot in Brindisi
Brindisi, June 29, 2007 – The U.S. Ambassador to the UN agencies in Rome, Gaddi H. Vasquez, visited the World Food Program (WFP)-managed United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Brindisi today.
The Ambassador was greeted by Giuseppe Saba, Coordinator of the WFP's network of humanitarian response depots, Marta Laurienzo, Manager of UNHRD, and Col. Luigi Fersini, Chief of Brindisi’s Military Airport which hosts the facilities of the UNHRD.
The visit began with a presentation of the activities of the n etwork of humanitarian response depots, based on the Brindisi model. The network includes depots in Accra, Panama, Dubai and Subang, and provides more efficient, faster response to emergencies. WFP is the UN agency leader in logistics.
Since 2000, UNHRD has assisted an average of 30 countries per year, and has shipped 2,000 tons of aid. Recent operations include Afghanistan, Iraq, the Indian Ocean tsunami, the food crisis in Niger, the Pakistani earthquake and, in the summer of 2006, the conflict in Lebanon.
“It is an honor for us to welcome Ambassador Vasquez to Brindisi. The interest that the U.S. Mission is showing for the UNHRD Network is extremely important for WFP, considering the growing importance of the network to the international humanitarian community and ongoing UN reform efforts,” said Giuseppe Saba.
Ambassador Vasquez explained this interest: “The United States considers WFP an important partner in bringing emergency life-saving assistance to people throughout the world who are suffering from natural and man-made disasters. An effective logistics response is critical to ensuring the delivery of adequate humanitarian assistance. We are currently exploring how we might further our partnership to strengthen WFP's network of humanitarian response depots. ”
During the visit, Ambassador Vasquez saw the equipment available to UNHRD to respond to serious humanitarian crises. A first response team at the base gave a demonstration of the swiftness of the interventions by performing a simulation similar to those mounted in response to crises.
Ambassador Vasquez also visited the former U.S. Air Force Base in San Vito dei Normanni. where WFP, thanks to the support of local authorities, provides the international humanitarian community training courses on logistics and emergency preparedness considered essential for personnel operating in emergency situations.
Italy is the major donor of the UNHRD in Brindisi, while the United States is the top donor to WFP.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: on average, each year, we give food to 90 million poor people to meet their nutritional needs, including 58 million hungry children, in 80 of the world's poorest countries. WFP – We Feed People. For further information please contact Vichi De Marchi, Spokeperson, WFP/Rome, Tel.: +39-06-65132058, Cell.: +39-3480517605, e-mail: vichi.demarchi@wfp.org
UNHRD is a WFP Network able to deliver humanitarian relief items worldwide within 24/48 hrs. The Network - composed of 5 Hubs located in Brindisi, Accra, Subang and Panama City - provides storage, logistics support and services to UN humanitarian agencies, international humanitarian organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, thus reinforcing capacity for humanitarian emergency response. For further information please contact Giuseppe Saba, UNHRD Network Coordinator, tel.0831 506650 cell 348 6099424, giuseppe.saba@wfp.org; Marta Laurienzo, Deputy UNHRD Network Coordinator & UNHRD Brindisi Manager, tel 0831 506680 cell. 348 0592174, marta.laurienzo@wfp.org
