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Our Work
Logistics
Desert, swamp or jungle, to get food to the hungry, WFP's logistics team has to negotiate some of the toughest terrain on the planet.
In 2013, WFP aims to reach more than 90 million beneficiaries in 74 countries. To achieve this goal, WFP will rely on its impressive logistics capacity.
When the areas needing food are not accessible by road, rail or river, other methods are brought into play. An emergency may require a cargo drop from aircraft or a helicopter airlift, but there are other options too. Locally engaged porters, as well as teams of elephants, yak, donkeys and camels are also used when necessary.
Always on the move
On any given day WFP operates an average of:
- 50 aircraft
- 30 ships
- 5,000 trucks
The different ways WFP transports food can be grouped into three categories: surface transport, shipping and aviation.
Rapid response
About half the food distributed by WFP is sourced directly within the country or region where it is needed. The other half, sourced internationally, is shipped by sea and unloaded in 78 cargo ports around the world.
Thanks to a range of strategies, WFP is always able to provide a rapid response to hunger emergencies. A key element in this response is the WFP-managed network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. These are hubs, positioned near disaster-prone areas around the world, where emergency supplies are stored in readiness.
Serving the humanitarian community
WFP's expertise in logistics meant that in 2005 the agency was mandated to lead logistics operations whenever a humanitarian emergency requires a joint response from UN agencies and the humanitarian community. The group of agencies or organisations which work together is called the Logistics Cluster.
WFP also provides passenger air transport to the entire humanitarian community through the UN Humanitarian Air Service (see video on right), which goes to more than 200 locations worldwide.
Logistics Latest
Food,Trucks and Radios: WFP's Role In The 'Cluster' System
When emergencies strike, dozens of different UN agencies and partner organizations are called on to respond. They work together in “humanitarian clusters”, allow agencies to work together on areas of the response where they have the most capacity and experience. WFP leads the logistics and emergency telecommunications clusters, and co-leads the food security cluster with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
WFP Logistics in 2012!
The first annual overview on WFP Logistics has been published. We're operating around 5,000 trucks, 30 ships, and 50 aircraft on any given day, but that's not all. In addition to assisting the humanitarian community, strengthening core partnerships, and sharing our logistics expertise, we've also been building new areas of innovation in supply chain management. Have a look here and see what else we've been up to in 2012!
Improving Local Infrastructure in Somalia
When WFP launched Special Operation 105780 in 2007, there was one main objective: to promote the uninterrupted and timely supply of relief items to vulnerable populations across Somalia. At the time, humanitarian access was very limited; port infrastructures in Somalia were in urgent need of repair and these challenges, coupled with large security risks, impeded the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance. In addition, WFP aimed to reduce operational costs, while building local capacity and supporting a larger framework of economic development.
