15th February 2017 A three-day training currently underway at Tungi Colonade conference room, Nuku’alofa aims to enhance participants understanding of the Pacific Emergency and Response Logistics organized and coordinated by the PEARL project (WFP).
The training is hosted by the Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office under the Ministry of MEIDECC and the participants are from the line ministries, stakeholders, private sectors and NGOs and participants from our neighboring islands of Vanuatu.
CEO for MEIDECC Mr. Paula Pouvalu Ma’u said the Pacific have witnessed an increase in the number and magnitude of disasters and stressed the significance of such training.
“In the last decade, we have witnessed a steady increase in the number and magnitude of disasters. Only by this year for the first time in History, Tonga and the whole of the Pacific have experience a peaceful season although we still have to plan and prepare for emergency that might have an effect on Tonga. That is why it is important that we are here today to collaborate and to be partners on disaster risk management specifically in the areas of Logistics.”
Mr. Ma’u told participants that logistics is central to disaster relief for several reasons.
“Firstly; it serves as a bridge between preparedness and response, between procurement and distribution, and between headquarters and the field. Secondly, it is crucial to the effectiveness and speed of response for major humanitarian programs, such as health, food, shelter, water and sanitation.”
He said the training would equip participants with an understanding of principles and scope of work of the logistics cluster, what it means to work for the cluster in an emergency and create opportunity for developing networks and mutual understanding between stakeholders.
At the end of the training, participants will be able to achieve the following:
- Understand the general principles of logistics as they pertain to warehousing and stock control
- Have greatly enhanced understanding of warehousing selection
- Understand and can conduct the basic logistics calculations of weight volume and capacity
- Have a good understanding of the flow of goods down the supply chain
- Understand the key warehousing dispatch stock control and receipt roles
- Have a good understanding of the key documents required for good warehousing and stock control.
The workshop is funded by the PEARL Project through the World Food Program (WFP) and the facilitators are Alan Johnson from WFP and Graham Kenna a Logistics Advisor for NEMO.
ENDS
Issued by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication