Supporting UNHCR - A Logisticians Expectation.

From medieval times to the present dispensation, the world relentlessly continues to witness plethora of crisis unabated. This is usually as a result of rebel insurgencies trying desperately to topple a legitimate government, or occasionally, polities seeking to expand its sphere of influence. By such precarious propensity, opposing sides invariably resorts to the deployment of armaments, either to defend or wage endless war at the peril of the lives of the people they proclaim to safeguard. Conspicuously, the damning effect constitute colossal displacement of the masses, thereby, occasioning the inevitable escalation in the number of refugees that continue to plague the universal planet, which world leaders fruitlessly continue to seek answers but to no avail.
According to UNHCR, there are a staggering total number of approximately 45.2 million people that were forcibly displaced by the end of 2012, globally. Looking at unfolding international events, the figure quoted could escalate if a remedy is not proffered to counteract this concomitant surge. However, the endless and needless pervasiveness of such social tragedy requires huge financial and material support, but most essentially, human logistics to make the relevant anticipated interventions.
Apparently, the emergence of hordes of NGO’s delivering logistics/supply chain services within the realm of United Nations (UN) can never be down played, in the least. But then, can the larger populace place much premium on the class of aptitude and credibility that is brought on board the UN systems by these NGO’s? The palpable truth is that, intricacies involved in regulating logistical and supply chain processes demands greater ‘substance and processed knowledge expertise’ that would safeguard and guarantee the goals and objectives set by UNHCR.
Remarkably, complexities inherent in logistics/supply chain practices makes it so imperative for diverse considerations to be made in the protracted and multifaceted journey of logistics/supply chain process, if overall success is to be achieved. Accordingly, this makes the issue of dealing and managing refugee situations a bit murky. The above therefore provokes a clarion call for CILT certified logisticians worldwide to be roped into the wider latitude of UN undertakings, by way of rendering absolute technical support. The clue here is that, global CILT associates could create a pool of committed volunteers of logisticians to, subsequently; synchronize with UNHCR for integration into the UN systems. Such remarkable contribution could function as the Institute’s ‘widow’s mite’ to global peace and security.
To justify the above claims, it is empirical to note that Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) i.e. Doctors Without Borders is no doubt perceived as conglomeration of volunteered medical connoisseurs, that has impeccably collaborated with the UN to provide emergency medical care and reliefs to millions of people caught in catastrophic events such as armed conflicts and in events of force majures. This impressive inspiration has invariably succeeded in transforming the fortunes of UN to a considerable altitude.
What's more, Action Africa Help International (AAH-I) is another entity that started supporting logistical operations previously offered by UNHCR. AAH-I was charged among other things the responsibility of maintaining warehouses and vehicles including monitoring the use of fuel through funding received from UNHCR; interestingly, this is one of the countless functions CILT trained professionals have superior core competencies.
Literally, the credibility of professionals that are churned out by CILT, globally, cannot be interrogated. This assertion is conspicuously manifested in the optimal functionality of most business conglomerates across the length and breadth of the globe; in that the success of every business entity, undoubtedly, revolves around prudent logistics/supply chain institutionalization within established entities, holistically.
Evidently, the mundane activities of Somalia’s Al-Shabab, coupled with rebel insurgencies in South Sudan, in addition to the unpredictability of the Malian conflict and the human onslaught being perpetrated both in DR Congo as well as in recent times, the human carnage being visited upon the masses at CAR requires serious logistical attention that equally demands immense professional expertise. Indisputably, CILT members have set the bench mark and this makes them stand tall in this contextualization. Thus, the need for the infusion of a body of volunteered CILT logisticians into the UN assemblage, indeed, becomes paramount. Their input would definitely support activities of UNHCR to manage and contribute to subjugate these systemic pathologies blatantly ruining the entire global hemisphere.
To this end, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, (CILT) African 2014 forum which is expected to be held on the 3rd – 6th of March, in Accra/Ghana as well as the concluding one to be held in Malaka/Malaysia from 1st-6th of June this year, could strategically serve as the podium to dialogue this very striking subject matter for rapid modalities to be formulated.

Joe effah-nkyi, (MILT) Tel: +233 244 250922
P.O Box ce 12281, Tema/Ghana
E-mail: [email protected]