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UN humanitarian food agency begins work on regional logistics base in Djibouti

UN humanitarian food agency begins work on regional logistics base in Djibouti

WFP projects in Djibouti provide 27,650 metric tons of mixed food commodities at a cost of $24.5 million
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today laid the foundation stone of a new humanitarian logistics base in Djibouti that will serve as a vital regional hub for the UN agency.

At an estimated cost of $6 million, the new base – to be developed on 40,000 square metres of land made available by Djibouti – will include a warehouse with capacity to store 30,000 tons of food.

WFP’s Director of Logistics Martin Ohlsen said the agency was “confident that the base will make it easier than ever before for humanitarian assistance to reach those in need in the region in a timely and cost-effective manner.”

Djibouti remains a crucial regional transit hub for the WFP as the UN agency routes food assistance through the country for Ethiopia and northern Somalia.

The ceremony was hosted by Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh and attended by Government officials, members of civil society and UN representatives as well as donor representatives from Djibouti and Ethiopia.