Copyright: WFP

Overview
Refugees from the Western Sahara have been living in Algeria since 1975.  In the absence of a durable political solution which would enable the refugees to return home and given the very limited opportunities for self-reliance in the arid, desert environment of Tindouf in South-Western Algeria where they live, these refugees continue to depend on international humanitarian assistance for their survival.

Team
The WFP logistics team consists of one national officer and one logistics assistant based in Algiers and one International Logistics Officer and one Logistics assistant in Tindouf. The International logistics officer is Head of the Tindouf sub-office.

Activities
Port Operations
As per an agreement with WFP, the Algerian government has designated the Algeria Red Crescent (ARC) to receive WFP food aid at the port of Oran, except for locally purchased food which is delivered by WFP directly to the Extended Delivery Point (EDP) (Rabouni) near Tindouf some 1800 Km away from the port.

Storage and Handling
Storage is one of the logistical challenges in Tindouf, mainly due to harsh weather conditions and an urgent need to improve EDP storage facilities. Rabouni's current storage facilities mainly consist of two warehouses, one built by WFP in 2005 and an open storage facility (17 platforms) that was built more than 5 years ago. In addition, containerized storage is also done in Rabouni.  The overall storage capacity is around 8,500 mt.
 
Warehouse management is done by ARC in coordination with the Sahraoui Red Crescent (SRC). WFP covers the cost of handling and warehouse management as per the operational agreement signed with the ARC, and provides close and continuous guidance and monitoring on all activities in the warehouses.  Action has been taken to rehabilitate some of the existing storage facilities.

Road Transport
ARC is responsible for the transportation and handling of WFP food to the EDP in Rabouni and subsequent storage. Food is required to be transported in sealed containers and is considered "in transit" till it reaches the EDP.

Rail
WFP does not use rail services in Algeria.

Aviation
There are no Aviation services in Algeria.

Other WFP Logistics Services
WFP logistics in Algeria provides continuous guidance and training to the implementing partners particularly ARC and SRC. This mainly includes WFP’s standard warehouses management and handling procedures as well as documentations. Major donors, such as ECHO, the Spanish Cooperation and US (BPRM), expressed in several occasions their appreciation to the efforts done by WFP logistics unit to ensure transparency and proper logistics procedures in this operation.

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