In addition to the continuing humanitarian operations in Sudan, which began more than a decade ago, a new and more complex situation with additional activities involving sophisticated logistics arrangements is expected to evolve as a result of the ongoing peace talks.  Population movements will put a strain on the logistics infrastructure of South-Sudan. In addition, the relocation of different armed groups throughout the country is foreseen, coinciding with the planned deployment of United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) troops or monitors.

These elements, will make a strengthened logistics coordination structure, in support of and under the supervision of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), a necessary requirement.

The activation process for the UNJLC is triggered through the IASC-WG upon request of one of the agencies or the HC/UNCT in Sudan and require a formal consensus among the participating agencies.  The process was completed during the first week of February and UNJLC was officially activated on the fourth of February 2004.

UNJLC will enhance the logistics planning process of humanitarian agencies and further assist those agencies to optimise their logistics capabilities by establishing a logistics coordination and information platform.