For two years of full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Logistics Cluster, led by the World Food Programme (WFP), has been the backbone of logistics support for the humanitarian community.
Since its activation on 3 March 2022, the Logistics Cluster has paved the way for assistance where needed most through coordination and information management, training for logisticians, and access to essential logistics services, including storage and transport.
Brief History
While initial cluster coordination and information management capacity was established across Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia, the central operational hub was established in Poland, where common services were coordinated and facilitated.
In May 2022, the four hubs primarily focusing on coordination and information management were phased out, while the Polish operational hub was phased out on 31 August 2022.
The adaptation of the operational set-up aimed at strengthening the cluster’s focus on the response inside Ukraine, specifically towards hard-to-reach areas across eastern and southern regions.
As of March 2024, the Logistics Cluster has three main hubs in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa and four warehouses in Dnipro, Kherson, Kyiv, and Odesa with a total storage capacity of 9,800 m2.
Current situation
Every day, the Logistics Cluster team works closely with humanitarian organizations to track the movement of their humanitarian aid cargo. The information gathered allows the team to adjust routes, schedules, and resources in real-time, adapting to dynamic circumstances. By ensuring that humanitarian supplies are tracked, monitored, and delivered efficiently, the cluster plays a vital role in supporting humanitarian actors to reach people in need. It’s even more crucial for local aid organizations that do not always have the necessary capacity and network to reach frontline communities.
From 2022 to 2024, the unwavering commitment of the Ukraine Logistics Cluster community has resulted in:
- 109 coordination meetings were conducted to address logistics bottlenecks and challenges faced by partners.
- 200 information management products were published to bridge the informational gaps in ever-changing humanitarian logistics situations.
- 61,574 m3 of humanitarian cargo was received in common storages across Poland and Ukraine, and 14,362 mt of aid was transported to 275 locations on behalf of 50 organisations.
- 143 Inter-Agency Convoys supported, delivering nearly 5,000 mt of relief items to 83 hard-to-reach locations.
As we enter 2024, the Ukraine Logistics Cluster continues its commitment to logistics coordination and information management, facilitating access to common logistics services in hard-to-reach areas, and providing logistics training courses. Two Logistics Cluster Induction Training sessions have already been delivered on 15-16 and 19-20 February and two more are to be delivered in Odesa in March 2024 and in Dnipro in April 2024. To see how the training went in Kyiv, please watch this video.
As we reflect on the two-year journey of the Logistics Cluster in Ukraine, there's a simple yet heartfelt truth: collective efforts are making a meaningful impact. The path ahead may still have challenges, but with еру daily efforts of all of us, we deliver critical assistance to those in need.
A community of partners working together.
Visit the Ukraine Logistics Cluster Webpage.