UNJLC preparedness and contingency bulletins aim to provide a concise weekly overview of UNJLC activities and the present logistical situation in regard to the potential crisis in the Middle East. In addition, sector/country specific reports will be released regularly in order to provide in depth coverage of priority areas.

• 1. UNJLC logistics preparedness co-ordination workshop, Istanbul:
• 2. Transport Infrastructure:
• 3. Air Operations:
• 4. Border Crossing and Customs:
• 5. Stocks/Fuel/Warehousing:
• 6. Civil Military Relations:
• 7. Other:

1. UNJLC logistics preparedness co-ordination workshop, Istanbul:

2. Transport Infrastructure:

• The Turkish authorities announced that both the ports of Mercin and Iskenderum will be open for normal commercial traffic but might have reduced capacity due to use of the ports by others.
• While the Kuwaiti port of Shuabah is being utilised currently for military operations, the nearby port of Shuaikha has a large level of available capacity. Included in its facilities is a silo capacity of 250,000MT while vacuvation, milling and baking capacities exist. It is important to note that the infrastructure was built up prior to the Gulf War in order to primarily serve the Iraqi market.

3. Air Operations:

• The Jordanian airport of Marka is currently limited to military, VIP, Israeli, and specific charter flights. UNJLC has drafted a letter for the Regional Co-ordinator to present to the Government of Jordan for the potential use of Marka for UN Humanitarian passenger flights. The airport is not recommended for cargo flights as there are only limited cargo handling facilities and customs are operational only during daytime.
• UNJLC is currently drafting separate letters to be signed by the relevant local humanitarian authority and addressed to each Civil Aviation Authority in the region requesting facilitation measures for humanitarian passengers and cargo transiting and/or landing in the country. This is to waive over flight and landing fees and facilitate customs and immigration procedures.

4. Border Crossing and Customs:

• A military zone begins 20km before the Iraqi border in Jordan. Two border crossings exist for commercial traffic but are prohibited for UN usage. An official UN Oil for Food (OFF) crossing exists at Trebil where there is a dedicated OFF lane thereby streamlining the 2-3 hours clearance process that commercial traffic undergoes. Borders into Syria and Saudi Arabia remain open to all traffic

5. Stocks/Fuel/Warehousing:

• UNJLC maintains a database of petrol and diesel prices for countries throughout the region. This information is updated weekly and with the possibility of chronological and geographical comparison, is available on the UNJLC Iraq website.
• In Iran Diesel is currently selling at IR 130/litre while Petrol is priced at IR 500/litre. Exchange rate to the US$ is IR 7995.
• In Kuwait Diesel is priced at KD 0.055 (US$ 0.17) while Petrol is selling at KD 0.06 (US$ 0.19).

6. Civil Military Relations:

• UNJLJC met with the US Embassy痴 Military Attach・Office in order to promote deconfliction of the current problems of usage at Iskenderun port and those met declared their willingness to try and resolve the problem (see 禅ransport Infrastructure section・. Contact was also made with EUCOM regarding the same issue.
• Until recently liaison with the Government of Turkey relating to emergency preparedness was channelled exclusively through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While increasing instances of bi-lateral liaison on issues such as transport and customs are now occurring, CMCoord issues continue to be handled by the MFA.

7. Other:

• In Turkey the UN Country Team has established a number of sectoral work groups. UNJLC chairs the weekly Logistics Work Group and also takes part in the Regional Co-ordinators Inter Agency Working Group at which forum actual and potential bottlenecks are identified and addressed.
• Although an MoU is awaited, it is believed that the current bi-lateral agreements Agencies have with the Government of Turkey will initially meet needs (privileges, immunities, tax exemptions etc). Agencies not officially recognised (such as WFP) may, at this time, utilise other agencies・agreements.