The government of Djibouti on Monday said it has taken over the management of a strategic humanitarian logistics base from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
It said this move is part of its national efforts to strengthen food security, emergency preparedness and regional supply chains.
The handover to the Djibouti Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held Monday in Djibouti City, marking the transfer of a proven humanitarian logistics platform into a nationally owned asset.
“The takeover of the Humanitarian Logistics Base is a major step in consolidating food sovereignty and security in Djibouti and the region. The government of Djibouti thanks all the partners who have contributed to the development of this base and reaffirms its commitment, in close cooperation with international partners, to enhancing this strategic achievement for the benefit of Djibouti and the entire sub-region,” said Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti.
This comes after a decade of close cooperation between WFP and the government of Djibouti and such a move would help the country manage critical food stocks, support emergency operations and reinforce its role as a logistics gateway for the Horn of Africa.
“In an environment marked by increasing climate crises, phenomena such as El Niño, chronic droughts exacerbated by weather extremes, population migration, this platform will strengthen our capacity to anticipate, coordinate and respond. It will also help mitigate the consequences of disruptions that may affect supply chains and strategic shipping routes,” Omar said.
Under national leadership, the facility will help Djibouti expand its capacity to store and manage food stocks, keep assistance moving during orises, and reduce the impact of supply disruptions and other shocks.
Over time, the hub can serve as a foundation for a national food reserve, providing a stronger buffer against emergenetes and reinforcing national food security
Alejandro Lopez-Chicheri, WFP’s Country Director in Djibouti, said the handover is a manifestation of what successful partnership can achieve through building proven humanitarian operations.
“WFP is proud to have managed this logistics pase since 2016 and remains committed to supporting Djibouti as it strengthens preparedness resilience, and food security,” Lopez-Chicheri said.
Since opening in 2016, the logistics base has helped sustain emergency and development operations across the region. It was a vital logistics platform during WFP’s response to the 2022-2024 Horn of Africa drought and conflict, storing and dispatching food commodities that delivered life-saving assistance to millions of people affected by drought and conflict.
With capacity to store 65,000 MT, the logistics base includes bulk-grain silos, warehouses for food and non-food commodities, container storage areas and cargo-handling infrastructure.
Through this facility, WFP has supported twelve humanitarian organizations preparing and responding to critical regional operations, including in Djibouti and Yemen, underscoring its value as a shared platform for crisis response.
To support a smooth and sustainable transition, WFP will provide six months of technical assistance and training in humanitarian facility management, enabling national teams to manage the base’s operations and systems.
MG/as/APA