YK Poudel  

A five-day workshop to equip disaster responders with concepts of humanitarian supply chain and logistics management ended in Chukha yesterday.

Deputy Chief Dzongkhag Livestock Officer of Wangdue, Ugyen, said that such a workshop is crucial during emergencies.

“The importance of supply chain preparedness through the joint action plan and compilation of logistics capacity data within each dzongkhag is vital means during emergencies,” he said.

The participants were also introduced to experiential learning through a humanitarian supply chain game called “Business on The Move – Humanitarian Edition”. The game provides participants with a realistic simulation of a logistics response operation employing multiple modes of transportation to reach different distribution destinations.

The workshop used a disaster scenario based on the Narang, Mongar earthquake of 2009 to introduce the logistics concept of operation. The exercise is also expected to strengthen operational capacity with theoretical and practical knowledge of logistics and support functions to improve cross-sectoral planning and coordination among disaster responders in future emergencies.

A total of 38 Dzongkhag Agriculture Officers, Dzongkhag Livestock Officers, Dzongkhag Procurement Officers, Dzongkhag Disaster Management Officers from Sarpang, Wangdue Phodrang, Haa, Paro, Thimphu, Samtse, Chukha, and officials from government agencies, State-owned enterprises and UN agencies attended the workshop.

A similar workshop was conducted in Punakha and Trashigang last month.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, World Food Programme (WFP) and HELP Logistics.