By Francis Kajubi , The Guardian
THE United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has commended improvements made at the Dar es Salaam port by the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) that has led to easing shipments of food staff and other humanitarian aids to refugee camps in Kigoma region.
Speaking yesterday at an event to accept 25 metric tons of nutritious dates donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP Country Director and Representative, said that the consignment of dates' timely arrival was made possible by improvements made at the port.
“The port is a central point for WFP’s operations, both land and sea. It is a vital hub for our operations in Tanzania as well as East, Central and Southern Africa,” said Gibson.
According to her, TPA is WFP’s critical partner who facilitates the movements of humanitarian cargo, enabling WFP’s food assistance to reach those most in need.
She asserted that the dates’ donation comes at a critical time when WFP is facing significant partners’ supporting operations all over the world to save lives and change lives.
“Between now and November 2024, WFP Tanzania will face a $23 million funding shortfall for its refugee operations,” said Gibson.
Dr. George Fasha, TPA’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations commended WFP for its role of saving mankind living up to its motto of saving life changing lives.
TPA and WFP have been partners for years now providing logistical support that has ensured food items reach the needy, especially the most vulnerable communities across the region.
He said TPA has been a gateway to the region and global trade has reassured a constructive role in facilitating humanitarian aid timely reaches the intended people.
“Of recent, TPA has been undertaking major infrastructure development projects across all ports where some of the projects are widely known with significant contributions in the current and future operations of the port,” said Fasha.
He asserted that the projects includes the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project that has transformed the port of Dar es Salaam major infrastructure undertaken at Mtwara port, Tanga and planned construction of Bagamoyo port.
As of March this year TPA has handled 20.72 million tons of cargo compared to 14.56 million tons in March 2023 translating to a growth of 42.31 percent.
During the period TPA had continued lobbying for shipping services in Rwanda, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe from which has led to a to transportation of 8.87 million tons of cargo in 2023 up from 8.24 million tons in 2022 a 7.67 percent growth.
For his part, Ambassador Yahya Okeish of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Tanzania said that the country has been extending humanitarian aid to 72 countries across the world.
“The humanitarian support from the Saudi Arabian government to the needy has so far reached $108 billion benefiting people in 169 countries,” said Okeish.
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