Fleet of Red Cross trucks leave for southern Africa
31 July 2002

A fleet of 231 trucks and vehicles sent by the Norwegian Red Cross to transport food for Southern African countries, where an estimated 13 million people are facing starvation, have left Norway today on their way to the region, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The trucks - 203 M6 trucks - each capable of transporting 5 metric tonnes and donated by the Norwegian Defence Forces, will be able to reach communities in remote, difficult-to-access rural areas as they will be able to travel off-road. The fleet also consists of 10 long-haul trucks - each with a capacity of 40 tonnes, 10 landcruisers, fuel tankers, mobile repair workshops and cranes. Reaching these communities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Malawi is a major challenge not only for the Red Cross and Red Crescent, but also for other humanitarian agencies working in the region. The size of the fleet and its capabilities will go some way towards meeting that challenge.

The trucks, which are being taken to the South African port city of Durban, were transported from the Norwegian port of Drammen. On arrival on August 22, they will be used to transport and deliver food aid to 1.3 million people targetted for assistance in the International Federation's Southern Africa drought operation. The 203 M6 trucks will have the capacity to deliver 1,000 metric tonnes at a time when fully deployed early September.

"This fleet, the largest transport operation the Norwegian Red Cross has ever organized, will ensure that food aid will reach those that need it the most over the next nine months as part of the Red C ross Red Crescent response to the crisis in the region," says Halvor Fossum Lauritzsen, head of the Norwegian Red Cross' International Department.

As well as being used for the delivery of food aid to 750,000 people in the five southern African countries targetted in an International Federation appeal launched on July 22, the fleet will be put at the disposal of NGOs if necessary. This will be done in partnership with the UN's World Food Progamme (WFP) and could reach another 550,000 people each month.

The Federation appeal for 89.2 million Swiss francs (62 million US dollars) also includes plans for improvements to water and sanitation facilities in poor rural communities. Blankets and medical supplies will be provided and subsistence farmers will benefit from distributions of agricultural tools, seeds and fertilizer.
The next main harvest in the region will not be until March 2003 and the present food shortfall in the region is put at four million metric tonnes.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

In Geneva
Jemini Pandya, Acting Head, Media Service - Tel: + 41 22 730 45 70 / + 41 79 416 3881 (duty phone)
Marie-Françoise Borel, Press Officer - Tel: + 41 22 730 43 46 / + 41 79 217 33 45
In Harare, Zimbabwe
Solveig Olafsdottir, Information Delegate - Tel: +263 91 34 59 36

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.