WFP praises improved efficiency at Dar es Salaam Port

Dar es Salaam. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has commended improvements made at the Dar es Salaam port by the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), which has led to easing shipments of food staff and other humanitarian aid to refugee camps in Kigoma Region.

WFP Country Director and Representative, Sarah Gordon-Gibson, said May 16, 2023, was the event to accept 25 metric tonnes of nutritious dates were donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.

 “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, “she said.

She noted that TPA is WFP’s critical partner and facilitates the movement 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.

TPA’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations, George Fasha, commended WFP for its role in saving mankind living up to its motto of saving lives and 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 for their significant contributions in the present and future operations of the port,” he said.

He asserted that the projects include the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project, which has transformed the port of Dar es Salaam, major infrastructure was undertaken at Mtwara port, Tanga, and planned construction of Bagamoyo port.

As of March this year, TPA has handled 20.72 million metric tonnes of cargo, compared to 14.56 million metric tonnes in March 2023, translating to a growth of 42.31 percent.

During the period, TPA continued lobbying for shipping services in Rwanda, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, which have led to the transportation of 8.87 million tonnes of cargo in 2023, from 8.24 million tonnes in 2022, a 7.67 percent growth.

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.