The Logistics Cluster meeting today was very interesting. The Joint Logistics Cluster (JLC) updated us on the Air Bridge they’re running from Bangkok (BKK) to Myanmar (MYN). It’s pretty interesting how the World Food Programme (WFP) has set up warehouse operations here in BKK at the old airport. They are basically willing to store and ship any humanitarian aid from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that arrives here in BKK to MYN…for free! (Your tax dollars at work!)

They’re even shipping in nine helicopters to use in Myanmar to move people and commodities…that is once they get approval from the Government of Myanmar (GoM). It seems to be a very delicate situation with no one wanting to blast the GoM for fear of being tossed out. Conditions are apparently not what they’ve reported to have been and NGOs are not being allowed to distribute aid to the Delta regions. Normally the UN would take a pretty hard line on this type of behavior, but this time round (despite a big meeting last weekend) they seem to be quiet.

Anyway, back to my shipment. It arrived on Tuesday. DHL very generously agreed to ship it from the US to BKK and finally on to MYN. But when I got here…they asked me to clear it through the US Embassy. Seems they wanted me to consign the shipment to the Embassy and have the Embassy issue a diplomatic certificate to clear it through customs here in BKK.

I called and emailed the Embassy to no avail. Finally emailed a contact I had with the State Department who informed me that the Embassy wasn’t doing that sort of thing here. (He saved me a day just be telling me that!)

Then I was on to Plan B – which meant that my field team had to accept the WHOLE shipment in one go. We had been planning on testing their supply chain by sending in only a couple of pallets the first time – just wanted to make sure it wasn’t seized…and that the partner knew what to do with it.

Fortunately I was able to make contact with our partner’s logistician here in BKK (French, and quite disarming, might I just add!). Looks like he is going to help me get the shipment cleared in Myanmar – which is apparently a whole ordeal on its own!

So…the question on all our minds (I’m sure) is what adventure is next for me. Frankly I have no idea. Maybe I’ll just sell my house to my new roommate and take up globe trotting. There’s something to be said for travel! 🙂

I’m kidding Mom! No, really, quit crying I’m just kidding! 🙂 (Actually knowing my mom, she just read this and shook her head saying “I just knew this was going to happen!” She’s a lot tougher than she looks – and I’ve had to work pretty hard to surprise her over the years!! In fact, I’m still trying…)