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10/17/2003: "Kandahar Chronicles #29 - 16/10/2003"

The six month order arrived today and not a moment too soon. Twice a year we receive a bulk shipment of medicines and logistical supplies which travels by truck from the warehouses in Holland, across Europe, Russia, a couple of dodgy “istan” republics and finally to HQ in Heart. From there, it is distributed to local transport agents who deliver it to the various projects. The lead in time for this is about thirteen weeks from the date the order is placed until the supplies arrive. The trick is estimating drug consumption rates based on both current and projected levels. Different seasons mean different drugs needed. It’s no good looking at consumption figures for cholera for December when it is most prevalent in the hot summer months, and vice-versa for diphtheria. There is also “buffer stock” to calculate as well as “needs per order period”, “needs till delivery”, “free stock at delivery” and “needs till theoretical stock out”. Whoever invented Excel is a legend to the humble loggie.

The shelves in the pharmacy storeroom are bare. The previous logistician had calculated his consumption rates accurately but could not foresee the addition of 13,000 more people who were relocated from the Chaman Waiting Area. These camps located near Spin Boldak, on the border with Pakistan, were planned to operate for a short time only, but as weeks became months it looked like they would become permanent. In July this changed, landowners in the area pressured UNHCR to move the IDPs out, and HCR likewise pressured the IDPs directly by reducing their rations if they chose stay. With little choice left to them, the people left in local trucks in long convoys to Zhare Dahst and Mohammed Kheil camps. Most chose the former as it’s in Afghanistan. I don’t want to get into the details of that sad episode now as I don’t know enough of the details, but needless to say, with the population of Zhare Dahst suddenly increased by approximately forty percent, drug consumption soared.

This lead to costly “emergency orders” from Europe and borrowing any surplus from other MSF projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The bottom line was that the patients could not go without, so logistics had to somehow make it happen. Medics have enough to worry about without reaching for ampicillin, penicillin, or even a tongue depressor and coming up empty handed. We had good support from HQ and managed to squeak along but it’s nice to see the office lobby cluttered with boxes waiting to be stored. There is a huge amount of money invested within those boxes. I could open up my fancy Pluriform Order Generator and calculate it but thankfully, that’s not my job. My job is to make sure the Medics are able to apply their skills for the benefit of the IDPs and not be handcuffed for lack of supplies.