A formal ceremony was held in Termez to grant the International Transport and Logistics Hub the status of a Global Supply Network Hub under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, the UN office, the regional office of the UNHCR and its Afghanistan division, the Surkhandarya regional administration, border troops, and media representatives.

During the official ceremony, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, and Anvar Meliboev, Public Information Officer at the UN Office, Indrika Ratwatte, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator, and Dumitru Lipcanu, Acting Regional Representative of the UNHCR, emphasized that in recent years, Uzbekistan’s leadership has paid special attention to creating favorable conditions for the centralized, systematic, and targeted delivery of humanitarian aid from the UN, various international organizations, and foreign countries to Afghanistan and other nations. It was noted that Uzbekistan’s Termez Cargo Centre, an international multi-functional transport and logistics hub, provides extensive transport and logistics services for international freight shipments in the border region with Afghanistan. The modern infrastructure of this facility ensures the effective delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and other countries as needed.

All necessary conditions have been created for representatives of international organizations and foreign countries utilizing the hub for humanitarian aid. Including this hub in the UNHCR Global Supply Network will play a crucial role in further streamlining and enhancing the effectiveness of these efforts. 

Currently, the UNHCR operates seven Global Supply Network hubs in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Denmark, and Panama. Through these international networks, more than $500 million worth of essential supplies – including medicines, tents, blankets, and kitchen utensils – are delivered annually to various countries worldwide, providing humanitarian assistance and responding to emergencies.

Given the current global situation, granting the International Multi-Functional Transport and Logistics Hub in southern Uzbekistan the status of the world’s eighth-largest supply network hub will be crucial in stockpiling essential aid and ensuring its rapid delivery to those in need. 

Following the official ceremony, participants toured the UNHCR Global Supply Network warehouse to observe the modern facilities and infrastructure. They also inspected the solar panels installed on the premises. 

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Kholmumin Mamatrayimov, UzA