“In logistics, we are like the heart in the body”

Première Urgence Internationale is implementing activities in health, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as infrastructure rehabilitations in Libya. It requires strong logistics coordination. Rafa who is reponsible for the management of Première Urgence Internationale local logistic department  in Benghazi for the Lybia mission, explains its role and the challenges in the country.

Rafa, a Libyan 56 year old, started working with Première Urgence Internationale in July 2018. He is very motivated to address the challenges of his new position. His team include a supply officer, a base logistician, a purchaser, and four guards. The team is responsible for the base logistics: supplies for activities, organising the fleet and the movement of the Mobile Health Team, and the security of the base of Benghazi in Libya.

Rafa, logistic manager

Why the work of your team is it necessary for the mission?

In the logistic department, we are like the heart in the body. The heart is pumping the blood for every organ in the body to keep it working and surviving. We receive inquiries from the different departments in the organisation, and we try to supply them with what they need to keep them performing up to the best level in the mission’s activities. Every department has some needs, and it is our duty to supply their needs. But it is a long process.

What is specific to Première Urgence Internationale for logistics?

“I have been working in the public and private sectors, and now I am working with an NGO, and it is completely different…. We do not call it business; we call it mission. There is a special monitoring (of what we do). We are responsible for helping the people who are in need of our services. We also have responsibilities to the donors. When the donors grant money for the organisation’s activities, we have to be able to show them where any penny of this money goes. For this, we have to respect logistics procedures that are quite complicated. But it is nice because it is transparent and we are working through known channels.

What do you like in your current work with Première Urgence Internationale?

“My actual work with Première Urgence Internationale makes me feel that I am supporting the organisation to help the Libyan people who have unfortunately lost their homes, and also the sick and the poor.

In my current job, I am part of the wheel that is running to help the Libyan people, as well as people who are living in Libya, either temporarily or permanently.

When the people are happy with what you do, we become happy as well.