ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopia): UNICEF has inaugurated its refurbished Addis Ababa warehouse facilities, made possible by a grant of US$ 400,000 from the Government of Norway.

"Today marks an important milestone for UNICEF operations in Ethiopia. I would like to thank the Government of Norway for providing the resources required, $ 400,000 USD for making it possible," said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF representative to Ethiopia.

"Ensuring the efficient delivery of supplies is critical for the humanitarian and development activities that UNICEF supports on behalf of children and women, in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia. These new facilities will ensure safe storage and timely dispatch of goods, often required for lifesaving operations."

UNICEF took over operations at the warehouse following the end of emergency response operations of the International Coordination Committee which was set up to raise resources and manage the international humanitarian response to the Ethiopian famine of the mid 1980's.

During the past 25 years, the warehouse has served as an open storage space with over 200 shipping containers at any given time. The warehouse has played a significant role by stocking and dispatching essential health, education and water supplies both for regular and emergency programmes to benefit the children and women of the country.

UNICEF supply and logistics operations, of which the warehouse is a critical component, is an essential part of the programme of cooperation with the Government of Ethiopia. In 2009 UNICEF Ethiopia handled supplies worth US$ 60 million.

"The Government of Norway is pleased to be part of this initiative, believing in the importance of efficient logistics operations for the successful implementation of programmes on behalf of children and women," said Jens-Petter Kjemprud, Ambassador of Norway to Ethiopia.

The renovated warehouse has a new office building, two high standard modern Wiikhalls, and state of the art racking and forklifts.

On the occasion, UNICEF handed over 25 ambulances to the Ministry of Health for distribution in various parts of the country.