As part of the C-RED project (“Customs for Relief of Epidemic Diseases”), funded by the Kingdom  of the Netherlands, six beneficiary countries in West Africa that were affected by the Ebola virus disease in 2014, held  a second sub-regional workshop in Dakar (Senegal) from 7 to 9 May 2018. The WCO, the UN-OCHA, ECOWAS and the General Directorate of Customs of Senegal facilitated the workshop attended by around fifty representatives of the beneficiary countries including members of the humanitarian aid community (IFRC, OXFAM, ALIMA…)

In his opening remarks, the Director General of Senegalese Customs stressed the importance of the C-RED project in supporting efforts to efficiently process humanitarian consignments in times of humanitarian crisis, and in that way, to save human lives without compromising the security of the country.

The objective of the workshop was to further enhance cooperation among the beneficiary countries. Notable progress on awareness-raising and preparation were already achieved thanks to the C-RED missions organised in 2017/2018. The workshop highlighted the work in progress and lessons learned since the first workshop. Participants discussed actions to be taken to sustain the momentum after the project comes to a close and confirmed the need for a discussion platform at regional and/or international level. The WCO and its partners were urged to continue the C-RED Project. The ECOWAS Commission undertook to pursue this innovative project at regional level.

For further information, please contact the WCO’s C-RED Project Coordinator, Mrs. Eve Gérard (eve.gerard@wcoomd.org).  The WCO’s web page on Customs clearance of relief consignments is also available for consultation.