After one and a half years of intense effort, the Logistics Department of MSF Belgium, inaugurated its brand new training platform! It is located at the heart of MSF supply centre in Merchtem, Belgium. It is named “Espace Bruno Corbé”, in memory of the founder of the concept.

The concept of the platform is to centralize all of the techniques from the logisticians of MSF that have been working on the field all across the world, in a unique center of knowledge. In this way all the logisticians can be trained more efficiently, capitalizing on relevant experience and knowledge sharing in a unique place and platform.

These experiences translate into various sectors and techniques such as water management (construction of wells, establishment of reservoirs, purifying water techniques), waste management (construction of incinerators, toilets, classification of waste), construction management (with a maximum use of local material for camps, houses, toilets), creation of a mechanical garage (for the Toyota Landcruisers of MSF), creation of a power generator house (to provide electricity and communications tools), creation of various zones (sands, mud, grass) allowing to make tests of equipment for the treatment of water, tents as well as temporary structures that can shelter refugees and medical activities.

This platform has the aim of training all of MSF logisticians in Brussels before their departure on the field all across the world. MSF is also intending to use the brand new state of the art platform for the testing and creation of material and kits for logisticians and medical staff. Later on it’s MSF’s intention to also train other sections of MSF and possibly to offer access to its center to other NGO’s.

Since Aerodata recently collected aerial imagery from Brussels including the MSF training center in Merchtem, an aerial overview of their facilities was presented to MSF Supply at the official opening on September 5th, 2008.