On 2 September 2010, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue three se-tenant strips of five stamps each in the denominations of US$ 0.44, CHF 1.00 and € 0.65. Each sheet of 20 stamps will accommodate four horizontal se-tenant strips of five stamps.

Transportation plays an extremely important role for the United Nations in its efforts to maintain its peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. United Nations transport vehicles are critical for deploying UN personnel to peacekeeping missions, shipping large amounts of food to meet emergency needs, supplying emergency medical supplies and transporting other cargo and equipment to the field missions throughout the world.

 The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is dedicated to assisting the Member States and the Secretary-General in their efforts to maintain international peace and security. The Department’s mission is to plan, prepare, manage and direct UN peacekeeping operations using all forms of transport, whether by land, sea or air.

 In order for the United Nations to maintain its Peacekeeping Operations properly, it requires strong transport logistics. The Logistics Support Division (LSD) is a part of the Department of Field Support (DFS) at the United Nations. LSD is based at UN Headquarters in New York City, where a diverse and dedicated team of civilian staff provides logistical support to UN-led peacekeeping, peacebuilding and political missions around the world. 

The Logistics Support Division is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of policies and procedures for all logistic issues in United Nations peacekeeping. The Division consists of three elements: 

1.         The Operational Support Service includes logistics, planning and programme support. 

2.         The Specialist Support Service includes a range of technical logistics sections, including supply, engineering, contingent owned equipment and property management, and cartographic and medical support.

 3.         The Transportation and Movements Service ensures effective logistics capabilities in terms of air transport, strategic air- and sealift for movement of military and civilian personnel and cargo, and providing vehicles and spare parts at the required time and place, in the most efficient manner. 

The Logistics Support Division also oversees the operations of the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy, which manages reserve equipment stocks and strategic deployment stocks that assist in rapid establishment of new missions.

United Nations peacekeeping efforts continue to evolve conceptually and operationally to meet new challenges and political realities. Faced with the rising demand for increasingly complex peace operations, the role of UN transport vehicles is as critical as ever in order to contribute to the most important function of the United Nations—maintaining international peace and security.

The Artist: The stamps were designed by Simon Williams (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

 Simon Williams was born and raised in Swansea, South Wales, and showed artistic talent from a very early age. After studying architectural illustration at Swansea College of Art, Mr. Williams moved to London and worked in various advertising studios until going freelance in 1983. Since then he has worked for many blue- chip companies on a variety of projects, including household names such as Kraft, Polycell and EMI.

 Mr. Williams has produced stamps for Saint Kitts and Nevis and Gibraltar and was very pleased to become involved with the United Nations with the “Transport” series of stamps. Mr. Williams is married with one daughter and divides his time between his homes in Kent and Swansea, where he works with his wife producing a lifestyle magazine.

 Printing: The stamps were printed in offset by UAB Garsu Pasaulis (Lithuania).

 Denominations and Quantities: 

US$ 0.44       640,000 stamps (32,000 sheets)

CHF 1.00       600,000 stamps (30,000 sheets)

€ 0.65             660,000 stamps (33,000 sheets)

 Stamp specifications

 Format: 30 mm horizontally by 40 mm vertically, perforation to perforation

 Perforation: 13 ½

 Marginal inscriptions The vertical sheets of 20 stamps have four marginal inscriptions, two in the top margin and two in the bottom margin. The marginal inscription consists of the United Nations emblem with the text “United Nations” above the emblem and the year “2010” below the emblem. One copyright symbol appears in the lower left corner.

published July 19th, 2010