Managing humanitarian logistics

Gyöngyi Kovács Erkko Professor in Humanitarian LogisticsDirector of the Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Research Institute (HUMLOG Institute)

HUMLOG Institute

”Each disaster is unique” – is it?

» Why prepare for specific types of disasters?»Early warning systems depend on types of disasters

»Evacuation plans depend on the types

»Reoccurring events

=> Impacts on evacuation routes, facility location…

» But – there are also commonalities among disasters1.Commonalities in impact: dilapidated transport

infrastructure, affected people, psychological impact…

2.Commonalities in needs: basic needs are the same, priorities

(water, food, shelter) are the same

=> Commonalities in logistical preparedness – what to

preposition

HUMLOG Institute

Management locally

» Locally, the typical disaster profile is known and can be prepared for <=> learning from past events

»Cyclical disasters - cyclones, hurricanes, monsoon seasons,

snow-melt floods, even earthquakes

»Regional disaster profile – from avalanches to pandemics

» Local/regional preparedness vs. prevention»Prevention of the disaster, e.g. pandemics

»Prevention of the impact, e.g. building codes and permits

»Preparedness of the local community – community

resilience, poverty reduction

»Preparedness in the supply chain – framework contracts,

VMI, pre-positioned stock…

HUMLOG Institute

Managing humanitarian logistics

» The typical logistics management principles apply»From VMI to consolidation, supply chain visibility

»BUT: there is no time to collect data to run complex models in

the immediate aftermaths of a disaster

» The challenge is to…»Rapidly assess the needs on the ground and establish access –

partly done through the local chapters of international

organisations that are embedded in local society

»Integrate the humanitarian supply chain in public systems to

facilitate surge models in e.g. health care, school feeding…

»Integrate communities and local business in humanitarian

supply chains

»Achieve supply chain visibility in and across supply chains

HUMLOG Institute

Further information:HUMLOG Institute: www.hanken.fi/humloginstitute

NewsletterTo subscribe to the newsletter of the HUMLOG

Institute, send an e-mail to sympa@hanken.fi with

the text "subscribe humlognews" in the text (no

subject heading).

Gyöngyi Kovács (kovacs@hanken.fi)

HUMLOG Institute