Challenges in disaster relief operations: evidence from the 2017 Kermanshah earthquake

Amin Maghsoudi,Mohammad Moshtari

doi:10.1108/jhlscm-08-2019-0054

Abstract

PurposeThis paper identifies the challenges during a recent disaster relief operation in a developing country where the humanitarian response is dominated by national actors, with international actors having a minor role.Design/methodology/approachA case study design is used; the main data sources are semi-structured interviews with 43 informants involved in the 2017 Kermanshah earthquake relief operation.FindingsThe findings suggest that humanitarian practitioners deal with multiple challenges during disaster relief operations. One group of challenges relates to humanitarian logistics (HL) like needs assessment, procurement, warehousing, transportation and distribution, all widely discussed in the literature. Another involves the growing use of social media, legitimacy regulations and the engagement of new humanitarian actors (HAs) like social media activists and celebrities. These factors have not been extensively studied in the literature; given their growing influence, they require more scholarly attention.Practical implicationsThe findings will help humanitarian practitioners and policymakers better understand the challenges involved in disaster relief operations conducted by multiple actors and thus help them improve their practices, including the creation of proper regulations, policies and logistics strategies.Originality/valueThe study uses primary data on a recent disaster to assess and extend the findings of previous studies regarding HL challenges. It also elaborates on the critical non-logistical challenges that influence aid delivery in emergency responses, including the growth of social media, regulations and the engagement of new HAs. The results may motivate future empirical and modelling studies to investigate the identified challenges and identify practices to mitigate them.

Highlights

Logistics plays a central role in humanitarian assistance as the connecting point between preparedness and response, procurement and distribution, and headquarters and the field (Thomas, 2008)
This paper explores a practical approach to identifying the challenges of Humanitarian logistics (HL), in cases where established humanitarian actors (HAs) such as government agencies must coordinate with national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations and new emerging actors like ad hoc groups, celebrities and teams sponsored by religious organizations during disaster relief operations
This paper explores a practical approach to identifying the challenges of HL, in cases where government agencies must coordinate with NGOs and new emerging actors like ad hoc groups and celebrities

Summary

Introduction

Logistics plays a central role in humanitarian assistance as the connecting point between preparedness and response, procurement and distribution, and headquarters and the field (Thomas, 2008). Organization General Operations: (1) Obtain the title, experience and responsibilities of interviewee, and basic information. (2) Explain whether your organization faced challenges in its operations in the Kermanshah Earthquake (in particular with logistics challenges in terms of needs assessment, procurement, warehousing, transportation and last mile distribution), give examples. Request contact information of other informants within the organization and its partners. (2) Describe the services or programs provided by the organization, its number of employees and the geographical distribution of its activities. (3) Describe the organization’s role within the humanitarian supply chain network and their relations with other humanitarian actors such as the government, national Red Crescent, NGOs and local communities. (4) Describe the role of the organization in delivering aid to beneficiaries, and the factors that distinguish it from other actors.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion