Humanitarian Logistics

Abstract

Free AccessAboutSectionsView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail Go to SectionFree Access HomeINFORMS TutORials in Operations ResearchNew Directions in Informatics, Optimization, Logistics, and Production Humanitarian LogisticsMelih Çelik, Özlem Ergun, Ben Johnson, Pınar Keskinocak, Álvaro Lorca, Pelin Pekgün, Julie SwannMelih Çelik, Özlem Ergun, Ben Johnson, Pınar Keskinocak, Álvaro Lorca, Pelin Pekgün, Julie SwannPublished Online:14 Oct 2014Abstract The increase in natural and man-made disasters in the recent years has highlighted challenging problems in humanitarian operations, in addition to major long-term humanitarian development challenges. Humanitarian logistics plays an important role in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from sudden-onset disasters and addressing long-term development issues. The management of humanitarian logistics operations involves many challenges such as conflicting objectives from multiple stakeholders, coordination and collaboration, high uncertainty, and scarcity of resources. In this tutorial, we provide an introduction to humanitarian logistics and its main application areas while outlining current research trends and the major challenges faced in the area today. We also present four decision aid tools addressing typical applications of humanitarian logistics: network design for donated human breast milk delivery in South Africa, port simulation and shipment scheduling for a large international agency, demand estimation and emergency procurement for CARE, and postdisaster medical response under accessibility issues. In presenting these decision aid tools, we aim to underline the differences in issues arising from sudden-onset disasters and long-term development problems, various stages of the life cycle of disasters, and different decision levels, while also pointing to general aspects in modeling humanitarian logistics problems. This publication has no references to display. Previous Back to Top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedInformationCited ByThe Nutritious Supply Chain: Optimizing Humanitarian Food AssistanceKoen Peters, Sérgio Silva,Rui Gonçalves,Mirjana Kavelj,Hein Fleuren, Dick den Hertog, Ozlem Ergun, Mallory Freeman21 June 2021 | INFORMS Journal on Optimization, Vol. 3, No. 2Harvest Hope Food Bank Optimizes Its Promotional Strategy to Raise Donations Using Integer ProgrammingSanjay L. Ahire, Pelin Pekgün16 August 2018 | INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics, Vol. 48, No. 4Humanitarian LogisticsBahar Yetis Kara, Sinem Savaşer3 October 2017 New Directions in Informatics, Optimization, Logistics, and ProductionSeptember 2012 Article Information Metrics Downloaded 1,077 times in the past 12 months Information Published Online:October 14, 2014 Copyright © 2012, INFORMSCite asMelih ÇelikÖzlem ErgunBen JohnsonPınar KeskinocakÁlvaro LorcaPelin PekgünJulie Swann (2014) Humanitarian Logistics. INFORMS TutORials in Operations Research null(null):18-49. https://doi.org/10.1287/educ.1120.0100 Keywordshumanitarian logisticsdisaster managementlong-term developmentequitynonprofit operationsrelief distributionPDF download