Humanitarian Relief Operations Research Articles

Status and Possible Further Development of the Prohibition of Starvation of Civilian Population in Armed Conflicts

The main objective of the research is to determine whether the legal rules of international law of armed conflict and international criminal law regarding the prohibition of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare are appropriate to the increasingly widespread practice of starvation in armed conflicts and what the main challenges are. The authors analyze the content and scope of relevant rules, including those that indirectly refer to the prohibition of starvation – for the protection of vulnerable groups, siege, blockade, evacuation, humanitarian relief operations, etc. They take a dynamic and critical approach to this issue. They dynamically analyze the evolution of the prohibition of starvation of civilians under international law from World War II to the present, drawing on relevant examples from international jurisprudence, the work of international bodies and the opinions of legal authors. The authors apply a critical approach to address the need for greater moral stigmatization of starving civilians in armed conflicts. As a part of the critical approach, they see the need for consistent use of the term "starvation", especially when opening new criminal proceedings against the order issuers and perpetrators. They point to the need for patient research and documentation in each case to gather evidence to the best possible extent. Regarding the existing international legal framework, they see the possibility of creating additional legal rules by introducing a distinction between the basic and qualified forms of a criminal offence.

Fuzzy best–worst method–based approach for warehouse location selection and a case study in Izmir

PurposeThe study aims to propose a decision-support system to determine the location of a regional disaster logistics warehouse. Emphasizing the importance of disaster logistics, it considers the criteria to be evaluated for warehouse location selection. It is aimed to determine a warehouse location that will serve the disaster victims most efficiently in case of a disaster by making an application for the province of Izmir, where a massive earthquake hit in 2020.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a fuzzy best–worst method to evaluate the alternative locations for the warehouse. The method considers the linguistic evaluations of the decision-makers and provides an advantage in terms of comparison consistency. The alternatives were identified through interviews and discussions with a group of experts in the fields of humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. The group consists of academics and a vice-governor, who had worked in Izmir. The results of a previously conducted questionnaire were also used in determining these locations.FindingsIt is shown how the method will be applied to this problem, and the most effective location for the disaster logistics warehouse in Izmir has been determined.Originality/valueThis study contributes to disaster preparedness and brings a solution to the organization of the logistics services in Izmir.

Toward more ethically oriented humanitarian logistics operations: An exploratory research

Ethical standards in humanitarian logistics have been frequently overlooked in the literature. This research aims to explore the interaction between logistics decisions and ethical standards implementation in the context of humanitarian relief operations. The paper adopts a data triangulation approach to collect and validate the primary and secondary data through a literature review, focus group, and interview. The results revealed that logistics decisions and processes affect the implementation of ethical standards. These decisions are physical distribution, facility location, procurement, outsourcing, deprivation cost analysis, visibility and information flow, supply chain collaboration, staff selection and training, types of relief items, staff security, and localization of logistics activities. This research can provide practitioners with insight into a complete set of ethical standards and inform their understanding of which factors affect their implementation. The novelty of this research comes from combining two disciplines, humanitarian logistics and social work, to compile a complementary list of ethical standards in humanitarian operations. It shows how logistics decisions can affect implementing ethical standards and hence achieving core values of social work.

Reinforcement learning for humanitarian relief distribution with trucks and UAVs under travel time uncertainty

Effective humanitarian relief operations are challenging in the aftermath of disasters, as trucks are often faced with considerable travel time uncertainties due to damaged transportation networks. Efficient deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) potentially mitigates this problem, supplementing truck fleets in an impactful manner. To plan last-mile relief distribution in this setting, we introduce a multi-trip, split-delivery vehicle routing problem with trucks and UAVs, soft time windows, and stochastic travel times for last-mile relief distribution, formulated as a stochastic dynamic program. Within a finite time horizon, we aim to maximize a weighted objective function comprising the number of goods delivered, the number of different locations visited, and late arrival penalties. Our study offers insights into dealing with travel time uncertainty in humanitarian logistics by (i) deploying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as partial substitutes for trucks, (ii) evaluating dynamic solutions generated by two deep reinforcement learning (RL) approaches – specifically value function approximation (VFA) and policy function approximation (PFA) – and (iii) comparing the RL solutions with solutions stemming from mathematical programming and dynamic heuristics. Experiments are performed on both Solomon-based instances and two real-world cases. The real-world cases – the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the 2018 Indonesia tsunami – are based on locally collected field data and real-world UAV specifications, and aim to provide practical insights. The experimental results show that dynamic decision-making improves both performance and robustness of humanitarian operations, achieving reductions in lateness penalties of around 85% compared to static solutions based on expected travel times. Furthermore, the results show that replacing half of the trucks with UAVs improves the weighted objective value by 11% to 56%, benefitting both reliability and location coverage. The results indicate that both the deployment of UAVs and the use of dynamic methods successfully mitigate travel time uncertainties in humanitarian operations.

ICT-enabled approach for humanitarian disaster management: a systems perspective

PurposeEach stage in disaster management faces different challenges concerning information gathering, sharing, interpretation and dissemination. However, a comprehensive understanding of different information and communication technology (ICT) systems utilised for humanitarian disaster management is limited. Therefore, the paper follows a systems thinking approach to examine ten major man-made and/or natural disasters to comprehend the influence of ICT systems on humanitarian relief operations.Design/methodology/approachA longitudinal, multi-case study captures the use of ICT tools, stakeholders involvement, disaster stages and zones of operations for relief operations over the past two decades. A systems thinking approach is utilised to draw several inferences and develop frameworks.FindingsMultiple ICT tools such as geographic information systems, online webpages/search engines, social media, unmanned aerial vehicles/robots and artificial intelligence are used for rapid disaster response and mitigation. Speed and coordination of relief operations have significantly increased in recent years due to the increased use of ICT systems.Research limitations/implicationsSecondary data on the past ten disasters is utilised to draw inferences. The developed ICT-driven model must be validated during upcoming humanitarian relief operations.Practical implicationsA holistic understanding of a complex inter-relationship between influential variables (stakeholders, disaster stages, zones of operation, ICT systems) is beneficial for effectively managing humanitarian disasters.Originality/valueBroadly classifying the ICT systems into surveillance, decision support and broadcasting systems, a novel ICT-enabled model for humanitarian relief operations is developed.

The influence of information and communication technologies on disaster relief operations: a case of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe

PurposeThere has been an avalanche of global natural disasters in recent times. In recent years approximately 210 million people were affected, an estimated economic cost of US$153bn was incurred and 68,000 deaths were recorded. This was a work up call that made it imperative for humanitarian actors to impetuously adopt information and communication technologies (ICTs) to timeously assist affected populations in disaster prevention, mitigation response and recovery However, the use of ICTs in the humanitarian field is still at its infancy in most third world countries. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the utilization of ICTs in humanitarian relief operations associated with Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe.Design/methodology/approachUsing a pragmatic approach, the study gathered data using semistructured questionnaires that were triangulated with interviews of humanitarian staff that were involved in Cyclone Idai relief efforts.FindingsAn observed suboptimal utilization of ICTs was further disadvantaged by the inequitable distribution of communication infrastructure. However, despite the suboptimal usage, there was a significant positive influence of ICT adoption on effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility in humanitarian relief operations.Originality/valueOptimal use of ICTs has the potential to revolutionize humanitarian supply chain management. A smooth transition to new technologies is recommended in which personnel are given professional development opportunities on a regular basis.

Artificial intelligence and humanitarian obligations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers numerous opportunities to improve military Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations. And, modern militaries recognize the strategic value of reducing civilian harm. Grounded in these two assertions we focus on the transformative potential that AI ISR systems have for improving the respect for and protection of humanitarian relief operations. Specifically, we propose that establishing an interface for humanitarian organizations to military AI ISR systems can improve the current state of ad-hoc humanitarian notification systems, which are notoriously unreliable and ineffective for both parties to conflict and humanitarian organizations. We argue that such an interface can improve military awareness and understanding while also ensuring that states better satisfy their international humanitarian law obligations to respect and protect humanitarian relief personnel.

Design and management of humanitarian supply chains: challenges, solutions, and frameworks

The design and management of the humanitarian supply chain are the most critical aspects of the humanitarian aid supply chain. Despite enormous interest among the academic community and the practitioners, the design of a humanitarian supply chain is still not well understood. Most of the publications have attempted to address the mechanisms of the humanitarian relief operations. However, the elements of the humanitarian supply chain designs are not well understood in an integrated manner. In this special issue, we have accepted the articles based on six factors that shape the design and management of the humanitarian supply chain and the influencing factors (see Fig. 4). We have noted the research gaps and offered rich directions for future research.

Naval humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations in the Indo-Pacific region: need for fresh thinking

ABSTRACT Natural disasters are increasing globally. Geographically, the Indo-Pacific region is the world’s most vulnerable region and navies here have been called upon frequently to provide humanitarian assistance. Thus, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) missions have emerged as a key role for the regional navies. However, recent studies in disaster management indicate that disaster risk mitigation needs a greater focus on development issues and preparedness than post-disaster humanitarian response. This paper posits that navies too must expand their focus beyond HA/DR to contribute to other aspects of disaster management and promote collaboration with other stakeholders which could help overall to mitigate risks from natural disasters.

Impact of artificial intelligence-driven big data analytics culture on agility and resilience in humanitarian supply chain: A practice-based view

This study attempts to understand the role of artificial intelligence-driven big data analytics capability in humanitarian relief operations. These disasters play an important role in mobilizing several organizations to counteract them, but the organizations often find it hard to strike a fine balance between agility and resilience. Operations Management Scholars’ opinion remains divided between responsiveness and efficiency. However, to manage unexpected events like disasters, organizations need to be agile and resilient. In previous studies, scholars have adopted the resource-based view or dynamic capability view to explain the combination of resources and capabilities (i.e., technology, agility, and resilience) to explain their performance. However, following some recent scholarly debates, we argue that organizational theories like the resource-based view or dynamic capability view are not suitable enough to explain humanitarian supply chain performance. As the underlying assumptions of the commercial supply chain do not hold true in the case of the humanitarian supply chain. We note this as a potential research gap in the existing literature. Moreover, humanitarian organizations remain sceptical regarding the adoption of artificial intelligence-driven big data analytics capability (AI-BDAC) in the decision-making process. To address these potential gaps, we grounded our theoretical model in the practice-based view which is proposed as an appropriate lens to examine the role of practices that are not rare and are easy to imitate in performance. We used Partial Least Squares (PLS) to test our theoretical model and research hypotheses, using 171 useable responses gathered through a web survey of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The findings of our study suggest that AI-BDAC is a significant determinant of agility, resilience, and performance of the humanitarian supply chain. Furthermore, the reduction of the level of information complexity (IC) on the paths joining agility, resilience, and performance in the humanitarian supply chain. These results offer some useful theoretical contributions to the contingent view of the practice-based view. In a way, we have tried to establish empirically that the humanitarian supply chain designs are quite different from their commercial counterparts. Hence, the use of a resource-based view or dynamic capability view as theoretical lenses may not help capture true perspectives. Thus, the use of a practice-based view as an alternative theoretical lens provides a better understanding of humanitarian supply chains. We have further outlined the limitations and the future research directions of the study.

Faith in Disasters: The Influence of Religion on Humanitarian Relief Operations

Religion has consistently played an important role in the humanitarian relief environment as a source of understanding and community that helps individuals to cope with negative events and situations. As such, an NGO’s (non-governmental organization) religiousness ought to be an important factor in how volunteers view their work in the organization and in determining operational performance. Yet NGOs often engage both religious and non-religious volunteers (due to legal and other factors), which may hinder NGO operations. To date, it is unclear how and if an NGO’s religiousness may affect volunteers and performance. In this study, we examine how NGOs can leverage their religious affiliations and take advantage of established religious communities to manage their relationships with volunteers and influence operational outcomes. Based on social capital theory, we test the influence of NGO religiousness on social capital, organization commitment, volunteer satisfaction, and volunteer performance. Utilizing person-organization fit theory, we also examine how ‘fit’ or compatibility between NGO and volunteer religiousness influences these relationships. We use a 3x1 factorial video experiment to collect data from 237 individuals to test our hypotheses. We find that increases in NGO religiousness hinders the development of social capital, commitment, and satisfaction. However, NGO and volunteer religiousness ‘fit’ improves social capital, commitment, and satisfaction. Finally, we highlight that there is a trade-off between efficient and effective performance in terms of volunteer response time and service accuracy. Overall, these findings contribute to the literature on humanitarian relief operations, volunteer management, religion and diversity, and social capital and guide decision-making in NGOs towards recruiting and retention.

Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): The Legal Frameworks

Civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) is one of the most crucial factors for a successful humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operation. It is important to foster the relationship between these two sectors to pursue effective outcomes for the operation. Therefore, a developed mechanism for civilian-military coordination including clear CIMIC frameworks is needed. This paper explores the frameworks/guidelines on CIMIC in HADR issued by three international organizations, namely the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The focus of this study will be on the operation at the operational phase. The CIMIC fundamentals and principles of the foreign military sector will be scrutinized. Consequently, the analysis would help identify the essential subjects for policymakers to consider and issue the proper national framework for CIMIC in HADR.

To Box or Not to Box: Packaging Decisions in Humanitarian Relief Operations

To Box or Not to Box: Packaging Decisions in Humanitarian Relief Operations

Self-organisation and supply chain agility: empirical evidence from humanitarian relief operations in a developing country

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to establish whether self-organisation and its components matter for supply chain agility in the context of humanitarian relief operations in a developing country, Uganda.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a cross-sectional design to collect data from a sample of 101 humanitarian organisations (HOs) that deliver relief to Bidi-Bidi refugee settlement in Uganda.FindingsBased on the findings, self-organisation explains 56% of the variance in supply chain agility.Research limitations/implicationsSince the study was cross-sectional, changes in the perception of the subject matter could not be established. Hence, a longitudinal approach was recommended for subsequent studies. Data was collected only from HOs that deliver relief services in Bidi-Bidi refugee settlement.Practical implicationsIt is recommended that managers of HOs should ensure that their organisations have flexible, adaptive structures that can affect self-organisation during emergencies so as to increase the speed with which they respond to victims' needs.Originality/valueThis study generates significant empirical evidence on a less studied phenomenon in the humanitarian sector. It vividly highlights the effect of self-organisation on building supply chain agility.

Establishing communicable disease surveillance systems

Humanitarian emergencies can result in an increase of communicable diseases, leading to a rise in mortality and/or morbidity in vulnerable populations. This requires a public health approach to re-establish control...

Grain Quality Research of Rice for Ensuring Nutritional Food Security

Per capita rice consumption in Bangladesh is in a decreasing trend. Considering the constant loss of per capita daily dietary energy @ 0.028% year-1, nutrition-based prediction of daily dietary energy intake (kcal) may be reduced to 2201 and 2188 kcal for our population by 2030 and 2050, respectively. We are optimistic that consuming per capita rice consumption of 365 g and 363 g (dry wt. basis) in 2030 and 2050, respectively will help to attain the current trends of 59.0% of Calorie intake from rice only. Appro-priate amount of rice intake including incorporating rice-based products in our daily diet, we will able to attain daily required dietary allowance and combination of both may ensure nutritional security along with food security in Bangladesh in a way to effective utilization of the rice grain. Rice is nutraceu-tically enriched because of the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidants. Research thrust of BRRI is to focus on releasing nutraceutically enriched HYVs such as high zinc, high iron, beta carotene (A Vit A precursor) enriched antioxidant rice etc. Gluten free rice-based bakery products have potential to get popularize in Bangladeshi population with ensuring high nutritional value and effective management of controlling non-communicable diseases since lesser amount of rice carbohydrates are being utilized in formulating products such as rice biscuit, rice cake etc. BRRI has formulated gluten free rice-based energy dense product specially rice biscuit (ED 5.15) could be extended as a potential nutri-tionally balanced dry food application in malnutrition mitigation programme, school feeding nutritional programme and humanitarian relief operation replacing current wheat-based products. Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (2): 103-117, 2021

An integrated multi-stage fuzzy inference performance measurement scheme in humanitarian relief operations

Performance based measurement models and systems in humanitarian supply chains require inputs derived from decision-makers’ and practitioners’ experience. Past knowledge related to performance indicator are generally qualitative and imprecise. Existing humanitarian performance measurement systems are largely theoretical and do not consider qualitative and imprecise information in their assessment of humanitarian relief operations. This paper aims to address a practical approach to the performance measurement of humanitarian operations by recognizing the need for multi-dimensional performance evaluation while dealing with imprecision and uncertainty in evaluation processes. A hierarchical multi-stage Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) was developed to address imprecise and uncertain performance indicators. Performance indicators were clustered into four Balanced Scorecard (BSC) type categories. A prototype was developed using MATLAB toolbox. The FIS scheme was tested and validated by practitioners from leading international humanitarian organizations in Malaysia. The scheme facilitated performance analysis and provided insights into operational areas that need further improvements. The proposed FIS scheme enable decision-makers to address imprecise and fuzzy information more objectively.

Pre-Positioning Facility Location and Resource Allocation in Humanitarian Relief Operations Considering Deprivation Costs

Alleviating human sufferings during and in the aftermath of disasters is one of the most important goals in humanitarian relief logistics. The lack of relief commodities, especially life-saving items, is a life-threatening loss to victims and must be considered when making emergency supply allocation and transportation decisions, even in the pre-disaster prepositioning phase. This paper proposes a scenario-based stochastic program that integrates the decisions of prepositioning facility locations, quantities of stocked emergency supplies, and service allocations in each scenario in the same modeling framework. The estimation of victims’ losses for waiting for emergency supplies is measured in the typical deprivation cost function and treated as one of the main bases of decision making, besides traditional transportation costs, in determining the service allocation strategies in each scenario. Specifically, a case study with data from the hurricane threat in the Gulf Coast area of the US was conducted to demonstrate the application of this model and the significance of considering victims’ welfare loss in humanitarian relief logistics. Some interesting managerial insights were also drawn from a series of numerical experiments and sensitivity analyses.

The effects of supply chain cooperation on humanitarian relief operations: A case of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe

Background: The increased frequency of occurrence and complexity of disasters, the world over, have called for increased cooperation amongst stakeholders to deliver humanitarian aid. Objectives: This study came as a result of the growing interest focussed on creating and implementing cooperation to facilitate management of supply chain-related activities in the humanitarian sector. This study therefore sought to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of supply chain cooperation in aid delivery performance variables, specifically in the context of Cyclone Idai humanitarian relief operations in Zimbabwe. Method: A pragmatic research paradigm was adopted, where the researchers took a mixed approach informed by both quantitative and qualitative research tools. Results: Findings of this study show a significant and positive impact of humanitarian supply chain (HSC) cooperation in achieving output, resource and flexibility performance in the delivery of aid. These findings will change the shape of humanitarian response to have more cooperation amongst organisations rather than responding as single entities. Conclusion: This study will therefore contribute to how humanitarian organisations improve their approach to future disasters through cooperation in their supply chain activities. Theoretically, the study will show how supply chain cooperation is key to humanitarian responses, thus improving effectiveness of HSC when put into practice. Policymakers can use these findings to develop a standard framework of how humanitarian organisations should collectively respond to disasters.

Platforms Enhancing the Engagement of the Private Sector in Humanitarian Relief Operations

As disasters become progressively more frequent and complex, better collaboration through partnerships with private business becomes more important. This research aimed to understand how platforms support the engagement of the private sector—especially logistics businesses—in humanitarian relief operations. The study was based on a literature review and on an investigation of an emblematic case of the cross-sector platform, recognized at a global level in logistics and supply chain management, between the United Nations World Food Programme and the Logistics Emergency Teams (WFP/LET), composed of four global leading logistics providers. The insights resulting from this paper may be of particular interest to both academics and professionals regarding the two sectors, profit and non-profit. This is because the implementation of the platform reflects the concrete benefit for people in need reached by the humanitarian relief operations. It may also constitute a useful tool for building an agile supply chain capable of being resilient in responding to sudden and unexpected changes in the context, both in humanitarian and commercial supply chains.