Disaster Relief Supply Management

Abstract

Disaster relief supplies (DRS) play a vital role in natural disaster rescue and relief operations. Often DRS management is initiated and supported by the government, yet the related cost issues have not been fully emphasized. In the face of highly uncertain disaster locations and timing, these supplies are usually prepositioned without proper consumption, which causes enormous waste in practice both economically and environmentally. This chapter highlights the potential to bring the reverse logistics strategies in conventional business practice into DRS management. Incorporating the reverse flow of removed relief items with DRS supply chain management not only benefits in cost reduction and environmental protection, but also enhance the daily management and quality control of DRS. Relying on social trust and efficient marketing network provided by government coordination and international cooperation, the stable quality level and relatively integrated inventories of the removed DRS can achieve economies of scale in the reverse supply chain operations. This chapter aims to develop an understanding of DRS reverse logistics, which energizes the responsible management of DRS for economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Estimating CO2 emissions from emergency-supply transport: The case of COVID-19 vaccine global air transport

“…Natural and unnatural disasters are difficult to predict in terms of location and timing, which raises the environmental and economic cost of emergency supplies (disaster relief supplies) ( Ye et al, 2020 ). At the same time, man-made climate change is causing natural disasters.…”

“…The environmental impact of natural and unnatural disasters (like pandemics and climate change), particularly the CO 2 emissions associated with disaster relief supplies (henceforth referred to as emergency supplies), is a critical but understudied aspect of disasters. There is compelling evidence that lifesaving emergency supplies have a substantial economic and environmental impact ( Ye et al, 2020 ). Because of the uncertainty surrounding disaster locations and timing, emergency supplies are frequently prepositioned without being consumed, resulting in massive waste both economically and environmentally ( Ye et al, 2020 ).…”

“…There is compelling evidence that lifesaving emergency supplies have a substantial economic and environmental impact ( Ye et al, 2020 ). Because of the uncertainty surrounding disaster locations and timing, emergency supplies are frequently prepositioned without being consumed, resulting in massive waste both economically and environmentally ( Ye et al, 2020 ). This uncertainty about the location and timing of disaster supplies may be the primary reason for the general lack of environmental studies, specifically the CO 2 emission impact of disaster supplies.…”

Türkiye’de Afet Lojistiğinde Tekrar Kullanılabilir Yardım Malzemelerinin Geri Kazanım Faaliyetleri Üzerine Bir Araştırma: Tersine Lojistik Süreçlerinin KIZILAY Özelinde İncelenmesi

“…Afetlerin ve krizlerin neden olduğu hasarlara müdahale amacıyla süreç boyunca kullanılan afet yardım malzemeleri; ihtiyaç duyulan yaşamsal ihtiyaçlar ve güvenlik öğeleri (yiyecek, içecek, giyinme ve barınma gibi), tıbbi malzemeler ve ilk yardım müdahaleleri için kullanılan araç ve gereçler, afet yönetiminin tüm aşamalarında hayat kurtarmada ve toplulukları yeniden yapılandırmada kritik bir role sahiptirler (Ye ve Yan, 2020).…”

Influence of Supply Chain Leagility on Performance of Humanitarian Aid Organizations in Kenya

“…As advised by Ye, Y and Yan, failure of humanitarian organizations to achieve efficiency may not only result in loss of lives, but also in the loss of vital donor funds. Though the funding has increased over the last five years, the amount is still not sufficient for humanitarian operations [69].…”