Humanitarian Logistics Management After A Disaster: An Earthquake Case

Abstract

Post-disaster relief logistics includes logistics activities in the shortest time. Inventory routing problems have decided routing decisions considering inventory levels during the planning horizon at minimum cost. In this study, an inventory routing problem for the distribution after the disaster has been proposed. The problem aims the distribution of the supplies needed considering available inventory levels at minimum time. Distribution amount and the routes under the constraints of routing and inventory amounts for affected people have been decided. An integer programming approach to solve the problem has been proposed and solved. The proposed model is solved for a case of Van earthquake which occurred at 2011 in Turkey. The results from the case study show us that determining the inventory and routing decisions simultaneously can provide less logistic activities. In addition to this, holding inventory in the central depot can ensure to respond the emergency needs safely and quickly.