Research about environmental issues

The Role of Logistics in Effective Disaster Relief

The number of disasters occurred in recent years has increased due to environmental challenges. Human activity is blamed for changing the path of nature, resulting in deaths and casualties. Because of logistical constraints, previous emergency responses were ineffective. It is evident that governments around the world have rushed to offer assistance in various forms. But, their failure to fully prepare and regulate what comes in to offer assistance has hampered their efforts. Many organizations have also failed to recognize the need of logisticians in humanitarian crises, further complicating matters. Only when logistics are in place to reduce confusion and speed up response can optimal value be captured. Describing the role of logistics in effective disaster relief.

Disasters and the Need for Effective Logistics

Disasters have been intensified by changes in climatic conditions that have had adverse effects on human life. As nations take steps to watch their carbon emissions and conserve the environment, it is necessary that they also make attempts to cushion possible disasters. This paper evaluates how logistics can be utilized to offer effective disaster management, and the potential challenges organizations may encounter in the process.

Logistics in Disaster Relief

Role of Logistics in Effective Disaster Management

Logistics works to ensure that responses to disaster are immediate and that help is availed to mitigate the rate of fatalities. Assessments done by international relief agencies give them accurate statistics on the magnitude of assistance required. Thus, they can approximate the number of necessities that should be transported to the affected region. Listing the emergency relief items that are needed for the operation prevents wastage of donated resources that will not be utilized. Stock preparedness is significant in providing instant response since an approximated month’s supply is always kept in the warehouses.

Donations are always in plenty every time disasters strike; however, the delivery may be frustrated due to poor logistics. Planning and controlling involved help to give value for each donation made in ensuring that every unit has helped a person in need. Storage costs for unnecessary items are mitigated when the type of goods sent are required. In addition, the process of sorting supplies into different categories before sending them over is eased by proper logistics. Therefore, less time is spent in the entire process and deliveries are made with speed, saving more lives. It also eliminates the confusion that could arise when individuals are overwhelmed and are not sure about where to start the operations. Fundamentally, logistics eases the time and resources required to respond to demanding situations.

Importance of Logistics in Effective Disaster Management

It saves on resources by ensuring efficiency is achieved in response operations. The step of stating the required items is a way of making sure that only what is needed is dispatched from the donors. Estimations involved in logistics warrant that the amount of surplus is not overwhelming and a shortage is not witnessed. The proper planning helps the staff responsible for speeding up the process. Listing precisely what is needed will reduce the time spent setting aside unnecessary items. When everything is planned way in advance, it only awaits execution in the instance that need arises. Human suffering is lessened by a speedy response to a disaster, and further fatalities are mitigated. Adequate logistics helps to discover the shortest and safest route to the area.

Value is realized from donations made as it serves the purpose to which it was made. The chances of failed logistics are rare since detailed research and references from past disasters are done to make an informed decision.

Challenges of Logistics in Effective Disaster Management

Unfortunately, most organizations involved in disaster response do not prioritize the role of logisticians in the firm. Less money is allocated for that function yet it is equally important as other programs. In addition, it is not viewed as a continuous process, and limited information is kept in relation to logistics in most firms. The individuals that take up the logistical role in some organizations are not trained on the same. Therefore, they lack professionalism required to execute the critical functions efficiently. Organizations often fail to allocate funds for training logisticians on dynamic issues they are likely to face.

Technological factors limit the abilities of logisticians in achieving optimal efficiency. A critical bit of the disaster management process is tracking supplies to ensure that they arrive at their destination. Utilization of the relevant software is limited for humanitarian organizations as manual methods are used in extreme cases (Thomas & Kopczak pg. 5).

Armenia Analysis

The response to the Armenian earthquake would have been efficient if logistical measures were put in place. Proper analysis of the situation would have helped to estimate the number of cranes required for the rescue operations. In addition, it would have been availed on time to save more lives and decrease the casualties resulting from the disaster. Notably, resources were available from generous donations, yet personnel were not available to distribute. A mix-up of things needed and others that were unnecessary sprouted a confusion. Proper logistics would have facilitated the provision of human resource that would have assisted with planning, transport, and distribution of items.

Improper analysis resulted to donors supplying medicines in an area whose hospitals and equipment had been destroyed. Trained logisticians would be efficient in telling the nature of help necessary based on the kind of disaster. Communication breakdown was unfortunate as victims direly needed the supplies (Leon, pg. 17). The lack of expertise brought about confusion in all dimensions and a significant number of lives were lost. Though people donated dialysis machines later, specialists delayed clearing at the immigration. Logistics would have eradicated unexpected challenges as planning would have been put in place in readiness for response in Armenia.

In conclusion, humanitarian agencies have a responsibility of applying logistics in the course of their emergency responses. It not only helps to deliver efficient services, but it also speeds up the time taken to respond to emergencies. Donors need to appreciate the importance of funding the services of logisticians in the organizations they support.

Works cited

Leon, Steven. Sustainability in Supply Chain Management: The Armenian Earthquake. n.d.

Thomas, Anisya & Kopczak, Laura. From Logistics to Supply Chain Management: The Path Forward in the Humanitarian Sector. Fritz Institute. 2005.