RISK IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT IN THE HUMANITARIAN SUPPLY CHAIN

Abstract

Physical movement of goods or people from one place to another on globe is inevitable. Hence transportation, logistics and supply chain management are inevitable part of our day-to-day activities and needs. But, the characteristics of logistics execution changes when it is critically demanded in stipulated time period during or after some catastrophic disasters. In India, very often it is noted that after a particular disaster strikes a geographical piece be it small or big enough, the problem is always of distribution of relief materials and the coordination of agencies and organizations dealing the very distribution logistics. It is difficult to plan and operate a typically agile supply chain which can substantially reduce the lead times and improve the response time. Academia, industry and government all are improving their standards on what logistics is carried out and planning with which supply chains are designed. This thesis discusses the special characteristics of those supply chains which classifies themselves into humanitarian supply chains sometimes also better known as relief supply chains and the corresponding logistics activities known as humanitarian logistics. Also how technology can play its role in successful execution of a disaster response and logistics activities to ensure minimum lead time and maximum response and minimum loss of lives is discussed in this thesis.