Improving Disaster Supply Chain Management:
Key supply chain factors for humanitarian relief
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
November 16-18, 2008
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The frequency and severity of humanitarian catastrophes have sharply increased in recent decades. Disasters arise from natural events (earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, wildfires) and human causes (genocide, war, political unrest other effects of human strife). Research suggests that societies will face even more frequent and worse disasters. The challenge facing the global community is to become more effective in providing humanitarian relief during these large-scale catastrophes.
The consequences of disasters are tremendous. Apart from the financial damage, disasters cause unbelievable suffering. Recent disasters, both in the U.S. and abroad, have demonstrated the complexity of the administrative challenges facing governments, international organizations, and NGOs. It appears that efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to stricken areas often fail. Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami have shown that even modern societies still find it hard to deliver relief supplies in a timely and effective manner (the challenges are infinitely harder in countries that deny access to international relief efforts). At the same time, recent disasters also witnessed isolated successes: some organizations managed to bring supplies to stricken areas where others failed.
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